On summer rain.
日の道や葵傾くさ月あめ
hi no michi ya
aoi katamuku
satsuki ame |
Is it towards the sun,
The hollyhocks turn
In the summer rain? |
(1690)
On summer rain.
五月雨に鶴の足みじかくなれり
samidare ni
tsuru no ashi miji
kakunareri |
In the summer rains
Cranes’ legs are shorter–
Or so they seem to be! |
(1680-81)
On summer nights.
夏の夜や崩て明しひやし物
natsu no yo ya
kuzurete akeshi
hiyashi mono |
Summer nights
Brighten, breaking apart,
As do chilled foods. |
(1694)
On summer nights.
夏の夜や木魂に明る下駄の音
natsu no yo ya
kodama ni akuru
geta no oto |
Summer nights
Brighten with the echoes
Of wood-soled sandals. |
(23rd day of the Fourth Month 1691)
On heat.
暑き日を海にいれたりも上川
atsuki hi o
umi ni iretari
mogami gawa |
At a hot day’s end the sun
Meets the sea
As does Mogami River. |
(1689)
On the Sixth Month.
六月や峯に雲置くあらし山
roku gatsu ya
mine ni kumo oku
arashiyama |
In the Sixth Month
Clouds lie upon the peak
Of Arashiyama. |
(24th day of the Sixth Month 1694)
On climbing a tower belonging to someone by the water’s edge at the end of the Fifth Month.
海ははれてひえふりのこす五月哉
umi wa harete
hie furinokosu
satsuki kana |
The waters are calm now, but
Rain still falls on Hie–
‘Tis the Fifth Month, indeed. |
(1688)
On spring.
おもしろやことしのなるも旅の空
omoshiro ya
kotoshi no haru mo
tabi no sora |
Intriguing–
For in spring this year, once more,
The skies tell of travel. |
(Ca. 1689)
On seaweed.
衰や齒に喰あてし海苔の砂
otoroi ya
ha ni kui ateshi
nori no suna |
I feel my age when
My teeth bite down upon
Sand amongst the seaweed! |
(1691)
On seaweed: at the house of Chiri in Asakusa.
苔汁の手ぎは見せけり淺黄椀
nori shiru no
te giwa misekeri
asagiwan |
Such seaweed soup
So skilfully made,
Demands the finest bowl. |
(Date unknown)
'Simply moving and elegant'