On violets: passing through the mountains on the way to Ôtsu.
山路来て何やらゆかしすみれ草
yamaji kite
nani yara yukashi
sumiregusa |
Coming along the mountain paths
Somehow ’tis all more dear to find
A violet. |
(1685)
On fresh growth by creepers: meeting at a meagre hut.
いも植て門は葎のわか葉哉
imo uete
kado wa mugura no
wakaba kana |
Potatoes planted, and
By the door the creepers’
Leaves are everywhere. |
(1688)
On wisteria: when he was walking through Yamato.
草臥て宿かる比や藤の花
kudabirete
yado karu koro ya
fuji no hana |
When, quite exhausted,
I would find lodging,
Wisteria blooms. |
(1688)
On peach blossom: looking at the coastline at Narumi.
船足も休む時あり濱の桃
funa’ashi mo
yasumu toki ari
hama no momo |
The boat’s speed
Slackens for a while:
Peach blossom on the beach. |
(1685)
On blossom.
子に飽くと申す人には花もなし
ko ni aku to
môsu hito ni wa
hana mo nashi |
‘Of children I am sick!’
For one who says so
The blossom is as nothing. |
(Date of composition unknown)
On blossom.
鐘消て花の香は撞夕哉
kane kiete
hana no ka wa tsuku
yūbe kana |
The bell fades away, then
The scent of blossom strikes me
In the evening. |
(1690)
On blossom.
花の雲鐘は上野か淺草歟
hana no kumo
kane wa ueno ka
asakusa ka |
Lost in clouds of blossom,
Is that Ueno’s bell,
Or that of Asakusa? |
(1688)
On blossom.
花にあそぶ虻なくらひそ友雀
hana ni asobu
abu na kurai so
tomo suzume |
Among the blossoms frolic
Horseflies–don’t eat them up
O, friendly sparrow! |
(Spring 1688)
On blossom.
花にうき世我酒白く飯黒し
hana ni uki yo
wa ga sake shiroku
meshi kuroshi |
Amid the blossoms’ joy a cruel world:
My wine is cloudy and
My rice unmilled. |
(1682)
On blossom.
阿蘭陀も花に來にけり馬に鞍
oranda mo
hana ni kinikeri
uma ni kura |
The Dutchmen too,
Have come to see the blossom;
Saddling their steeds. |
(1679)
'Simply moving and elegant'