On a skylark.
永き日も囀たらぬひばり哉
nagaki hi mo
saezuri taranu
hibari kana |
Through a never-ending day
He sings, and would do more,
The skylark. |
(1687)
On bush warblers.
鶯や柳のうしろ藪のまへ
uguisu ya
yanagi no ushiro
yabu no mae |
The warblers call
From beyond the willow trees and
Before the bamboo grove. |
(1692)
On cats’ romance.
猫の戀やむとき閨の朧月
neko no koi
yamu toki neya no
oborozuki |
The cats’ love
Has ceased now in my bedroom
Shines the misty moon. |
(1692)
On cats’ romance.
猫の妻へつゐの崩よりかよひけり
neko no tsuma
hetsui no kuzure yori
kayoikeri |
The tomcat
By the stove through a crack
Slips back and forth. |
(Before 1677)
On low tide.
靑柳の泥にしたるゝ鹽干かな
aoyagi no
doro ni shitaruru
shiohi kana |
The green willow
Trails upon the mud-
Tide is low, indeed. |
(1694)
On dolls.
草の戸も住替はる代ぞひなの家
kusa no to mo
sumi kawaru yo zo
hina no ie |
Even to this hut of thatch
Comes a world of change: getting
Filled up with dolls! |
(1689)
Shut in the Nigatsudō.
水とりや氷の僧の沓の音
mizutori ya
kôri no sô no
kutsu no oto |
Drawing water,
Ice-covered monks’
Shoes make a racket! |
(1685)
On the misty moon.
花の顔に晴れうてしてや朧月
hana no kao ni
hareute shite ya
oborozuki |
Before these flower faces
Do you hide,
O misty moon? |
(1666-67)
On Spring rain.
春雨や蜂の巣つたふ屋ねの漏
harusame ya
hachi no su tsutau
yane no mori |
The spring shower
Passes by the wasps’ nest,
Dripping from my roof. |
(1694)
On Spring rain.
春雨や蓬をのばす艸の道
harusame ya
yomogi o nobasu
kusa no michi |
With the spring rains
The mugworts spring up:
A path of grasses. |
(1689)
'Simply moving and elegant'