蜘の子はみなちりぢりの身すぎ哉
kumo no ko wa
mina chirijiri no
mi sugi kana |
The spider’s kids
Scatter everywhere
To make their way in life. |
蝉なくや我家も石になるやうに
semi naku ya
wa ga ya mo ishi ni
naru yo ni |
When the cicadas sing,
Even my house stone-built
Seems to be. |
蚤のあとそれもわかきはうつくしき
nomi no ato
sore mo wakaki wa
utsukushiki |
Flea bitten:
Even so in youth
There is beauty |
歩きながらに傘ほせばほととぎす
arukinagara ni
karakasa hoseba
hototogisu |
Out walking and
As if to dry my umbrella
A cuckoo calls. |
人來たら蛙となれよ冷し瓜
hito kitara
kawazu to nare yo
hiyashi uri |
Should anyone come
They’ll turn into frogs!
These chilled melons. |
手をすりて蚊屋の小すみを借りにけり
te o surite
kaya no kosumi o
karinikeri |
Stretching out my hand
For a corner of mosquito net
For my own. |
手にとれば歩行たく成る扇哉
te ni toreba
arukitakunaru
ōgi kana |
When I take it in my hand
I want to promenade-
My brand new fan. |
江戸住や二階の窓の初のぼり
edo sumi ya
ni kai no mado no
hatsunobori |
Living in Edo-
From the first floor window
Announcing the birth of a baby. |
御佛や生るるまねに錢が降る
mihotoke ya
aruru mane ni
zeni ga furu |
Before the Buddha
As if made manifest
Money falls. |
おもしろい夜は昔也衣更
omoshiroi
yo wa mukashi nari
koromogae |
All the pleasant
Nights are in the past,
Now I’m changing clothes. |
'Simply moving and elegant'