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| matsuo bashō |
Matsuo Bashō (1644 – November 28, 1694),
born Matsuo Kinsaku, then Matsuo Chūemon Munefusa, was the most famous poet of
the Edo period in Japan. During his lifetime, Bashō was recognized for his
works in the collaborative haikai no renga form; today, after centuries of
commentary, he is recognized as the greatest master of haiku (at the time
called hokku). His poetry is internationally renowned, and in Japan many of his
poems are reproduced on monuments and traditional sites. Although Bashō is
justifiably famous in the west for his hokku, he himself believed his best work
lay in leading and participating in renku. He is quoted as saying, “Many of my
followers can write hokku as well as I can. Where I show who I really am is in
linking haikai verses.” Bashō was introduced to poetry at a young age, and
after integrating himself into the intellectual scene of Edo (modern Tokyo), he
quickly became well-known throughout Japan. He made a living as a teacher, but
renounced the social, urban life of the literary circles and was inclined to
wander throughout the country, heading west, east, and far into the northern
wilderness to gain inspiration for his writing. His poems were influenced by
his firsthand experience of the world around him, often encapsulating the
feeling of a scene in a few simple elements. Presenting some haiku poems : Being Poet
Scarecrow in the
hillock
Paddy field --
How unaware! How useful!
Paddy field --
How unaware! How useful!
Passing through the
world
Indeed this is just
Sogi's rain shelter.
Indeed this is just
Sogi's rain shelter.
A wild sea-
In the distance over Sado
The Milky Way.
In the distance over Sado
The Milky Way.
The she cat -
Grown thin
From love and barley.
Grown thin
From love and barley.
How wild the sea
is,
and over Sado Island,
the River of Heaven
and over Sado Island,
the River of Heaven
Morning and evening
Someone waits at Matsushima!
One-sided love.
Someone waits at Matsushima!
One-sided love.
Wrapping dumplings
in
bamboo leaves, with one finger
she tidies her hair
bamboo leaves, with one finger
she tidies her hair
On Buddha's
birthday
a spotted fawn is born –
just like that
a spotted fawn is born –
just like that
On Buddha's
deathday,
wrinkled tough old hands pray –
the prayer beads' sound
wrinkled tough old hands pray –
the prayer beads' sound
I like to wash,
the dust of this world
In the droplets of dew.
the dust of this world
In the droplets of dew.
With dewdrops
dripping,
I wish somehow I could wash
this perishing world
I wish somehow I could wash
this perishing world
Won't you come and
see
loneliness? Just one leaf
from the kiri tree.
loneliness? Just one leaf
from the kiri tree.
moonless night...
a powerful wind embraces
the ancient cedars
a powerful wind embraces
the ancient cedars
Behind Ise
Shrine,
unseen, hidden by the fence,
Buddha enters nirvana
unseen, hidden by the fence,
Buddha enters nirvana
This ruined
temple
should have its sad tale told only
by a clam digger
should have its sad tale told only
by a clam digger
in my new clothing
i feel so different, i must
look like someone else
i feel so different, i must
look like someone else
low tide morning...
the willow skirts are tailed
in stinking mud
the willow skirts are tailed
in stinking mud
A green willow,
dripping down into the mud,
at low tide.
dripping down into the mud,
at low tide.
a clear waterfall —
into the ripples
fall green pine-needles
into the ripples
fall green pine-needles
overhanging pine...
adding its mite of needles
to the waterfall
adding its mite of needles
to the waterfall
The pine tree of
Shiogoshi
Trickles all night long
Shiny drops of moonlight.
Trickles all night long
Shiny drops of moonlight.
Culture's
beginnings:
rice-planting songs from the heart
of the country
rice-planting songs from the heart
of the country
Singing, planting
rice,
village songs more lovely
than famous city poems
village songs more lovely
than famous city poems
Spring air --
Woven moon
And plum scent.
Woven moon
And plum scent.
Heated spring air
In tiny waves of an inch or two -
Above wintery grass.
In tiny waves of an inch or two -
Above wintery grass.
Fresh spring!
The world is only Nine days old -
These fields and mountains!
The world is only Nine days old -
These fields and mountains!
Spring!
A nameless hill
in the haze.
A nameless hill
in the haze.
it is spring!
a hill without a name
in thin haze
a hill without a name
in thin haze
Oh, these spring
days!
A nameless little mountain,
wrapped in morning haze!
A nameless little mountain,
wrapped in morning haze!
Spring too, very
soon!
They are setting the scene for it --
plum tree and moon.
They are setting the scene for it --
plum tree and moon.
From all directions
Winds bring petals of cherry
Into the grebe lake.
Winds bring petals of cherry
Into the grebe lake.
Under the image of
Buddha
All these spring flowers
Seem a little tiresome.
All these spring flowers
Seem a little tiresome.
The leafless cherry,
Old as a toothless woman,
Blooms in flowers,
Mindful of its youth.
Old as a toothless woman,
Blooms in flowers,
Mindful of its youth.
That great blue oak
indifferent to all blossoms
appears more noble
indifferent to all blossoms
appears more noble
The oak tree stands
noble on the hill even in
cherry blossom time
noble on the hill even in
cherry blossom time
Spring rain
conveyed under the trees
in drops.
conveyed under the trees
in drops.
Spring rain
Leaking through the roof,
Dripping from the wasps' nest.
Leaking through the roof,
Dripping from the wasps' nest.
In this warm spring
rain,
tiny leaves are sprouting
from the eggplant seed
tiny leaves are sprouting
from the eggplant seed
The sun's way:
hollyhocks turn toward it
through all the rains of May.
hollyhocks turn toward it
through all the rains of May.
Spring departs.
Birds cry
Fishes' eyes are filled with tears
Birds cry
Fishes' eyes are filled with tears
No blossoms and no
moon,
and he is drinking sake
all alone!
and he is drinking sake
all alone!
Temple bells die out.
The fragrant blossoms remain.
A perfect evening!
The fragrant blossoms remain.
A perfect evening!
A little girl under a
peach tree,
Whose blossoms fall into the entrails
Of the earth.
Whose blossoms fall into the entrails
Of the earth.
By the old temple,
peach blossoms;
a man treading rice.
peach blossoms;
a man treading rice.
Unknown spring --
Plum blossom
Behind the mirror.
Plum blossom
Behind the mirror.
With plum blossom
scent,
this sudden sun emerges
along a mountain trail
this sudden sun emerges
along a mountain trail
Very brief:
Gleam of blossoms in the treetops
On a moonlit night.
Gleam of blossoms in the treetops
On a moonlit night.
From among the
peach-trees
"Blooming everywhere,"
The first cherry blossoms.
"Blooming everywhere,"
The first cherry blossoms.
A lovely spring
night
suddenly vanished while we
viewed cherry blossoms
suddenly vanished while we
viewed cherry blossoms
From every
direction
cherry blossom petals blow
into Lake Biwa
cherry blossom petals blow
into Lake Biwa
Kannon's* tiled
temple
roof floats far away in clouds
of cherry blossoms
roof floats far away in clouds
of cherry blossoms
(Bodhisattva of
Compassion)
From all these trees
–
in salads, soups, everywhere –
cherry blossoms fall
in salads, soups, everywhere –
cherry blossoms fall
