The Four Seasons in Japan

About half a year ago, we spent an evening with Matsuo Basho – the first, the best and, according to some, the only – haiku poet.

Tonight, we’ll take a look at some other haiku poets, and in doing so, we get to live through the four seasons in Japan…

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Spring

the paper weights
on the picture books in the shop —
the spring wind!

By Takai Kito (1741-89), transl. by R. H. Blyth

Those falling blossoms
all return to the branch when
I watch butterflies

By Arakida Moritake (1473-1549), transl. by
Sam Hamill

Summer

Fireflies over a river by Shiokawa Bunrin [Image ©Trustees of the British Museum. CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0]

cool clear water
and fireflies that vanish
that is all there is…

By Fukuda Chiyo-ni (1703-1775),
transl. by David Cobb

Autumn

on the mountain crests
a line of wild geese
and the moon’s seal

By Yosa Buson (1716-1784), transl. by David Cobb

no escaping it —
I must step on fallen leaves
to take this path

By Suzuki Masajo (1906-2003), transl. by
Lee Gurga & Emiko Miyashita

Winter

on moor and mountain
nothing stirs
this morn of snow

By Fukuda Chiyo-ni (1703-1775),
transl. by R. H. Blyth

day breaks —
quacks of the wild ducks
surround the castle

By Morikawa Kyoriku (1656-1715),
transl. by David Cobb

the dawn of New Year’s Day —
yesterday
how far off!

By Tagawa Ichiku (c. 1710-1760),
transl. by R. H. Blyth

No sky and no ground —
only the snowflakes that
fall without ceasing.

By Kajiwara Hashin (1864-?), transl. by ?

P. S. I deliberately left out poems by Matsuo Basho from this seasonal collection – he deserves one all of his own. Watch this space.)

You might also like:
⇒ An Evening with Matsuo Basho
⇒ Quote of the Week: Communion
⇒ And for Spanish speakers (lest they feel left out today!): Los haikus de Jorge Luis Borges