Haiku of Japan 31–40 :: Collection #4

Time for the 4th collection of haiku posts from my Haiku of Japan series. Some great ones in here! Remember if you enjoy any of these, click on the title of the haiku to visit a post just about that haiku only which may give you some more info or background about the poem.

Enjoy!

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1. Am I a Butterfly or a Man?
   
   
   

   君や蝶我や荘子が夢心
   
   
   
   kimi ya cho ware ya Souji ga yumegokoro
   —Basho
   
   
   you’re the butterfly
   I’m Chuang-tzu's
   dream essence
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Hidden Grey Hair
   
   
   

   行く年や親に白髪をかくしけり
   
   
   
   yuku toshi ya oya ni shiraga wo kakushi keri
   —Etsujin
   
   
   The ending year...
   From my parents I hide
   my grey hair
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Sleeping Butterfly
   
   
   

   釣鐘に止まりてねむる胡蝶かな
   
   
   
   tsurigane ni tomarite nemuru kocho kana
   —Buson
   
   
   on the temple bell
   sleeping
   a butterfly
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Never To Grow Old
   
   
   

   年とらぬつもりなりしが鐘の鳴る
   
   
   
   toshi toranu tsumori narishi ga kane no naru
   —Jokun
   
   
   never never to grow old
   was my intention...
   the temple bell tolls
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. From Dog to Cat
   
   
   

   秋の夜や犬からもらったり猫にあたえたり
   
   
   
   aki no yo ya inu kara morattari neko ni ataetari
   —Santoka
   
   
   autumn night...
   got it from a dog
   and gave it to a cat
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

6. Short Night
   
   
   

   餘命いくばくかある夜短し
   
   
   
   yomei ikubaku ka aru yo mijikashi
   —Shiki
   
   
   my life...
   how much is left?
   the night is short
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

7. Silent Moon
   
   
   

   三日月にひしひしと物の静まりぬ
   
   
   
   mikazuki ni hishihishi to mono no shizumarinu
   —Chiyo-ni
   
   
   At the crescent moon
   the feeling
   of silence
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

8. Temple Pine Needles
   
   
   

   禅寺の松の落葉や神無月
   
   
   
   zendera ni matsu no ochiba ya kannazuki
   —Boncho
   
   
   at the zen temple
   pine needles falling
   month of no gods
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

9. Nothing and Everything
   
   
   

   宿の春何もなきこそ何もあれ
   
   
   
   yado no haru nani mo naki koso nani mo are
   —Sodo
   
   
   spring at my hut
   there is nothing...
   yet, there is everything
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

10. Stubborn Scarecrow
    
    
    

    御幸にも編笠ぬがぬ案山子かな
    
    
    
    miyuki ni mo amigasa nuganu kagashi kana
    —Dansui
    
    
    even to the emperor
    he will not lift his hat
    the scarecrow
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

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And there we go. Hope you enjoyed. Remember, you can click on the title of each haiku to go to the original post on that haiku where I give some commentary on the poem and perhaps some insight.

Also note, all of these were translated by me, except where otherwise noted. Feel free to use any of these translations anywhere you want, but if you do, please credit me (or the proper translator). I ask that not so much because of my ego, but as a haiku reader myself I always want to know who did the translation so I can find more from them if I like it, so I'm always really happy when a website or book gives that info.

Needless to say, if you enjoyed any of these, follow me for more. I try to post one a day. Sometimes I miss a day if work or family gets in the way, but I do try to keep up.

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If you enjoyed any of these haiku, you may also enjoy the first 3 collections from the series:

1. Collection 1, haiku 1–10
2. Collection 2, haiku 11–20
3. Collection 3, haiku 21–30

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If you enjoyed this post, please like and resteem. Also be sure to follow me to see more from Japan everyday.

I post one photo everyday, as well as a haiku and as time allows, videos, more Japanese history, and so on. Let me know if there is anything about Japan you would like to know more about or would like to see.

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	David LaSpina is an American photographer lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time.