by Matsuo Basho
In the cicada's cry
No sign can foretell
How soon it must die.
No one travels
Along this way but I,
This autumn evening.
An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.
From time to time
The clouds give rest
To the moon-beholders.
Autumn moonlight-
a worm digs silently
into the chestnut.
An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.
Lightning flash-
what I thought were faces
are plumes of pampas grass.
In the twilight rain
these brilliant-hued hibiscus -
A lovely sunset
First winter rain-
even the monkey
seems to want a raincoat.
The shallows-
a crane’s thighs splashed
in cool waves
The summer grasses
All that remains
Of brave soldiers dreams
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