Basho Matsuo Poems and Haikus

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

All Matsuo Basho Poems and Haikus