ISSA, Kobayashi


Brilliant moon

brilliant moon

is it true that you too

must pass in a hurry?


Even On The Smallest Islands

Even on the smallest islands,

they are tilling the fields,

skylarks singing


Having Slept, The Cat Gets Up

Having slept, the cat gets up,

yawns, goes out

to make love.

In These Latter-Day

In these latter-day,

Degenerate times,

Cherry-blossoms everywhere


In This World

In this world

we walk on the roof of hell,

gazing at flowers


Under My House

Under my house

an inchworm

measuring the joists.

Translated by Robert HASS