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Sacred Texts Japan Index Previous

Japanese Haiku, by Peter Beilenson, [1955], at DarkSideOfTheNet.com

p. 56

CONSIDERATE DOGS ... STEPPING OFF INTO THE SNOW AS I WALK THE PATH
ISSA

BUT WHEN I HALTED ON THE WINDY STREET AT TWILIGHT... SNOW STRUCK AGAINST ME
KITO

CALL HIM BACK! AH NO, HE'S BLOWN FROM SIGHT ALREADY... FISH-PEDDLER IN THE SNOW
ANON.

CROSSING IT ALONE IN COLD MOONLIGHT... THE BRITTLE BRIDGE ECHOES MY FOOTSTEPS
TAIGI

p. 57

SUCH A LITTLE CHILD TO SEND TO BE A PRIESTLING ICY POVERTY
SHIKI

WINDY WINTER RAIN... MY SILLY BIG UMBRELLA TRIES WALKING BACKWARD
SHISEI-JO

BUDDHA ON THE HILL... FROM YOUR HOLY NOSE INDEED HANGS AN ICICLE
ISSA

THIS SNOWY MORNING THAT BLACK CROW I HATE SO MUCH... BUT HE'S BEAUTIFUL!
BASHO

p. 58

LOOK AT THE CANDLE! WHAT A HUNGRY WIND IT IS... HUNTING IN THE SNOW!
SEIRA

IF THERE WERE FRAGRANCE THESE HEAVY SNOW- FLAKES SETTLING... LILIES ON THE ROCKS
BASHO

AH! I INTENDED NEVER NEVER TO GROW OLD ... LISTEN: NEW YEAR'S BELL!
JOKUN

SNOW-SWALLOWED VALLEY: ONLY THE WINDING RIVER... BLACK FLUENT BRUSH-STROKE
BONCHO

p. 59

ROARING WINTER STORM RUSHING TO ITS UTTER END ... EVER-SOUNDING SEA
GONSUI

ELEVEN BRAVE KNIGHTS CANTER THROUGH THE WHIRLING SNOW... NOT ONE BENDS HIS NECK
SHIKI

GOING SNOW-VIEWING ONE BY ONE THE WALKERS VANISH... WHITELY FALLING VEILS
KATSURI

"YES, COME IN!" I CRIED... BUT AT THE WINDY SNOW-HUNG GATE KNOCKING STILL WENT ON
KYORA

p. 60

SEE: SURVIVING SUNS VISIT THE ANCESTRAL GRAVE ... BEARDED, WITH BENT CANES
BASHO

THE ORPHAN SPEAKS: THE YEAR-END PARTY... I AM EVEN ENVIOUS OF SCOLDED CHILDREN
ISSA

I GAVE THE GREETINGS OF THE BRIGHT NEW YEAR ... AS THOUGH I HELD A PLUM-BRANCH
SHIKI

ON JOLLY NEW YEAR'S DAY MY LAST YEAR'S BILLS DROP IN TO PAY THEIR COMPLIMENTS
ANON.

p. 61

DEATH-SONG: LEAF ALONE, FLUTTERING ALAS, LEAF ALONE, FLUTTERING ... FLOATING DOWN THE WIND
ANON.

DEATH-SONG: I HAVE KNOWN LOVERS... CHERRY-BLOOM ... THE NIGHTINGALE ... I WILL SLEEP CONTENT
ANON.

DEATH-SONG: FEVER-FELLED HALF-WAY, MY DREAMS AROSE TO MARCH AGAIN... INTO A HOLLOW LAND
BASHO

DEATH-SONG: THREE LOVELIEST THINGS: MOONLIGHT ... CHERRY- BLOOM ... NOW I GO SEEKING SILENT SNOW
RIPPO