The petals tremble

The petals tremble
on the yellow mountain rose –
roar of the rapids

poem by Matsuo Basho
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Ungraciously

Ungraciously, under
a great soldier's empty helmet,
a cricket sings

poem by Matsuo Basho
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Basho's Death Poem

Sick on my journey,
only my dreams will wander
these desolate moors

poem by Matsuo Basho
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With a warbler

With a warbler for
a soul, it sleeps peacefully,
this mountain willo

poem by Matsuo Basho
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But for a woodpecker

But for a woodpecker
tapping at a post, no sound
at all in the house

poem by Matsuo Basho
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With every gust of wind

With every gust of wind,
the butterfly changes its place
on the willow.

poem by Matsuo Basho
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A weathered skeleton

A weathered skeleton
in windy fields of memory,
piercing like a knife

poem by Matsuo Basho
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A cicada shell

A cicada shell;
it sang itself
utterly away.

Translated by R.H. Blyth

poem by Matsuo Basho
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Long Conversations

Long conversations
beside blooming irises –
joys of life on the road

poem by Matsuo Basho
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Fleas, lice

Fleas, lice,
a horse peeing
near my pillow.

Translated by Robert Hass

poem by Matsuo Basho
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