I.
sleeping at noon
the body of the blue heron
poised in nobility
(By – Basho; Translated – Earl Miner)
II.
Evening wind;
water laps
the heron’s legs
(By – Yosa Buson; Translated – Robert Hass)
[Great blue herons are a big attraction in my area in the springtime.]
I.
I regret picking
and not picking
violets.
(Translated – Faubion Bowers)
II.
Violets have grown here and there
on the ruins of my burned house.
(By – Yagi Shokyu-ni; Translated – Asataro Miyamori)
III.
Behold! violets bloom within
The fence of the forbidden ground.
(By – Shida Yaba; Translated – Asataro Miyamori)
IV.
One stroke of the hoe —
they huddle, uprooted
the violets.
(By – Uejima Onitsura; Translated – Cheryl A. Crowley)
[It is bitterly cold here today, so I am dreaming of warmer days and posting some flower-themed poetry.]
redbirds and readwords 