Haiku by Matsuo Basho

Bashō’s supposed birthplace in Iga Province

Bashō (1644 – 1694) was the most famous Japanese poet of the Edo period.

Since the crescent moon,
I have been waiting for tonight.

By my new banana plant
The first sign of something I loathe–
A miscanthus bud!

Even a horse
Arrests my eyes–on this
Snowy morrow.

Another year is gone
A traveler’s shade on my head,
straw sandals at my feet.

An ancient pond
A frog jumps in
The splash of water.

Now then, let’s go out
To enjoy the snow … until
I slip and fall!

The rough sea
Stretching out towards Sado
The Milky Way.

Falling sick on a journey
My dream goes wandering
On a withered field.