Classical Poetry of Tokyo

Haiku · Sumida River

Spring

春の夜は 桜に明けて しまひけり

The spring night passes— dawn breaks soft through cherry blooms, and so it is done.

Matsuo Basho Edo period · ca. 1680

Haiku · Ueno Park

Spring

さまざまの こと思ひ出す 桜かな

Beneath the cherry blossoms, so many memories arise— each petal, a forgotten year.

Matsuo Basho Edo period · ca. 1685

Haiku · Fukagawa

Autumn

この秋は 何で年よる 雲に鳥

This autumn— why do I feel so old? Birds vanish into clouds.

Matsuo Basho Edo period · ca. 1693

Haiku · Asakusa

Spring

春の海 ひねもすのたり のたりかな

The sea in spring— all the livelong day, softly swaying, swaying, swaying on.

Yosa Buson Edo period · ca. 1750

Haiku · Edo Castle

Spring

めでたさも 中くらいなり おらが春

Even my happiness is modest, nothing grand— this spring is simply mine

Kobayashi Issa Edo period · ca. 1819

Haiku · Nihonbashi

Winter

いくたびも 雪の深さを 尋ねけり

Again and again, I ask how deep the snow has fallen— this restless longing

Masaoka Shiki Meiji period · ca. 1895

Haiku · Shinobazu Pond

Summer

古池や 蛙飛び込む 水の音

An ancient pond— a frog leaps in, the splash of water

Matsuo Basho Edo period · 1686

Haiku · Shinjuku

Summer

雀の子 そこのけそこのけ お馬が通る

Little sparrow chicks— move aside, move aside now! The great horse comes through.

Kobayashi Issa Edo period · ca. 1810

Haiku · Yanaka

Autumn

柿食えば 鐘が鳴るなり 法隆寺

Biting into a persimmon— the temple bell resounds at Hōryūji

Masaoka Shiki Meiji period · 1895

Haiku · Tokyo Bay

Winter

海暮れて 鴨の声 ほのかに白し

The sea grows dark— a wild duck's call glimmers faintly white

Matsuo Basho Edo period · ca. 1690