All the day long-
yet not long enough for the skylark,
singing, singing.
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Deep into autumn
still not a butterfly
Kori nigaku enso ga nodo o uruoseri
Just enough to wet the throatOf a sewer rat.
The summer grasses
Of brave soldiers dreams
This first fallen snow
the jonquil leaves
Following are several translations
the most famous of all haiku:Furuike yakawazu tobikomumizu no oto– BashoLiteral TranslationFu-ru (old) i-ke (pond) ya,ka-wa-zu (frog) to-bi-ko-mu (jumping into)mi-zu (water) no o-to (sound)Translated by Fumiko SaishoThe old pond-a frog jumps in,sound of water.Translated by Robert HassOld pond…a frog jumps inwater’s sound.Translated by William J. HigginsonAn old silent pond…A frog jumps into the pond,splash! Silence…
The oak tree:
in cherry blossoms.Translated by Robert Hass