Ducks bobbing on the water

Ducks bobbing on the water--
are they also, tonight,
hoping to get lucky?

-Kobayashi Issa

Summer night

Summer night--
even the stars
are whispering to each other.

-Kobayashi Issa

With my father

With my father
I would watch dawn
over green fields.

-Kobayashi Issa

Under the image of Buddha

Under the image of Buddha
all these spring flowers
seem a little tiresome.

-Kobayashi Issa

In this world

In this world
we walk on the roof of hell,
gazing at flowers.

-Kobayashi Issa

What a strange thing

What a strange thing!
to be alive
beneath cherry blossoms

-Kobayashi Issa