Translation / December 2013 (Issue 22)


Issa and the Buddha – Ten Haiku

by Kobayashi Issa, translated by Nicholas Francis



ちる花に仏とも法ともしらぬ哉

blossom falls,
knowing neither
Buddha nor Dharma


紅葉たく人をじろじろ仏哉

staring at a man
as he burns autumn leaves —
Lord Buddha


のら猫が仏のひざを枕哉

a stray cat
finds its pillow
the Buddha`s lap


とるとしもあなた任せぞ雪仏

growing old —
that too I leave in your hands,
snow-Buddha


鬼と成り仏となるや土用雲

becoming a demon,
becoming the Buddha —
dog-day clouds


なむなむと桜明りに寝たりけり

praying to Buddha,
under cherry-blossom light
I fall asleep


ほたの火や仏もずらり並びつつ

wood-smoke fire —
a row of Buddhas
lined up just so


ひきどのの仏頂面や五月雨

Mr Toad pulls
his sour Buddha-face —
May rain


西方は極楽道よかれのはら

the Pure Land
lies to the West —
withered field


ともかくもあなた任せのとしの暮

Whatever may come
I place myself in Buddha`s hands —
year`s end
 
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