Winter haiku poems, Matsuo Basho’s examples

Matsuo Basho's Winter haiku poems

The winter haiku which made by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) are clearly expressed his own viewpoints comparing to other seasons. Between October and December was winter as the old calender.

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30 Matsuo Basho’s haiku poems including the best10 with Japanese voice (only subscriber)

Sample (Old Pond haiku poem)

 

<Japanese>

雪と雪 今宵師走の 名月か

Yki to yuki/ Koyoi shiwasu no/ Meigetsu ya

<English>

The snow and snow.

This evenining would have

The great moon of December .

 

 

 

 

<Japanese>

こがらしや 頬腫痛む 人の顔

Kogarashi ya/ Hoobare itamu/ Hito no kao

<English>

The cold wintry wind.

The throbbing pains of the swelling cheek.

People’s face.

 

 

 

 

<Japanese>

せつかれて 年忘れする 機嫌かな

Setsukarete/ Toshi-wasure suru/ Kigen kana

<English>

For Badgered,

I give the year-end party

In a good mood.

 

 

 

 

<Japanese>

いざ行かむ 雪見にころぶ 所まで

Iza yukan/ Yukimi ni korobu/ Tokoro made

<English>

Let’s go out

To see the snow view

Where we slip and fall.

<Japanese>

埋火や 壁には客の 影法師

Uzumi-bi ya/ Kabe niha kyaku no/ Kageboushi

<English>

The banked fire.

The shadow of the guest

Is on the wall.

 

 

<Japanese>

馬方は 知らじ時雨の 大井川

Umakata ha/ Shirazi shigure no/ Ooi-gawa

<English>

The packhorse driver

Wouldn’t know the drizzling winter rain

At Ooi River.

 

 

<Japanese>

薬飲む さらでも霜の 枕かな

Kusuri nomu/ Sarademo shimo no/ Makura kana

<English>

I drink the medicine,

Otherwise lie down

With the pillow on the frost.

 

<Japanese>

市人よ 此笠うらふ 雪の傘

Ichi-bito yo/ Kono kasa urou/ Uilo no kasa

<English>

Hey townspeople,

I’ll sell you my woven hat,

The snow umbllera.

<Japanese>

水仙や 白き障子の とも移り

Suisen ya/ Shiroki shoji no/ Tomo-utsuri

<English>

The narcissus

With the white a shoji screen

Shines together.

 

<Japanese>

煤掃は 己が棚つる 大工かな

Susuhaki ha/ Onoga tana tsuru/ Daiku kana

<English>

At the Susuhaki,

Putting up his shelf

The carpenter.

 

Susuhaki: The cleaning and sweeping the dust and soot at a year-end in old Japanese days.

 

 

 

 

<Japanese>

初雪や  いつ大仏の  柱立

Hatsu-yuki ya/ Itsu daibutsuno/ Hashira-date

<English>

The first snow,

When is the pillar set up

For the Great Buddha?

 

the Great Buddha: The hall of the Great Buddha in Todaiji had been destroyed by the war fire since 1567. So the buddha statue was exposed to the weather.

 

 

<Japanese>

箱根こす  人も有らし  今朝の雪

Hakone kosu/ Hito mo arurashi/ Kesa no yuki

<English>

Some people

Would cross the Hakone Pass

Even though the moning snow.

 

More Basho’s haiku poems

Other famous Japanese poets

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