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
