Autumn Gold [Haiku]

gold-sash Buddha
sits under Fall colors,
watching leaves drop.

Graveyard Trees [Haiku]

graveyard trees
turn crimson in the Fall, but
hold leaves stubbornly.

Seasonless [Haiku]

spring green to the right; 
tawny stalk stubble on the left
a seasonless dreamworld?

Harvested [Haiku]

rice harvested;
the paddies are dry.
buffaloes graze.

Clockweed [Haiku]

full bloom clockweed
is on the clock as autumn
 ages to winter.

Four Seasonal Haiku of Yosa Buson [w/ Audio]

SPRING*

The spring sea;
gently, quietly,
 all day long.

SUMMER

what a joy!
wading through summer rivers,
 sandals in hand.

AUTUMN

vacant teahouse,
atop the mountain:
 a harvest moon.

WINTER

neighbors detest me
for my whistling kettle:
 a cold winter night.

* Translation by: Wilson, William Scott. 2023. A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Haiku. Tuttle Publishing: North Clarendon, VT.

Heavy Rebel [Haiku]

autumn breezes 
send dry leaves tumbling, but for
 one heavy rebel.

Four Haiku by Kobayashi Issa [w/ Audio]

muddy clogs
beside each gate;
Spring is here.
"don't swat!"
the fly rubs its hands,
then rubs its feet.
autumn rain,
a small sumo wrestler
pushes through.
sleeping in a row,
the Shinano mountains:
under snow blanket.
In Japanese:


門門の下駄の泥より春立ちぬ




やれ打つな蠅が手を摺り足をする




秋の雨小さき角力通りけり





寝ならぶやしなのの山も夜の雪




From: Wilson, William Scott. 2023. A Beginners Guide to Japanese Haiku. North Clarendon, VT: Tuttle Publishing, 224pp.

Rhythm Counter [Haiku]

autumn grasses
 sway to a different rhythm
  than in summer's youth.  

Gray Skies [Haiku]

gray autumn skies
 show in liquid metal
  creek pools.