草木塔 七百一句Sōmokutō · 701 poems

• 松はみな枝垂れて南無観世音the pines all droop their branches — namu kanzeon
• 松風に明け暮れの鐘撞いてin the pine wind ringing the bell at dawn and dusk
• ひさしぶりに掃く垣根の花が咲いてゐるsweeping for the first time in a while — the hedge flowers are in bloom
• 分け入つても分け入つても青い山going in deeper / and deeper still / the green mountains
• しとどに濡れてこれは道しるべの石soaked through — and this is a stone that marks the way
• 炎天をいただいて乞ひ歩くthe blazing sky borne on my head I go begging
• 鴉啼いてわたしも一人a crow caws and I too am alone
• 生死の中の雪ふりしきるin the midst of life and death the snow falls without end
• 木の葉散る歩きつめるleaves falling I keep on walking
• 踏みわける萩よすすきよtreading my way through — bush clover, pampas grass
• この旅、果もない旅のつくつくぼうしthis journey, this endless journey — a cicada crying
• へうへうとして水を味ふdrifting and drifting I savor the water
• 落ちかかる月を観てゐるに一人watching the moon go down and I am alone
• ひとりで蚊にくはれてゐるalone getting bitten by mosquitoes
• 投げだしてまだ陽のある脚flung out my legs still in the sun
• 山の奥から繭負うて来たcome from deep in the mountains carrying cocoons
• 笠にとんぼをとまらせてあるくwalking with a dragonfly perched on my hat
• 歩きつづける彼岸花咲きつづけるwalking on and on the red spider lilies blooming on and on
• まつすぐな道でさみしいthe road runs straight and I am lonely
• だまつて今日の草鞋穿くin silence I put on today's straw sandals
• ほろほろ酔うて木の葉ふるgently tipsy the leaves come fluttering down
• しぐるるや死なないでゐるcold rain falling and I am not yet dead
• 張りかへた障子のなかの一人inside the freshly papered shoji one person
• 水に影ある旅人であるcasting a shadow on the water I am a traveler
• 雪がふるふる雪見てをればsnow falling falling and I am watching the snow
• しぐるるやしぐるる山へ歩み入るcold rain falling and into the rained-on mountains I walk
• 食べるだけはいただいた雨となりhaving been given just enough to eat and now it turns to rain
• 木の芽草の芽あるきつづけるbuds on the trees buds in the grass I keep on walking
• 生き残つたからだ掻いてゐるscratching this body that survived
• わかれきてつくつくぼうしhaving parted and walked on a cicada crying
• また見ることもない山が遠ざかるthe mountain I'll never see again draws away
• こほろぎに鳴かれてばかりnothing but crickets crying at me
• れいろうとして水鳥はつるむcrystalline the waterbirds pair off
• 百舌鳥啼いて身の捨てどころなしa shrike cries and there is nowhere to lay this body down
• どうしようもないわたしが歩いてゐるthis hopeless self of mine walking along
• 涸れきつた川を渡るcrossing a river run completely dry
• ぶらさがつてゐる烏瓜は二つthe snake gourds hanging there are two
• すすきのひかりさえぎるものなしthe light off the pampas grass nothing to block it
• 分け入れば水音pushing in — the sound of water
• すべつてころんで山がひつそりslipping and falling and the mountain hushed
• 雨の山茶花の散るでもなくthe sasanqua in the rain not even falling
• しきりに落ちる大きい葉かなcoming down without cease the big leaves
• けさもよい日の星一つthis morning too a fine day one star
• すつかり枯れて豆となつてゐるwithered right through and turned to beans
• つかれた脚へとんぼとまつたonto my tired leg a dragonfly settled
• 枯山飲むほどの水はありてon the withered mountain there is water enough to drink
• 捨てきれない荷物のおもさまへうしろthe weight of the baggage I can't cast off before me behind me
• 法衣こんなにやぶれて草の実my robe torn to this and burrs of grass
• 旅のかきおき書きかへておくrewriting my traveler's farewell note
• 岩かげまさしく水が湧いてゐるin the lee of the rock water truly welling up
• あの雲がおとした雨にぬれてゐるwet with the rain that cloud let fall
• ここに白髪を剃り落して去るshaving off my white hair here and leaving
• 秋となつた雑草にすわるsitting down on weeds gone autumn
• こんなにうまい水があふれてゐるwater this delicious overflowing
• 年とれば故郷こひしいつくつくぼうしgrown old I long for home a cicada crying
• 岩が岩に薊咲かせてゐるrock setting thistle to bloom on rock
• それでよろしい落葉を掃くthat's fine as it is sweeping the fallen leaves
• 水音といつしよに里へ下りて来たcame down to the village along with the sound of water
• しみじみ食べる飯ばかりの飯であるsavoring it deeply rice that is only rice
• まつたく雲がない笠をぬぎnot a single cloud I take off my hat
• 墓がならんでそこまで波がおしよせてthe graves in a row and up to them the waves press in
• 酔うてこほろぎと寝てゐたよdrunk I'd been sleeping with the crickets
• また逢へた山茶花も咲いてゐるmet again the sasanqua too in bloom
• 雨だれの音も年とつたeven the sound of the raindrops has grown old
• 見すぼらしい影とおもふに木の葉ふるa shabby shadow, I think — and leaves fall
• 逢ひたい、捨炭山が見えだしたI long to see you — the slag heap has come into view
• 枝をさしのべてゐる冬木holding out its branches the winter tree
• 物乞ふ家もなくなり山には雲no more houses to beg from and clouds on the mountains
• あるひは乞ふことをやめ山を観てゐるor else I quit begging and stand watching the mountains
• 笠も漏りだしたかhas my hat too begun to leak
• 霜夜の寝床がどこかにあらうon a frosty night there'll be a bed somewhere
• 安か安か寒か寒か雪雪cheap cheap cold cold snow snow
• うしろすがたのしぐれてゆくかthis back of mine going off into the cold rain
• 鉄鉢の中へも霰into the begging bowl too the hail
• いつまで旅することの爪をきるhow long will the traveling go on — cutting my nails
• 朝凪の島を二つおくthe morning calm sets down two islands
• 冬雨の石階をのぼるサンタマリヤup the stone steps in the winter rain Santa Maria
• ほろりとぬけた歯ではあるa tooth that dropped out easily enough
• 寒い雲がいそぐcold clouds hurrying by
• ふるさとは遠くして木の芽home is far away and the buds on the trees
• よい湯からよい月へ出たout of a fine bath into a fine moon
• はや芽吹く樹で啼いてゐるin a tree already budding a bird is crying
• 笠へぽつとり椿だつたonto my hat with a soft plop — a camellia
• しづかな道となりどくだみの芽the road turns quiet and the buds of dokudami
• 蕨がもう売られてゐるbracken already for sale
• 朝からの騒音へ長い橋かかるtoward the noise since morning a long bridge is thrown
• ここにおちつき草萌ゆるsettling here the grass sprouting
• いただいて足りて一人の箸をおくhaving received enough I set down my one pair of chopsticks
• しぐるる土をふみしめてゆくtreading firm on the drizzle-wet earth i go on
• 秋風の石を拾ふin the autumn wind i pick up a stone
• 今日の道のたんぽぽ咲いたon today's road a dandelion has bloomed

章の一覧へもどる ↑Back to chapters ↑

• 雨ふるふるさとははだしであるくin my home village where the rain falls i walk barefoot
• くりやまで月かげの一人でall the way to the kitchen the moonlight, and i alone
• かるかやへかるかやのゆれてゐるtoward the plume grass the plume grass swaying
• うつりきてお彼岸花の花ざかりjust moved in and the red spider lilies at the height of bloom
• 朝焼雨ふる大根まかうred dawn sky, rain falling — i'll sow the radishes
• 草の実の露の、おちつかうとするthe dew on the grass seed, trying to settle
• ゆふ空から柚子の一つをもらふfrom the evening sky i receive a single yuzu
• 茶の花のちるばかりちらしておくthe tea flowers, i let them just keep falling as they fall
• いつしか明けてゐる茶の花somehow it has grown light — tea flowers
• 冬が来てゐる木ぎれ竹ぎれwinter has come — scraps of wood, scraps of bamboo
• 月が昇つて何を待つでもなくthe moon rises and i wait for nothing
• ひとりの火の燃えさかりゆくをmy lone fire blazing up higher and higher
• お正月の鴉かあかあthe New Year's crows caw and caw
• 落葉の、水仙の芽かよamong the fallen leaves — a narcissus shoot, is it?
• あれこれ食べるものはあつて風の一日this and that to eat, and a whole day of wind
• 水音しんじつおちつきましたthe sound of water — truly i have settled down
• 茶の木も庵らしくひらいてはちりthe tea shrubs too, hermitage-like, open then scatter
• 誰か来さうな空が曇つてゐる枇杷の花the sky clouds as if someone might come — loquat blossoms
• 落葉ふる奥ふかく御仏を観るleaves falling — deep within i behold the buddha
• 雪空の最後の一つをもぐunder a snow-heavy sky i pluck the last one
• 其中雪ふる一人として火を焚くsnow falling on gochū, and i as one man tend a fire
• ぬくい日の、まだ食べるものはあるa warm day, and there is still something to eat
• 月かげのまんなかをもどるi come back down the middle of the moonlight
• 雪へ雪ふるしづけさにをるonto snow snow falling, and i am in the stillness
• 雪ふる一人一人ゆくsnow falling — one by one they go
• 落葉あたたかうして藪柑子fallen leaves gone warm — spearflower berries
• 茶の木にかこまれそこはかとないくらしringed round by tea shrubs, a life of no particular anything
• 月夜、手土産は米だつたかmoonlit night — so the gift he brought was rice
• あるけば蕗のとうwhen i walk, butterbur buds
• 椿ひらいて墓があるa camellia opens and there is a grave
• ひつそりかんとしてぺんぺん草の花ざかりutterly hushed, the shepherd's purse at the height of bloom
• いちりんの椿いちりんone single camellia, one single flower
• 音は朝から木の実をたべに来た鳥かthat sound since morning — a bird come to eat the berries?
• ぬいてもぬいても草の執着をぬくpull and pull and still i pull the grass's clinging
• もう暮れる火の燃え立つなりalready dusk — the fire flaring up
• 人が来たよな枇杷の葉のおちるだけas if someone had come — only a loquat leaf falling
• けふは蕗をつみ蕗をたべtoday, picking butterbur and eating butterbur
• 何とかしたい草の葉のそよげどもwanting to do something — though the grass blades sway
• すずめをどるやたんぽぽちるやsparrows dancing! dandelions scattering!
• もう明けさうな窓あけて青葉day about to break, i open the window — green leaves
• ながい毛がしらがa long hair — and it's white
• こころすなほに御飯がふいたmy heart guileless, the rice has boiled over
• てふてふうらからおもてへひらひらa butterfly from behind to the front flutter flutter
• やつぱり一人がよろしい雑草after all being alone is best — weeds
• けふもいちにち誰も来なかつたほうたるtoday again all day no one came — a firefly
• すツぱだかへとんぼとまらうとするかonto my bare skin a dragonfly means to land, does it
• かさりこそり音させて鳴かぬ虫が来たa rustle, a scrape — a voiceless insect has come

章の一覧へもどる ↑Back to chapters ↑

• 松風すずしく人も食べ馬も食べthe pine wind cool — a man eats, a horse eats
• けふもいちにち風をあるいてきたtoday again all day i have walked the wind
• 何が何やらみんな咲いてゐるwhat on earth is what — everything is in bloom
• あるけばきんぽうげすわればきんぽうげwalking buttercups, sitting buttercups
• あざみあざやかなあさのあめあがりthistles bright and vivid — a morning after rain
• うつむいて石ころばかりhead bowed, only pebbles
• 若葉のしづくで笠のしづくでwith the drops from the young leaves, with the drops from my hat
• ほうたるこいこいふるさとにきたfirefly come, come — i've reached my home village
• お寺の竹の子竹になつたthe temple's bamboo shoot has become a bamboo
• 松かぜ松かげ寝ころんでpine wind, pine shade, lying down
• 明けてくる鎌をとぐday breaking, i whet the sickle
• ひとりきいてゐてきつつきalone i listen — a woodpecker
• かたむいた月のふくろうとしてunder the leaning moon, being an owl
• 花いばら、ここの土とならうよwild roses — let me become the soil of this place
• 待つてゐるさくらんぼ熟れてゐるwaiting — the cherries are ripening
• 山ふところのはだかとなりin the bosom of the mountain i become naked
• 山路はや萩を咲かせてゐるthe mountain path already has the bush clover blooming
• ここにふたたび花いばら散つてゐるhere once again the wild roses are scattering
• 朝の土から拾ふfrom the morning earth i pick it up
• 石をまつり水のわくところa stone enshrined where the water wells up
• いそいでもどるかなかなかなかなhurrying home — kanakana kanakana
• 山のいちにち蟻もあるいてゐるa day in the mountains — the ants are walking too
• 雲がいそいでよい月にするthe clouds hurry off and make it a fine moon
• 朝は涼しい茗荷の子the morning is cool — young myōga shoots
• いつも一人で赤とんぼalways alone — a red dragonfly
• 旅の法衣がかわくまで雑草の風until my travel robe dries, wind through the weeds
• けふはおわかれの糸瓜がぶらりtoday is farewell — a loofah dangling
• ぬれるだけぬれてきたきんぽうげsoaked as soaked can be, i've come — buttercups
• うごいてみのむしだつたよit moved — so it was a bagworm
• いちじくの葉かげあるおべんたうを持つてゐるin the shade of the fig leaves i have a lunch box
• 水をへだててをなごやの灯がまたたきだしたacross the water the lights of the women's houses begin to flicker
• かすんでかさなつて山がふるさとhazed and layered, the mountains are my home village
• 春風の鉢の子一つin the spring wind a single begging bowl
• わがままきままな旅の雨にはぬれてゆくon a willful, as-i-please journey, i go on getting wet in the rain
• ひさびさもどれば筍によきによきback after so long — bamboo shoots springing up and up
• びつしより濡れて代掻く馬は叱られてばかりsoaked to the skin the horse puddling the paddy is scolded and scolded
• はれたりふつたり青田になつたclearing, then raining — it's become a green paddy
• 草しげるそこは死人を焼くところthe grass grows thick — there they burn the dead
• 朝露しつとり行きたい方へ行くmorning dew, gently damp — i go where i want to go
• ほととぎすあすはあの山こえて行かうcuckoo — tomorrow i'll cross that mountain over there
• 笠をぬぎしみじみとぬれtaking off my sedge hat, and quietly, deeply, getting wet

章の一覧へもどる ↑Back to chapters ↑

• 炎天かくすところなく水のながれくるblazing sky, nowhere to hide, and water comes flowing
• 日ざかりのお地蔵さまの顔がにこにこin the blaze of noon the jizō's face all smiles
• 待つでも待たぬでもない雑草の月あかりnot waiting, not not-waiting — moonlight on the weeds
• 風の枯木をひろうてはあるくin the wind, gathering dead branches, walking on
• 向日葵や日ざかりの機械休ませてあるsunflowers — in the blaze of noon the machines set to rest
• 蚊帳へまともな月かげも誰か来さうなthe moon straight and full into the mosquito net — as if someone might come
• 糸瓜ぶらりと地べたへとどいたthe loofah dangling has reached the ground
• 夕立が洗つていつた茄子をもぐpicking the eggplant the evening shower has washed
• こほろぎよあすの米だけはあるcricket — at least tomorrow's rice, i have that
• まことお彼岸入の彼岸花sure enough — on the first day of the equinox, spider lilies
• 手がとどくいちじくのうれざまwithin reach, the fig ripening
• おもひでは汐みちてくるふるさとのわたし場memory is the tide coming in at the home-village ferry landing
• しようしようとふる水をくむin the soft steady rain i draw water
• 一つもいで御飯にしようi'll pick one, then make my meal
• ふと子のことを百舌鳥が啼くsuddenly thinking of my child — a shrike cries
• 山のあなたへお日さま見おくり御飯にするseeing the sun off beyond the mountains, then to my meal
• 昼もしづかな蠅が蠅たたきを知つてゐるeven at midday, a quiet fly knows the flyswatter
• 酔へなくなつたみじめさはこほろぎがなくthe misery of no longer getting drunk — a cricket cries
• はだかではだかの子にたたかれてゐるnaked, being hit by the naked child
• ほんによかつた夕立の水音がそこここtruly good — the sound of the evening shower's water here and there
• やつと郵便が来てそれから熟柿のおちるだけat last the post has come, and after that only ripe persimmons falling
• 散るは柿の葉咲くは茶の花ざかりfalling — the persimmon leaves; blooming — the tea flowers at their height
• うれてはおちる実をひろふgathering the fruit that ripens and falls
• 人を見送りひとりでかへるぬかるみseeing someone off, coming home alone through the mud
• 月夜、あるだけの米をとぐmoonlit night — i rinse all the rice i have
• 空のふかさは落葉しづんでゐる水the sky's depth is water with sunken leaves
• 石があれば草があれば枯れてゐるwhere there's a stone, where there's grass, it's withered
• お月さまが地蔵さまにお寒くなりましたthe moon to the jizō — it's turned cold now, hasn't it
• 水音のたえずしていばらの実the sound of water never ceasing — briar berries
• うしろから月のかげする水をわたるthe moon casting my shadow from behind, i cross the water
• しぐるる土に播いてゆくsowing into the drizzle-wet earth
• 落葉を踏んで来て恋人に逢つたなどといふhe comes treading through fallen leaves, saying he's met his sweetheart
• ぽきりと折れて竹が竹のなかsnapping clean, a bamboo leans among the bamboo
• 月がうらへまはれば藪かげwhen the moon comes round the back, the thicket's shade
• とぼしいくらしの屋根の雪とけてしたたるon the roof of a meager life the snow melts and drips
• ほいないわかれの暮れやすい月が十日ごろan unwilling parting — the day darkening early, the tenth-night moon
• 街は師走の八百屋の玉葱芽をふいたthe town in the twelfth month — the greengrocer's onions have sprouted
• ことしもこんやぎりのみぞれとなつたthis year too, only for tonight, it's turned to sleet
• なんといふ空がなごやかな柚子の二つ三つwhat a gentle sky — two or three citrons
• ここにかうしてわたしをおいてゐる冬夜a winter night, that leaves me here just so
• 焚くだけの枯木はひろへた山が晴れてゐるenough dead wood gathered for the fire — the mountain is clear
• 病めば鶲がそこらまでwhen i fall ill, the flycatcher comes right up close
• よびかけられてふりかへつたが落葉林called to, i turned around — a grove of fallen leaves
• 雪へ足跡もがつちりとゆくinto the snow, my footprints too press firmly on
• 酒をたべてゐる山は枯れてゐるdrinking sake, the mountain is withered
• しんみり雪ふる小鳥の愛情quietly the snow falls — the small birds' affection
• 遠山の雪も別れてしまつた人もthe snow on the far mountains, and the one i've parted from too
• 雪のあかるさが家いつぱいのしづけさthe brightness of snow — a stillness that fills the whole house
• 藪柑子もさびしがりやの実がぽつちりthe spearflower too — a lonesome one, its berry a single dot
• 枯れてしまうて萩もすすきも濡れてゐるall withered now — the bush clover and the pampas grass, both soaked
• 椿のおちる水のながれるthe camellia falls, the water flows
• 寝ざめ雪ふる、さびしがるではないがwaking, snow falling — not that i feel lonely, but
• 誰か来さうな雪がちらほらas if someone might come, snow scattering here and there
• ふくろうはふくろうでわたしはわたしでねむれないthe owl in its way and i in mine, unable to sleep
• 汽車のひびきも夜明けらしい楢の葉の鳴るthe train's rumble seems like daybreak too — the oak leaves rustling
• 月がうらへまはつても木かげeven when the moon comes round the back, the tree's shade
• 枯れたすすきに日の照れば誰か来さうなwhen sun strikes the withered pampas grass, as if someone might come
• 何もかも雑炊としてあたたかくeverything, made into gruel, warm
• 蓑虫もしづくする春が来たぞなeven the bagworm dripping — spring has come, you know
• 草や木や生きて戻つて茂つてゐるgrasses and trees, come back alive and grown thick
• 病みて一人の朝がゆふべとなりゆく青葉ill and alone, morning turning into evening — green leaves
• 柿の若葉のかがやく空を死なずにゐるunder a sky where the young persimmon leaves shine, i go on not dying
• 蜂がてふちよが草がなんぼでも咲いてbees and butterflies and grasses, blooming without end
• けさは水音も、よいたよりでもありさうなthis morning even the water's sound seems like good news
• いつもつながれてほえるほかない犬ですi'm a dog always chained, with nothing to do but bark
• ほんにしづかな草の生えては咲くtruly quiet — the grass springs up and blooms
• 生えて伸びて咲いてゐる幸福the happiness of springing up, growing, blooming
• 閉めて一人の障子を虫が来てたたくthe paper screen closed on my solitude, an insect comes and taps
• 影もはつきりと若葉the shadows too, sharp and clear — young leaves
• ひよいと穴からとかげかよpop, out of the hole — a lizard, is it
• 誰も来てくれない蕗の佃煮を煮るno one comes to visit — i simmer butterbur in soy
• ちんぽこもおそそも湧いてあふれる湯cocks and cunts too, in the welling, overflowing bath
• うれしいこともかなしいことも草しげるglad things too, sad things too — the grass grows thick
• ひとりひつそり竹の子竹になるalone and hushed, the bamboo shoot becomes bamboo
• 山から山がのぞいて梅雨晴れmountain peers out past mountain — the rainy season clears
• 朝からはだかでとんぼがとまるnaked since morning, a dragonfly alights
• 食べる物はあつて酔ふ物もあつて雑草の雨there's something to eat, something to get drunk on too — rain on the weeds
• 炎天のはてもなく蟻の行列under the blazing sky, endlessly, a line of ants
• 蜘蛛は網張る私は私を肯定するthe spider spins its web, i affirm myself
• いつでも死ねる草が咲いたり実つたりable to die anytime — the grass blooming, bearing fruit
• 日ざかり落ちる葉のいちまいin the blaze of noon, a single leaf falls
• 霽れててふてふ二つとなり三つとなりthe sky clears — butterflies, now two, now three
• 青空したしくしんかんとしてthe blue sky intimate, utterly still
• ここにわたしがつくつくぼうしがいちにちhere am i, and the cicada crying, one whole day
• 百合咲けばお地蔵さまにも百合の花when the lilies bloom, for the jizō too a lily
• 草にも風が出てきた豆腐も冷えただろa wind has risen over the grass too — the tofu must be cool by now
• 風がすずしく吹きぬけるので蜂もとんぼもthe wind blows through so cool — the bees too, the dragonflies too
• ふるさとの水をのみ水をあびdrinking the water of home bathing in the water of home
• ここを死に場所とし草のしげりにしげりI make this my place to die grass thick and still thicker
• 誰にあげよう糸瓜の水をとりますwho shall I give it to — drawing off the loofah water
• お彼岸のお彼岸花をみほとけにat the equinox I offer the equinox flowers to the Buddha
• 彼岸花さくふるさとはお墓のあるばかりspider lilies bloom and my home village is only graves now
• 秋風の、腹立ててゐるかまきりでin the autumn wind, a praying mantis working itself into a rage
• おちついて柿もうれてくるtaking its time the persimmons too ripen
• 重荷を負うてめくらであるshouldering a heavy load and blind
• つくつくぼうしあまりにちかくつくつくぼうしa cicada crying too close a cicada
• 柿の木のむかうから月が柿の木のうへthe moon rises from beyond the persimmon tree to above it
• 寝床へ日がさす柿の葉や萱の穂やsun reaches my bed persimmon leaves, plumes of susuki grass
• 何か足らないものがある落葉するsomething is missing leaves keep falling
• たより持つてきて熟柿たべて行くhe brings the mail eats a ripe persimmon and goes
• 百舌鳥のさけぶやその葉のちるやa shrike cries out and those leaves fall
• うらから来てくれて草の実だらけhe came round the back way covered in grass burrs
• ともかくも生かされてはゐる雑草の中somehow I am still kept alive here among the weeds

章の一覧へもどる ↑Back to chapters ↑

• わかれてきた道がまつすぐthe road I parted from runs straight on
• 月も水底に旅空があるthe moon too on the water's floor there is a travelling sky
• 柳があつて柳屋といふ涼しい風there's a willow so it's called the Willow Inn — a cool wind
• みんなたつしやでかぼちやの花もeveryone in good health — the pumpkin flowers too
• 夕立晴れるより山蟹の出てきてあそぶno sooner does the shower clear than mountain crabs come out to play
• そこから青田のよい湯かげんfrom here green rice fields and just the right heat of the bath
• 昼寝さめてどちらを見ても山waking from a nap mountains whichever way I look
• 旅はいつしか秋めく山に霧のかかるさへthe journey somehow autumnal even the mist that hangs on the mountains
• よい宿でどちらも山で前は酒屋でa good inn mountains on both sides and a sake shop out front
• すわれば風がある秋の雑草when I sit there is wind autumn weeds
• ここで寝るとする草の実のこぼれるI'll sleep here grass seeds spilling
• 萩がすすきがけふのみちbush clover, susuki grass — today's road
• うらに木が四五本あればつくつくぼうしjust four or five trees out back and a cicada singing
• 道がなくなり落葉しようとしてゐるthe road gives out and the trees are about to shed their leaves
• 木の葉ふるふる鉢の子へもleaves fall and fall into my begging bowl too
• 柳ちるそこから乞ひはじめるwillow leaves fall and there I begin my begging
• よい道がよい建物へ、焼場ですa good road to a good building — it's the crematorium
• いま写します紅葉が散りますI'm taking the picture now — the maple leaves are falling
• あるけば草の実すわれば草の実walk and there are grass seeds sit and there are grass seeds
• 春が来た水音の行けるところまでspring has come — following the water's sound as far as it will go
• 梅もどき赤くて機嫌のよい目白頬白winterberry red and cheerful — white-eyes and buntings
• 春寒のをなごやのをなごが一銭持つて出てくれたspring cold — the girl of the pleasure house came out with a coin for me
• さて、どちらへ行かう風がふくnow then, which way shall I go — the wind blows
• この道しかない春の雪ふるthere is only this road spring snow falling
• けふはここまでの草鞋をぬぐtoday only this far — I take off my straw sandals
• 草山のしたしさは鶯も啼くthe friendliness of a grassy hill — a warbler too is singing
• いつとなくさくらが咲いて逢うてはわかれるsomewhere along the way the cherries bloomed — we meet and we part
• 先生のあのころのことも楓の芽the old days of our teacher too — maple buds
• 樹が倒れてゐる腰をかけるa tree has fallen I sit down on it
• おわかれの水鳥がういたりしづんだりwaterfowl of our parting bobbing up and sinking down
• 燕とびかふ旅から旅へ草鞋を穿くswallows darting to and fro — from journey to journey I lace my sandals
• もう逢へますまい木の芽のくもりwe won't meet again — the cloudiness of budding trees
• 乞ひあるく水音のどこまでもwalking and begging the sound of water goes on and on
• 飲みたい水が音たててゐたthe water I wanted to drink was running with a sound
• 山ふかく蕗のとうなら咲いてゐるdeep in the mountains the butterbur shoots at least are in bloom
• 山しづかなれば笠をぬぐthe mountain being so still I take off my hat
• まこと山国の、山ばかりなる月のtruly mountain country nothing but mountains and the moon's
• あすはかへらうさくらちるちつてくるtomorrow I'll go home cherry blossoms fall keep falling down on me

章の一覧へもどる ↑Back to chapters ↑

• 柿が赤くて住めば住まれる家の木としてthe persimmons red — a house grows livable when you live in it, and this its tree
• みごもつてよろめいてこほろぎかよheavy with young and stumbling — a cricket, is it?
• 日かげいつか月かげとなり木のかげsunlight becomes at some point moonlight — the tree's shadow
• 残された二つ三つが熟柿となる雲のゆききthe two or three left behind turn to ripe persimmons — clouds coming and going
• みんなではたらく刈田ひろびろeveryone at work the reaped fields wide and wide
• 誰も来ないとうがらし赤うなるno one comes and the chili peppers turn red
• 病めば梅ぼしのあかさfalling ill the redness of a pickled plum
• なんぼう考へてもおんなじことの落葉ふみあるくhowever much I think on it it comes to the same thing — treading fallen leaves as I walk
• 落葉ふかく水汲めば水の澄みやうdrawing water deep among fallen leaves how clear the water is
• 寝たり起きたり落葉するlying down, getting up leaves keep falling
• ほつかり覚めてまうへの月を感じてゐるwaking clear-headed I feel the moon right overhead
• 月のあかるい水汲んでおくthe moon is bright I draw and set aside some water
• あなたを待つてゐる火のよう燃えるwaiting for you the fire burns like flame
• ちよいと茶店があつて空瓶に活けた菊a little teahouse and chrysanthemums set in an empty bottle
• お日様のぞくとすやすや寝顔the sun peeks in a sleeping face at peace
• 悔いるこころに日が照り小鳥来て啼くかon a heart full of regret the sun shines and a small bird comes to sing
• 落葉ふんで豆腐やさんが来たので豆腐をtreading the fallen leaves the tofu man came, so — tofu
• 枯れゆく草のうつくしさにすわるat the beauty of the withering grass I sit down
• 冬がまた来てまた歯がぬけることもwinter comes again and another tooth falls out
• 噛みしめる味も抜けさうな歯でthe taste I chew out of it too with teeth about to fall out
• 竹のよろしさは朝風のしづくしつつthe goodness of the bamboo — dripping in the morning wind
• 霽れて元日の水がたたへていつぱいcleared skies and New Year's Day the water brimming full
• 舫ひてここに正月の舳をならべmoored here for the New Year, prows lined up in a row
• 枯木に鴉が、お正月もすみましたa crow on a bare tree — the New Year is over too
• どこからともなく散つてくる木の葉の感傷from somewhere or other they come scattering down — the sentiment of leaves
• しぐれつつうつくしい草が身のまはりwhile the cold rain drizzles beautiful grass all around me
• ひつそり暮らせばみそさざいliving quietly and a wren comes
• ぶらりとさがつて雪ふる蓑虫dangling there in the falling snow a bagworm
• 雪もよひ雪にならない工場地帯のけむりthreatening snow that won't turn to snow the smoke of the factory district
• あたたかなれば木かげ人かげwhen it turns warm shadows of trees, shadows of people
• 住みなれて藪椿いつまでも咲きgrown used to living here the wild camellia blooms on and on
• あるがまま雑草として芽をふくjust as I am as a weed I put out buds
• ぬくうてあるけば椿ぽたぽたwalking in the warmth — camellias fall plop plop
• 風がほどよく春めいた藪と藪the wind just right and spring-like — thicket after thicket
• ほろにがさもふるさとの蕗のとうa slight bitterness too — the butterbur shoots of my old home
• ゆらいで梢もふくらんできたやうなswaying — the treetops seem to have swelled too
• 山から白い花を机にwhite flowers from the mountain onto my desk
• ある日は人のこひしさも木の芽草の芽some days even the longing for people — buds on the trees, buds on the grass
• 人声のちかづいてくる木の芽あかるくvoices drawing near — the tree buds bright
• 伸びるより咲いてゐるrather than growing tall it blooms
• 草のそよげば何となく人を待つwhen the grass sways I somehow wait for someone
• ひとりたがやせばうたふなりtilling alone I find myself singing
• 花ぐもりの窓から煙突一本from the blossom-hazy window one chimney
• ひつそり咲いて散りますblooming quietly and falling
• 枇杷が枯れて枇杷が生えてひとりぐらしa loquat withers a loquat sprouts — living alone
• 照れば鳴いて曇れば鳴いて山羊がいつぴきbleats in the sun bleats in the clouds — one goat
• 空へ若竹のなやみなしtoward the sky young bamboo untroubled
• 身のまはりは草だらけみんな咲いてるall around me nothing but grass and it's all in bloom
• ころり寝ころべば青空flopping down flat on my back — blue sky
• 何を求める風の中ゆくseeking what do I go on into the wind
• 草を咲かせてそしててふちよをあそばせてletting the grass bloom and then letting the butterflies play
• 青葉の奥へなほ径があつて墓deep into the green leaves a path still — and a grave
• それもよからう草が咲いてゐるthat too will do — grass is blooming
• 月がいつしかあかるくなればきりぎりすwhen the moon grows bright before you know it — katydids
• 木かげは風がある旅人どうしin the tree's shade there's a breeze — fellow travelers
• 日の光ちよろちよろとかげとかげsunlight flickering — lizard and its shadow
• 月のあかるさがうらもおもてもきりぎりすthe brightness of the moon front and back — katydids
• あんたが来てくれさうなころの風鈴the wind-chime of the season you seem about to come
• 炎天の稗をぬくunder the blazing sky pulling barnyard grass
• てふてふもつれつつかげひなたbutterflies tangling together shade and sun
• もう枯れる草の葉の雨となりalready withering the blades of grass in the rain
• くづれる家のひそかにくづれるひぐらしthe crumbling house crumbling in secret — an evening cicada
• 死んでしまへば雑草雨ふるonce I'm dead — weeds, rain falling
• 死をまへに涼しい風with death before me a cool wind
• 風鈴の鳴るさへ死のしのびよるeven the ringing of the wind-chime — death creeping near
• おもひおくことはないゆふべの芋の葉ひらひらnothing left to regret — the taro leaves at evening flutter, flutter
• 傷が癒えゆく秋めいた風となつて吹くthe wound healing it blows as an autumn-like wind
• 秋風の水音の石をみがくautumn wind the sound of water polishing the stone
• 萩が径へまでたまたま人の来るbush clover spilling onto the path and now and then a visitor comes
• 月へ萱の穂の伸びやうtoward the moon the way the pampas plumes rise
• 旅はゆふかげの電信棒のつくつくぼうしon the journey a telegraph pole in the evening light — a tsukutsukubōshi
• つきあたれば秋めく海でたたへてゐるcoming to the end of the road an autumn-touched sea brimming

章の一覧へもどる ↑Back to chapters ↑

• 水に雲かげもおちつかせないものがあるin the water even the cloud-shadows leave something unsettled
• あたたかく草の枯れてゐるなりwarmly the grass has withered away
• 旅は笹山の笹のそよぐのもon the journey even the sasa swaying on Sasa-yama
• 春潮のテープちぎれてなほも手をふりthe spring-tide streamers snap and still they wave their hands
• ふるさとはあの山なみの雪のかがやくmy old home — the snow on that range of mountains shining
• 春の雪ふる女はまことうつくしいspring snow falling the women are truly beautiful
• あてもない旅の袂草こんなにたまりon an aimless journey the sleeve-grass has gathered this much
• たたずめば風わたる空のとほくとほくstanding still the wind crossing the sky far, far off
• 雲のゆききも栄華のあとの水ひかるeven the drift of clouds — after the glory the water shines
• 春風の扉ひらけば南無阿弥陀仏in the spring wind the doors open — namu amida butsu
• うららかな鐘を撞かうよlet's strike the bell on this lovely day
• たふとさはましろなる鶏what is holy — the pure-white rooster
• けふはここに来て枯葦いちめんtoday I've come this far — withered reeds everywhere
• 麦の穂のおもひでがないでもないthe ears of barley — it's not that I have no memories
• 春の海のどこからともなく漕いでくるon the spring sea from somewhere or other a boat comes rowing
• 鎌倉はよい松の木の月が出たKamakura is fine — the moon has risen through the pines
• 伊豆はあたたかく野宿によろしい波音もIzu is warm and good for sleeping outdoors the sound of waves too
• また一枚ぬぎすてる旅から旅again shedding one layer journey after journey
• ほつと月がある東京に来てゐるwith relief there's the moon I've come to Tokyo
• 花が葉になる東京よさようならflowers turning to leaves — Tokyo, farewell
• 行き暮れてなんとここらの水のうまさはovertaken by nightfall — how good the water is around here
• のんびり尿する草の芽だらけpissing at my leisure among nothing but grass shoots
• あるけばかつこういそげばかつこうwalk — a cuckoo; hurry — a cuckoo
• からまつ落葉まどろめばふるさとの夢larch needles fallen — dozing off, a dream of home
• 浅間をまともにおべんたうは草の上にてAsama full in front of me — lunch out on the grass
• 山のふかさはみな芽吹くthe depths of the mountain all budding
• 青葉わけゆく良寛さまも行かしたろpushing through green leaves — Ryōkan-sama must have gone this way too
• こころむなしくあらなみのよせてはかへしmy heart empty the wild waves rush in and draw back
• 砂丘にうづくまりけふも佐渡は見えないcrouched on the dune today too Sado is not to be seen
• 荒海へ脚投げだして旅のあとさきflinging my legs out toward the wild sea — before and after the journey
• 水底の雲もみちのくの空のさみだれthe clouds at the water's bottom too — early-summer rain of the northern sky
• あうたりわかれたりさみだるるmeeting and parting the early-summer rain falls on
• 水音とほくちかくおのれをあゆますthe sound of water far and near walks me along
• 草のしげるや礎石ところどころのたまり水the grass grows thick — foundation stones, here and there pooled water
• ここまでを来し水飲んで去るhaving come this far I drink the water and go
• 水音のたえずして御仏とありthe sound of water never ceasing I am here with the Buddha
• てふてふひらひらいらかをこえたa butterfly fluttering has crossed the roof-tiles
• みんなかへる家はあるゆふべのゆききeveryone has a house to return to — the coming and going of evening
• 更けると涼しい月がビルの間からas the night deepens a cool moon from between the buildings
• 今日の足音のいちはやく橋をわたりくるtoday's footsteps the earliest come crossing the bridge
• ふたたびここに草もしげるままonce again here the grass grown thick and left that way
• わたしひとりの音させてゐるthe only sounds are mine alone
• 酔ざめの風のかなしく吹きぬけるthe wind of a hangover blows sadly through
• 鴉啼いたとて誰も来てはくれないeven if the crow caws no one will come
• 山羊はかなしげに草は青くthe goat sounds sad the grass is green
• つくつくぼうし鳴いてつくつくぼうしtsukutsukubōshi crying tsukutsukubōshi
• 降れば水音がある草の茂りやうwhen it rains there's the sound of water — how the grass thrives
• こころおちつけば水の音when the heart settles the sound of water
• ひらひら蝶はうたへないfluttering butterfly cannot sing
• ぬれててふてふどこへゆくwet through little butterfly where are you going
• 大いに晴れわたり大根二葉the sky clears wide open two radish leaves
• 何おもふともなく柿の葉のおちることしきりthinking of nothing the persimmon leaves fall and fall
• 柚子の香のほのぼの遠い山なみthe faint scent of yuzu distant mountain ranges
• にぎやかに柿をもいでゐるcheerfully they are picking persimmons
• はだかで話がはづみますnaked the talk flows freely
• からむものがない蔓草の枯れてゐるnothing left to cling to the vine withers
• 米とぐところみぞそばのいつとなく咲いてwhere I wash the rice mizosoba has bloomed unnoticed
• 墓場あたたかうしててふてふthe graveyard warm a butterfly
• 山ふところの、ことしもここにりんだうの花in the fold of the hills here again this year gentians
• けさは涼しいお粥をいただくthis morning cool I take my rice gruel
• をとこべしをみなへしと咲きそろふべしmay they bloom together white patrinia and golden
• わかれて遠い人を、佃煮を、煮るsomeone far away parted from me the tsukudani I simmer
• 鎌をとぐ夕焼おだやかなwhetting the sickle the sunset calm
• いつまで生きる曼珠沙華咲きだしたhow much longer will I live the spider lilies have opened
• 藪にいちにちの風がをさまると三日月when the day's wind settles in the thicket a crescent moon
• わたしと生れたことが秋ふかうなるわたしthat I was born as me and autumn deepens this me
• 歩くほかない草の実つけてもどるほかないnothing to do but walk covered in seeds nothing to do but return
• あたたかい白い飯が在るthere is warm white rice
• ふつと影がかすめていつた風a shadow suddenly grazed past the wind
• 風の明暗をたどるfollowing the light and dark of the wind
• 立ちどまると水音のする方へ道when I stop the road runs toward the sound of water
• ほんのり咲いて水にうつりfaintly blooming and mirrored in the water
• 草の咲けるを露のこぼるるをthe grasses in bloom the dew spilling down
• 吹きぬける秋風の吹きぬけるままにthe autumn wind blowing through and letting it blow through
• やつと咲いて白い花だつたat last it opened and it was a white flower
• 落葉の濡れてかがやくを柿の落葉the fallen leaves shining wet persimmon leaves
• 悔いるこころの曼珠沙華燃ゆるthe heart full of regret spider lilies ablaze
• ふるさとの土の底から鉦たたきfrom deep in the soil of home a bell cricket
• 月からひらり柿の葉down from the moon a flutter a persimmon leaf
• 何を待つ日に日に落葉ふかうなるwhat am I waiting for day by day the fallen leaves grow deep
• 涸れてくる水の澄みやうthe way the drying water clears
• 草の枯るるにみそつちよ来たかas the grasses wither so you've come little wren
• 澄太おもへば柿の葉のおちるおちるthinking of Sumita the persimmon leaves fall and fall
• 風は何よりさみしいとおもふすすきの穂the wind is the loneliest thing I think plumes of pampas grass
• 産んだまま死んでゐるかよかまきりよhave you died right after laying your eggs mantis
• けふは凩のはがき一枚today one postcard in the wintry wind
• 草のうつくしさはしぐれつつしめやかなthe beauty of the grasses hushed in the drizzle
• 洗へば大根いよいよ白しwashed the radish grows whiter still
• しぐるる土をうちおこしては播くthe drizzling earth I break up and sow
• 影もぼそぼそ夜ふけのわたしがたべてゐるmy shadow too chewing away late at night I am eating
• 冬木の月あかり寝るとするthe bare winter tree in moonlight I'll go to sleep
• ひよいと芋が落ちてゐたので芋粥にするa taro happened to be lying there so I make taro gruel
• しぐれしたしうお墓を洗つていつたthe drizzle washed the graves like a friend and passed on
• 秋ふかい水をもらうてもどるdeep autumn I fetch water and return
• ひとりの火をつくるI make a fire for one
• 生きてしづかな寒鮒もろたgiven a live and quiet winter carp
• 草はうつくしい枯れざまthe grasses their beautiful way of withering
• 藁塚藁塚とあたたかしstraw stack after straw stack how warm
• 落葉ふみくるその足音は知つてゐるthose footsteps coming through the leaves I know them
• やつぱり一人はさみしい枯草after all being alone is lonely withered grass
• 落葉してさらにしたしくおとなりの灯のthe leaves fallen the neighbor's lamp grown closer
• 風の中からかあかあ鴉out of the wind caw caw a crow
• 葉の落ちて落ちる葉はない太陽the leaves fallen no leaves left to fall the sun
• 何事もない枯木雪ふるnothing happening bare tree snow falling
• ことしも暮れる火吹竹ふくthis year too draws to a close I blow the fire-tube
• お正月が来るバケツは買へて水がいつぱいthe New Year comes I bought a bucket and it's full of water
• 今日から新らしいカレンダーの日の丸from today the new calendar's rising-sun flag
• ぼろ着て着ぶくれておめでたい顔でdressed in rags bundled up wearing an auspicious face
• あつまつてお正月の焚火してゐるgathered together making a New Year's bonfire
• 雪ふる食べるものはあつて雪ふるsnow falls there is food to eat snow falls
• みぞるる朝のよう燃える木に木をかさねa sleety morning it burns well so I heap wood on wood
• しみじみ生かされてゐることがほころび縫ふときkeenly I feel I am being let live as I mend a tear
• いつも出てくる蕗のとう出てきてゐるthe butterbur sprout that always comes up has come up
• かうして生きてはゐる木の芽や草の芽やstill alive after all these tree buds and grass buds
• 雪ふれば酒買へば酒もあがつたwhen it snows I buy sake and the price of sake has gone up too
• ひらくよりしづくする椿まつかなno sooner open than dripping the crimson camellia
• てふてふうらうら天へ昇るかbutterfly in the soft light will you climb to heaven
• 一つあれば事足る鍋の米をとぐone is enough I wash the rice in the pot

章の一覧へもどる ↑Back to chapters ↑

• 日ざかりの千人針の一針づつin the blazing heat a thousand-stitch belt one stitch at a time
• 月のあかるさはどこを爆撃してゐることかthis bright moon what place is it bombing now
• 秋もいよいよふかうなる日の丸へんぽんautumn deepening further the rising-sun flags stream out
• ふたたびは踏むまい土を踏みしめて征くtreading firm the soil he may never tread again he marches to war
• しぐれて雲のちぎれゆく支那をおもふdrizzle falling the clouds tearing away I think of China
• ひつそりとして八ツ手花咲くutterly hushed the fatsia flowers bloom
• しぐれつつしづかにも六百五十柱drizzle falling and how quietly six hundred fifty souls
• もくもくとしてしぐるる白い函をまへにsilent in the falling drizzle before a white box
• 山裾あたたかなここにうづめますthe warm foot of the hills here I will lay you to rest
• 凩の日の丸二つ二人も出してゐるwintry wind two rising-sun flags this house sent two men off
• 冬ぼたんほつと勇ましいたよりがあつたwinter peony a brave letter came what relief
• 雪へ雪ふる戦ひはこれからだといふonto snow snow falls they say the fighting is only beginning
• 勝たねばならない大地いつせいに芽吹かうとするwe must win the whole earth about to burst into bud all at once
• いさましくもかなしくも白い函both valiant and sorrowful the white box
• 街はおまつりお骨となつて帰られたかthe town in festival so you've come home as bones
• ぽろぽろしたたる汗がましろな函にsweat drips down and down onto the pure-white box
• お骨声なく水のうへをゆくthe ashes voiceless go across the water
• その一片はふるさとの土となる秋one fragment of it will become the soil of home autumn
• みんな出て征く山の青さのいよいよ青くthey all march off to war — the green of the mountains greener still
• 馬も召されておぢいさんおばあさんthe horse too called up — an old man and an old woman
• 音は並んで日の丸はたたくsound upon sound — rising-sun flags rattling
• これが最後の日本の御飯を食べてゐる、汗eating this last bowl of Japanese rice — sweat
• ぢつと瞳が瞳に喰ひ入る瞳eyes fixed, biting into eyes — eyes
• 案山子もがつちり日の丸ふつてゐるeven the scarecrow gamely waving the rising-sun flag
• 足は手は支那に残してふたたび日本にlegs and hands left behind in China — back to Japan again

章の一覧へもどる ↑Back to chapters ↑

• だまつてあそぶ鳥の一羽が花のなかone bird playing in silence among the blossoms
• 春風の蓑虫ひよいとのぞいたin the spring wind the bagworm pokes out its head
• ひよいとのぞいて蓑虫は鳴かないpoking out its head the bagworm does not sing
• もらうてもどるあたたかな水のこぼるるをcarrying home the water I was given — warm, and spilling
• とんからとんから何織るうららかclack-clack clack-clack — what are they weaving — a fine spring day
• ひなたはたのしく啼く鳥も蹄かぬ鳥もthe sunny spot is glad — birds that sing and birds that don't
• 身のまはりはほしいままなる草の咲くall around me the grasses bloom as they please
• 草の青さよはだしでもどるthe greenness of the grass — coming home barefoot
• 草は咲くがままのてふてふover grass left to bloom as it will — butterflies
• 藪から鍋へ筍いつぽんfrom thicket to pot — one bamboo shoot
• ならんで竹の子竹になりつつlined up, the bamboo shoots turning into bamboo
• 窓にしたしく竹の子竹になる明け暮れclose to my window the shoots become bamboo, day after day
• 風の中おのれを責めつつ歩くin the wind walking on, blaming myself
• われをしみじみ風が出て来て考へさせるthe wind rises and sets me quietly thinking of myself
• 雷をまぢかに覚めてかしこまるwaking to thunder close overhead I sit up straight
• がちやがちやがちやがちや鳴くよりほかないgacha gacha gacha gacha — nothing to do but cry out
• 誰を待つとてゆふべは萩のしきりにこぼれwaiting for whom — this evening the bush clover keeps falling
• 声はまさしく月夜はたらく人人だthe voices — surely people working this moonlit night
• 雨ふればふるほどに石蕗の花the more the rain falls the brighter the leopard-plant flowers
• 播きをへるとよい雨になる山のいろthe sowing done a good rain comes — the color of the mountains
• そこはかとなくそこら木の葉のちるやうにvaguely, here and there, like leaves scattering
• ゆふべなごやかな親蜘蛛子蜘蛛an evening of quiet ease — mother spider, baby spider
• しんじつおちつけない草のかれがれtruly I cannot settle — the grass withering, withering
• しぐるるやあるだけの御飯よう炊けたcold rain falling — the last of the rice cooked up well
• 焼場水たまり雲をうつして寒くat the crematory a puddle mirrors the clouds — cold
• 死はひややかな空とほく雲のゆくdeath is a chill sky — far off the clouds move on
• 死をひしと唐辛まつかなdeath pressing close — chili peppers, deep scarlet
• 死のしづけさは晴れて葉のない木the stillness of death — clear sky, a tree with no leaves
• そこに月を死のまへにおくthere I set the moon before death
• いつとなく机に塵が冬めくsomehow the dust on the desk turns wintry
• 草の実が袖にも裾にもあたたかなgrass seeds on my sleeves, on my hem — warm
• 枯すすき枯れつくしたる雪のふりつもるwithered pampas grass, withered utterly — the snow piling down
• 水に放つや寒鮒みんな泳いでゐるset loose in the water the winter carp all swimming
• 一つあると蕗のとう二つ三つfind one and there are butterburs — two, three
• 蕗のとうことしもここに蕗のとうbutterbur buds — this year too, here, butterbur buds
• わかれてからのまいにち雪ふるsince we parted it snows every single day
• うどん供へて、母よ、わたくしもいただきまするI set out udon — mother, I too will eat
• 其中一人いつも一人の草萌ゆるin Gochū one man, always one man — the grass sprouting
• 枯枝ぽきぽきおもふことなくsnapping dead branches, thinking of nothing
• つるりとむげて葱の白さよone smooth peel — the whiteness of the leek
• 鶲また一羽となればしきり啼くthe flycatcher, alone again, cries and cries
• なんとなくあるいて墓と墓との間walking with no aim between grave and grave
• おのれにこもる藪椿咲いては落ちshut into itself the wild camellia blooms and drops
• 春が来たいちはやく虫がやつて来たspring has come — quick, an insect has arrived
• 啼いて二三羽春の鴉でcrying, two or three — spring crows
• 咳がやまない背中をたたく手がないthe coughing won't stop — no hand to pat my back
• 窓あけて窓いつぱいの春opening the window — a windowful of spring
• しづけさ、竹の子みんな竹になつたstillness — the bamboo shoots have all become bamboo
• ひとり住めばあをあをとして草living alone the grass grows green and green
• 朝焼夕焼食べるものがないdawn glow, dusk glow — nothing to eat
• 初孫がうまれたさうな風鈴の鳴るmy first grandchild born, they say — a wind-bell ringing
• 雨を受けて桶いつぱいの美しい水catching the rain a pailful of beautiful water
• 飛んでいつぴき赤蛙leaping, one red frog
• げんのしようこのおのれひそかな花と咲くthe cranesbill blooms as its own quiet flower
• また一日がをはるとしてすこし夕焼けてanother day ending, a little sunset glow
• 草にすわり飯ばかりの飯をしみじみsitting in the grass eating plain rice, plain rice, savoring it
• 草にすわり飯ばかりの飯sitting in the grass — plain rice, plain rice

章の一覧へもどる ↑Back to chapters ↑

• 葦の穂風の行きたい方へ行くreed plumes go where the wind wants to go
• 身にちかく水のながれくるclose to my body the water comes flowing
• どこからともなく雲が出て来て秋の雲from nowhere in particular clouds appear — autumn clouds
• 飯のうまさが青い青い空the good taste of the rice — the blue, blue sky
• ごろりと草に、ふんどしかわいたflopped down in the grass — my loincloth has dried
• をなごやは夜がまだ明けない葉柳並木the pleasure quarter — night not yet broken — a row of leafy willows
• 秋風、行きたい方へ行けるところまでautumn wind — going where I want to go, as far as I can go
• ビルとビルとのすきまから見えて山の青さよthrough a gap between buildings the mountains show — that blueness
• 朝の雨の石をしめすほどthe morning rain just enough to dampen the stones
• 霜しろくころりと死んでゐるthe frost white — someone lies dead, just like that
• 草をしいておべんたう分けて食べて右左spreading the grass we share a boxed lunch, then right and left
• 朝のひかりへ蒔いておいて旅立つsowing into the morning light, then setting out
• ちよいと渡してもらふ早春のさざなみa quick lift across the ferry — early-spring ripples
• なんとうまさうなものばかりがシヨウヰンドウhow everything looks good enough to eat — the shop window
• 石に水を、春の夜にするwater on the stones — making it a spring night
• その土蔵はそのままに青木の実that storehouse just as it was — aucuba berries
• ひつそり蕗のとうここで休まうhushed, a butterbur bud — let me rest here
• 人に逢はなくなりてより山のてふてふsince I stopped meeting people — mountain butterflies
• ふつとふるさとのことが山椒の芽suddenly thoughts of home — the sansho buds
• どこでも死ねるからだで春風a body that can die anywhere — spring wind
• たたへて春の水としあふれるbrimming, becoming spring water, it overflows
• 水をへだててをとことをなごと話が尽きないacross the water a man and a woman talk without end
• 旅人わたしもしばしいつしよに貝掘らうtraveler that I am, let me dig clams with you a while
• うらうら蝶は死んでゐるin the soft spring sun a butterfly lies dead
• さくらまんかいにして刑務所cherries in full bloom — and the prison
• 投げしは白桃の蕾とくとくひらけthe white peach buds i tossed in — open, open, quickly now
• 桃が実となり君すでに亡しthe peach has set its fruit and you are already gone
• うららかにボタ山がボタ山にin the soft spring light a slag heap is only a slag heap
• 大橋小橋ほうたるほたるbig bridge little bridge — fireflies, fireflies
• このみちをたどるほかない草のふかくもno way but to follow this road though the grass grows deep
• たまたまたづね来てその泰山木が咲いてゐてi happened to call and that magnolia was in bloom
• 泊ることにしてふるさとの葱坊主deciding to stay the night — my hometown's onion flowers
• ふるさとはちしやもみがうまいふるさとにゐるhome is where the lettuce-and-miso tastes good — being home
• うまれた家はあとかたもないほうたるthe house i was born in not a trace left — fireflies
• きぬぎぬの金魚が死んで浮いてゐるthe morning-after goldfish floats up dead
• やうやくたづねあててかなかなat last i find the house — the evening cicadas

章の一覧へもどる ↑Back to chapters ↑

• 水のうまさを蛙鳴くhow good the water is — the frogs are croaking
• 寝床まで月を入れ寝るとするletting the moon into my bed i settle down to sleep
• 生えて墓揚の、咲いてうつくしやsprung up in the graveyard, blooming, how beautiful
• むしあつく生きものが生きものの中にsultry heat — living things within living things
• 山からしたたる水であるthis is water that trickles down from the mountain
• まひまひしづか湧いてあふるる水なればa whirligig quiet on water welling up and brimming over
• かたすみの三ツ葉の花なりin a corner the flower of the mitsuba
• 米の黒さもたのもしく洗ふeven the blackness of the rice reassuring as i wash it
• へそが汗ためてゐるmy navel has gathered a little sweat
• 降りさうなおとなりも大根蒔いてゐるlooks like rain — the neighbor too is sowing radishes
• むすめと母と蓮の花さげてくるa daughter and her mother come carrying lotus flowers
• 雷とどろくやふくいくとして花のましろくthunder crashes and fragrant the flower pure white
• 風のなか米もらひに行くgoing to beg for rice in the wind
• 日が山に、山から月が、柿の実たわわsun into the mountain, moon out of the mountain, persimmons heavy on the bough
• 萩が咲いてなるほどそこにかまきりがをるthe bush clover blooms and sure enough a mantis is there
• 鳴いてきりぎりす生きてはゐるthe katydid sings — so it is alive after all
• ここを墓場とし曼珠沙華燃ゆるmaking this my grave — the red spider lilies blaze
• 身のまはりは日に日に好きな草が咲くall around me day by day the grasses i love come into bloom
• 働らいても働らいてもすすきツ穂work and work and still the plumes of pampas grass
• 刈るより掘るより播いてゐるnot so much reaping, not so much digging — sowing
• つゆけくも露草の花のdewy indeed the flower of the dayflower
• 空襲警報るゐるゐとして柿赤しair-raid warning — piled up and red the persimmons
• 防空管制下よい子うまれて男の子under the blackout a fine child is born — a boy
• 焼いてしまへばこれだけの灰を風吹くburn it all and only this much ash — the wind blows
• 死ねない手がふる鈴をふるthe hand that cannot die shakes the bell, shakes it
• とほくちかくどこかのおくで鳴いてゐるfar off, close by, somewhere deep it is calling
• 壁がくづれてそこから蔓草the wall crumbles and out of it a vine
• それは死の前のてふてふの舞that is a butterfly's dance before death
• 月は見えない月あかりの水まんまんthe moon unseen — moonlit water brimming full
• 一羽来て啼かない鳥であるone bird comes and it is a bird that does not sing
• 秋もをはりの蠅となりはひあるくbecome a fly at autumn's end i go crawling along
• 水のゆふべのすこし波立つthe evening water ruffles a little
• 燃えに燃ゆる火なりうつくしくa fire burning and burning, beautifully
• 握りしめる手に手のあかぎれthe hand i grip hard, a hand of chapped and cracking skin
• 囚人の墓としひそかに草萌えてa convict's grave, and secretly the grass springs green
• やつと世帯が持てて新らしいバケツat last a household of their own — a brand-new bucket
• 木の芽や草の芽やこれからであるbuds on the trees buds on the grass — from here on
• 赤字つづきのどうやらかうやら蕗のとうalways in the red and somehow, somehow — a butterbur shoot
• 机上一りんおもむろにひらくone bloom on my desk opening at its leisure
• 旅もいつしかおたまじやくしが泳いでゐるthe journey too — tadpoles are already swimming
• 春の山からころころ石ころdown from the spring mountain rolling, rolling, little stones
• 啼いて鴉の、飛んで鴉の、おちつくところがないthe crow crying, the crow flying, nowhere to settle
• 風は海から吹きぬける葱坊主the wind blows through from the sea — onion flowers
• はるばるたづね来て岩鼻一人come all this long way — alone on the rocky point
• まがると風が海ちかい豌豆畑round the bend a wind — the sea is near — a field of peas
• お山しんしんしづくする真実不虚the holy mountain deep in silence dripping — truly real, not false
• 花ぐもりピアノのおけいこがはじまりましたblossom-clouded sky — the piano lesson has begun
• 水のまんなかの道がまつすぐthe road through the middle of the water runs straight
• 石に腰を、墓であつたかsitting down on a stone — so it was a grave
• 水たたへたればおよぐ蟇where the water stands full a toad swims
• 水音けふもひとり旅ゆくthe sound of water — today too i travel alone
• 山のしづけさは白い花the mountain's stillness is a white flower
• なるほど信濃の月が出てゐるsure enough the moon of Shinano has come out
• 旅の月夜のだんだん虧げゆくをthe moon of a travel night slowly, slowly waning
• この水あの水の天龍となる水音this water that water the sound of water becoming the Tenryū
• ながれがここでおちあふ音の山ざくらwhere the streams meet here — the sound, the mountain cherries
• このみちいくねんの大栃芽吹くthis road how many years — the great horse chestnut buds
• おちつけないふとんおもたく寝るcannot get comfortable, the quilt heavy, i lie down to sleep
• しみじみしづかな机の塵how deeply, quietly the dust on my desk
• 朝の土をもくもくもたげてもぐらもちheaving up the morning earth in puffs — a mole
• 涸れて涸れきつて石ころごろごろdried up, dried right out — stones rolling everywhere
• 燃ゆる火の、雨ふらしめと燃えさかるa fire — let it rain, it blazes up praying
• どこにも水がない枯田汗してはたらくno water anywhere — sweating over the withered field they work
• まいにちはだかでてふちよやとんぼやnaked every day — butterflies and dragonflies
• 炎天のレールまつすぐunder the blazing sky the rails run straight
• もらうてもどる水がこぼれるすずしくもthe water i begged and carry back spills — how cool
• 鉦たたきよ鉦をたたいてどこにゐるyou bell-ringing cricket — striking your bell, where are you
• 月のあかるさ旅のめをとのさざめごとthe brightness of the moon — a traveling couple's murmured talk
• 鳥とほくとほく雲に入るゆくへ見おくるa bird far, far off enters the clouds — i see it off
• けふの暑さはたばこやにたばこがないtoday's heat — the tobacco shop has no tobacco
• 月は澄みわたり刑務所のまうへthe moon shines perfectly clear right over the prison
• 鴉とんでゆく水をわたらうa crow goes flying — let me cross the water

章の一覧へもどる ↑Back to chapters ↑

• 濁れる水のながれつつ澄むmuddy water flowing on grows clear

章の一覧へもどる ↑Back to chapters ↑