A selection of Haiku
Natsume, Soseki (1867-1916)
On New Year's Day
I long to meet my parents
as they were before my birth.
Shiki, Masaoka (1867-1902).
For love and for hate
I swat a fly and offer it
to an ant.
_________
The summer river:
although there is a bridge, my horse
goes through the water.
Basho, Matsuo (1644-1694).
Poverty's child—
he starts to grind the rice,
and gazes at the moon.
Takahama, Kyoshi (1874-1959)
The winds that blow—
ask them, which leaf on the tree
will be next to go.