New Year’s morning—
everything is in blossom!
I feel about average.
xxxx
A huge frog and I
staring at each other,
neither of us moves.
xxxx
This moth saw brightness
in a woman’s chamber—
burned to a crisp.
xxxx
Asked how old he was
the boy in the new kimono
stretched out all five fingers.
xxxx
Blossoms at night,
like people
moved by music
xxxx
Napped half the day;
no one
punished me!
xxxx
Fiftieth birthday:
From now on,
It’s all clear profit,
every sky.
xxxx
Don’t worry, spiders,
I keep house
casually.
xxxx
These sea slugs,
they just don’t seem
Japanese.
xxxx
Hell:
Bright autumn moon;
pond snails crying
in the saucepan.
xxxx
Robert Hass, “After the Gentle Poet Kobayashi Issa” from Field Guide. Copyright © 1973 by Robert Hass.
THANK YOU
BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS
HAPPY NEW YEAR
EVERYBODY
CARRY MY LOVE WITH YOU