Basho's Frog Haiku

Furu ike ya
kawazu tobikomu
mizu no oto
--Basho

Old dark sleepy pool
quick unexpected frog
goes plop! Watersplash.

(trans. by Peter Beilenson)

Listen! a frog
Jumping into the stillness
Of an ancient pond!

(trans. by Dorothy Britton)

old pond
a frog leaps in —
a moment after, silence

(trans. by Ross Figgins)

The old pond, yes, and
A frog-jumping-in-the-
Water’s noise!

(trans. by G. S. Fraser)