Flowers of Spring

me wa yoko ni

hana wa tate nari

haru no hana

Eyes, back and forth,

nose, up and down--

the flowers of spring!

--Onitsura (1660-1738)

Photos copyright Anthony F. Chiffolo

The Sound of the Pines

suzu kaze ya

koku ni michite

matsu no koe

How cool the breeze--

the empty sky is filled with

the sound of the pines.

--Onitsura (1660-1738)

Photos copyright Anthony F. Chiffolo

Springtime Sea

haru no umi

hinemosu notari

notari kana

The springtime sea

all day long goes gently

up and down, up and down.

--Buson (1715-1783)

Photos copyright Anthony F. Chiffolo

Chrysanthemums

ki giku shira giku

hito moto wa aka mo

aramahoshi

Yellow mums, white mums--

as for me, I crave a red

chrysanthemum too!

--Shiki (1867-1902)

Photos copyright Anthony F. Chiffolo