The frog at the edge
of the pond sits, poised to leap.
All's quiet. Then: splash!
The butterfly dips
its wings in aroma of
gorgeous wild orchid.
First you see the pond.
Then you hear the belching frog.
And then comes the splash.
No one on this road
but me: it must be autumn
in the dark country.
Frog at pond's edge sits,
waits, ready to make its leap.
All's quiet. Then: splash!
The spring night vanished
while we talked among cherry
blossoms and petals.
The pond is tranquil
but for the frond where the frog
leaps into its splash.
Winter blows its white
storms across the hills: even
monkeys need raincoats.
Pond.
Frog.
Splash.
Even in Kyoto
How I long for Kyoto
When I hear that bird.
-- Basho
[free versions by DL]
