I’ve left the world behind
Even the busy streets
An ancient scene.
Not knowing why,
I feel attached to this world
Where we come only to die.
No. 1519
From time to time,
I shall die, I think—
In obscurity.
ware oriori / shinan to omou / oboro kana
吾折々死なんと思ふ朧かな
No. 1888
Dropping stars in spring,
The darkness
Of midnight.
haru no hoshi wo / otoshite yonaka no / kazashi kana
春の星を落して夜半のかざしかな
No. 1893
All resigned
Spring drawing to a close,
And I am alone.
omoikitte / fukeyuku haru no / hitori kana
思ひ切つて更け行く春の独りかな
No. 2123
Parting—
A dream, one stream
The Milky Way.
wakaruru ya / yume hitosuji no / ama no gawa
別るるや夢一筋の天の川
No. 2180
Saying I should leave
But I do not leave
The moon tonight.
kaeru beku te / kaeranu ware ni / tsuki koyoi
帰るべくて帰らぬ吾に月今宵
No. 2208
Trying to fall into,
Trying to awaken from,
A dream that autumn has passed.
sugishi aki wo / yumemiyo to uchi / sameyo to utsu
過ぎし秋を夢みよと打ち覚めよとうつ
No. 2330
Distant from the world,
The mind is vacant
On a long day in spring.
yo ni tōki / kokoro hima aru / hinaga kana
世に遠き心ひまある日永哉
translations: [The Sōseki Poetry Project]
-----
Richard L. Boyer
Light vs Darkness
Love’s light energy
or power of darkness
life contradiction.
[House of Haiku]