Table of Contents
Japanese 5-7-5 summer haiku to English three lines
Four seasons haiku poems by famous haiku poets
All of the following summer haiku poems are created by Japanese famous poets.
Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828)
<Japanese>
すず風や 力いっぱい きりぎりす
Suzukaze ya/ Chikara ippai/ Kirigirisu
<English>
The cool breeze.
With all his strength
The cricket.
*kirigirisu: In ancient Japan, “kirigirisu” meant today’s cricket. Kirigirisu means katydid now.
<Japanese>
やれ打つな はえが手をする 足をする
Yare utsuna/ Hae ga te wo suru/ Ashi wo suru
<English>
Don’t hit it.
The fly rub the hands
Or rub the legs.
Yosa Buson (1716-1784)
<Japanese>
夕立や 草葉をつかむ むら雀
Yudachi ya/ kusaba wo tsukamu/ Mura suzume
<English>
The afternoon shower.
Catch the grass or leaf
The villege spallow.
<Japanese>
牡丹散りて 打ちかさなりぬ 二三片
Botan chirite/ Uchi-kasanarinu/ Ni san hen
<English>
The peony flower scattered
And accumulated
A few of the petals.
<Japanese>
夏河を 越すうれしさよ 手に草履
Natsukawa wo/ Kosu ureshisa yo/ Te ni zori
<English>
The summer river.
It’s happy to walk across it.
My hands with zori sandal.
Read more Yosa Buson’s haiku poems
Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902)
<Japanese>
汽車見る見る 山を上るや 青嵐
Kisha miru-miru/ Yama wo noboru ya/ Aoarashi
<English>
The steam train very quickly
Climb the mountain.
The wind blow through fresh verdura.
<Japanese>
中をふむ 人や青田の 水車
Chu wo fumu/ Hito ya aota no/ Mizuguruma
<English>
People step in the air.
The water wheel
At the green paddy fields.
<Japanese>
夏の月 提灯多き ちまた哉
Natsu no tsuki/ Chochin ooki/ Chimata kana
<English>
The summer moon.
There are a lot of paper lanterns
On the street.
Natsume Soseki (1867-1916)
<Japanese>
銭湯に 客のいさかふ 暑かな
Sento ni/ Kyaku no isakau/ Atsusa kana
<English>
At the public bath
The customers make a quarrel.
It is hot.
<Japanese>
我も人 白きもの着る 涼みかな
Ware mo hito/ Shiroki mono kiru/ Suzumi kana
<English>
I’m a man too,
Wear a white cloth
And feel cool.
Takahama Kyoshi (1874-1959)
<Japanese>
風吹けば 来るや隣の 鯉幟
Kaze fukeba/ Kuru ya tonari no/ Koinobori
<English>
When the wind blows
The carp streame come
From the next door.
koinobori:A carp streame for celebrating the Children’s Day.
<Japanese>
短夜や 夢も現も 同じこと
Mizika-yo ya/ Yume mo utsutsu mo / Onazi koto
<English>
The short summer night.
The dream and real
Are same things.
<Japanese>
夏の蝶 眼鋭く 駆けり来し
Natsu no cho/ Manako surudoku/ Kakeri kishi
<English>
The summer butterfly
Has a sharp look
And run to here.
Yamaguchi Seishi (1901-1994)
<Japanese>
いかづちの 夜空を離らぬ キヤムプかな
Ikazuchi no/ Yozora wo hanaranu/ Kyanpu kana
<English>
The thunderbolt
Wouldn’t leave the night sky.
At the camp.
<Japanese>
聖病院 夏の夜あけに 子を賜ふ
Sei-byoin/ Natsu no yoake ni/ Ko wo tamau
<English>
The saint hospital.
At summer dawn
Given a baby.
<Japanese>
蝉終に 疾風の中に 声を絶つ
Semi tsui ni/Shippu no naka/Koe wo tatsu
<English>
In the gale
A cicada stop to shrill
Finally.
Four seasons haiku poems by famous haiku poets
Related posts:
Best 10 famous Matsuo Basho’s haiku poems in English and Japanese
Examples of haiku poetry about nature by famous Japanese poets
The autumn haiku poem examples by Japanese famous poets
Best 10 love haiku poetry collections by famous Japanese poets
Yosa Buson’s haiku poems
Takahama Kyoshi’s haiku poems