Table of Contents
Japanese haiku poems about death, loss, farewell and for deceased loved ones
Death is one of the most serious events in life, none that can escape. That is why the great haiku poets expressed their whole view of the world on the theme of death with 17 characters. There are concrete and abstract haiku poems, but you will learn the person or Japanese view of death.
In addition, there was a custom of composing rip haiku or tanka poems just before Japanese people died.
Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)
<Japanese>
数ならぬ 身となおもひそ 玉祭り
Kazu nara nu/ Mi tona omoi so/ Tama matsuri
<English>
Don’t think
Yourself nobody
Ceremony for the spirit
*When he heard the death of lover Juteini
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Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828)
<Japanese>
露の世は 露の世ながら さりながら
Tsuyu no yo wa/ Tsuyu no yo nagara/ Sari nagara
<English>
The dewdrop world
Is the dewdrop world
Yet it is
*When he faced his daughter’s death
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Murakami Kijo (1865-1938)
<Japanese>
冬蜂の 死にどころなく 歩きけり
Fuyu bachi no/ Shini dokoro naku/ Aruki keri
<English>
Winter bee
Walked losing
The place of death
Natsume Soseki (1867-1916)
<Japanese>
ある程の 菊抛げ入れよ 棺の中
Aru hodo no/ Kiku nage ire yo/ Kan no naka
<English>
Throw all flower
Of chrysanthemum
Into the coffin
*When he heard the death of secret lover
Kato Shuson (1905-1993)
<Japanese>
死や霜の 六尺の土 あれば足る
Shi ya shimo no/ Rokushau no tsuchi/ Are ba taru
<English>
For death
A frost on the ground
Six feet is enough
Nakamura Sonoko (1913-2001)
<Japanese>
春の日や あの世この世と 馬車を駆り
Haru no hi ya/ Ano yo kono yo to/ Basha wo kari
<English>
Spring days
Driving a carriage
This and the other world
*When she lost her husband
Ueda Gosengoku (1933-1997)
<Japanese>
万緑や 死は一弾を 以て足る
Banryoku ya/ Shi ha ichidan wo/ Motte taru
<English>
Myriad green leaves
Single bullet is
Enough for death
Ueda Gosengoku (1933-1997)
<Japanese>
長き夜の 苦しみを解き 給ひしや
Nagaki yo no/ Kurushimi wo toki/ Tamai shi ya
<English>
Free from
The long nights
Of the suffering
*After her husband’s fight against disease
