New Year's Haiku
New Year's haiku by Issa
my happiness
just about average
at my New Year
medetasa mo | chuu gurai nari | oraga haru
Planting my stick
in the quagmire -
the first sun of the year
nukarumi e | tsue tsupatte | hatsuhi kana
New Year's Day
my hovel
the same as ever
ganjitsu mo | tachi no manma no | kuzu-ya kana
even my shadow
is safe and sound
this first morning of spring
kageboshi mo | mame sokusai de | kesa no haru
New Year's haiku by Basho
has spring already come?
I feel wealthy this New Year
with five sho of old rice
haru tatsu ya | shin-nen furuki | kome go-shoo
New Year's Day
I feel lonely just like
an autumn evening
ganjitsu ya | omoeba sabishi | aki no kure
New Year's haiku by Shiki
New Year's Day
nothing good or bad -
just human beings
ganjitsu wa | ze mo hi mo nakute | shujoo nari
New Year's haiku by Shigyoku
New Year's Day
whosoever face we see
it is carefree
ganjitsu ya | taga kao mite mo | nen no naki
[Cited - with emendations - from R.H. Blyth, Haiku Vol. 2, Spring. The first Issa haiku is my own translation.]