Summer moon nights ~
once in a while
the crackling of bamboos
The beggar ~
he wears sky and earth
as summer clothes
Biten by fleas ~
it was true then
this sword dream?
In the sweet potato leaf
it wraps its life
the drop of water
Eaten by a cat!
the cricket's widow
voices its mourning
Cicada singing ~
the fan vendor
climbs up a tree
Buddha's anniversary ~
the abandoned child
is now an altar boy
Cool evening ~
I'm so lucky I was born
a boy
Who's the idiot
who went to pee
on the fresh snow?
The raucous monkey
shows his white teeth ~
the moon just above the peak
Translation: Gilles Fabre