H  A  I  K  U     S  P  I  R  I  T
Seishi Yamaguchi


An insect moves
ripples appear
in number on the water



Full stop
of the snail
inside its shell



The kite's thread ~
disappears in the sky
shows up on the finger



No tracks in the stream ~
where I swam
with a woman



The lily she's holding
when passing
left its scent here



Spring fog ~
one can only see the hand
of the big clock



In daylight I saw
an ant
it's haunting me tonight



Under the fiery sky
faraway, a sail, in my soul
a sail



Spring tide ~
inside all my body
the boat siren



Withered grass
up to the eyes
of the praying mantis







Translation: Gilles Fabre
 




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