Comments & Greek painting, Greek artists: the sea darkens...

Poets & Greek artists, Greek painting, modern Greek artists


Yannis Stavrou, A Ship, oil on canvas

The nature, the sea, the lake, the big and the small thoughts...

The wonderful world of Japanese poetry...

Haiku

Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

The sea darkens;
the voices of the wild ducks
are faintly white.

Waking in the night;
the lamp is low,
the oil freezing.

It has rained enough
to turn the stubble on the field
black.

Winter rain
falls on the cow-shed;
a cock crows.


The leeks
newly washed white,-
how cold it is!

** ** **

None is travelling

Here along this way but I,

This autumn evening.

The first day of the year:

thoughts come - and there is loneliness;

the autumn dusk is here.

An old pond

A frog jumps in -

Splash!

Old dark sleepy pool . . .

quick unexpected

frog

Goes plop! Watersplash!

Lightening -

Heron's cry

Stabs the darkness

Clouds come from time to time -

and bring to men a chance to rest

from looking at the moon.

In the cicada's cry

There's no sign that can foretell

How soon it must die.

Poverty's child -

he starts to grind the rice,

and gazes at the moon.

Won't you come and see

loneliness? Just one leaf

from the kiri tree.

Temple bells die out.

The fragrant blossoms remain.

A perfect evening!

Ballet in the air ...

twin butterflies

until, twice white

They meet, they mate

Black cloudbank broken

scatters in the

night ... Now see

Moon-lighted mountains!

Seek on high bare trails

sky-reflecting

violets...

Mountain-top jewels

For a lovely bowl

let us arrange these

flowers...

Since there is no rice

Now that eyes of hawks

in dusky night

are darkened . . .

Chirping of the quails

April's air stirs in

willow-leaves . . .

a butterfly

Floats and balances

In the sea-surf edge

mingling with

bright small shells ..

Bush-clover petals

The river

Gathering may rains

from cold streamlets

for the sea . . .

Murmuring Mogami

White cloud of mist

above white

cherry-blossoms . . .

Dawn-shining mountains

Twilight whippoorwill . . .

whistle on,

sweet deepener

Of dark loneliness

Mountain-rose petals

falling, falling,

falling now . . .

Waterfall music

Ah me! I am one

who spends his little

breakfast

Morning-glory gazing

Seas are wild tonight . . .

stretching over

Sado Island

Silent clouds of stars

Why so scrawny, cat?

starving for fat fish

or mice . . .

Or backyard love?

Dewdrop, let me cleanse

in your brief

sweet waters . . .

These dark hands of life

-------------------------

**The last poems are translated by Jon LaCure