Basho: "A short time to pine"
by Frank Watson
A short time

To pine for the cuckoo—

Some thousand years!


しばし間も松やほととぎす千年


Shibashi ma mo

Matsu ya hototogi-

Su sen nen


Literal

A short time

[Pine tree/wait] Cuckoo

Some thousand years


Note: “matsu” means pine and is pronounced the same as “wait,” making it a symbol of longevity. “Hototogi-su” is a pun, meaning both cuckoo and “su” meaning “some.”
All writings and translations are Copyright © by Frank Watson, also writing as "Blue Flute" (2011-2014).
Year: 
2011