Translated from Basho: "The sleeping clover's lovely looking face is so rude looking!"
by Frank Watson

The sleeping clover’s
Lovely looking face

—
Is so rude looking!


寝たる萩や容顔無礼花の顔


Ne-taru hagi ya

Yougan burei

Hana no kao


Literal

[to sleep/lie down] has bush-clover

features/looks rude*

Flower’s face [set phrase = “lovely looking”]


* Puns “yougan birei,” meaning “good-looking,” with “yougan burei,” meaning “rude-looking.”

All writings and translations are Copyright © by Frank Watson, also writing as "Blue Flute" (2011-2014).
Year: 
2011