Following are several translations
of the ‘Old Pond’ poem, which may be
the most famous of all haiku:
Furuike ya
kawazu tobikomu
mizu no oto
– Basho
Literal Translation
Fu-ru (old) i-ke (pond) ya,
ka-wa-zu (frog) to-bi-ko-mu (jumping into)
mi-zu (water) no o-to (sound)
Translated by Fumiko Saisho
The old pond-
a frog jumps in,
sound of water.
Translated by Robert Hass
Old pond…
a frog jumps in
water’s sound.
Translated by William J. Higginson
An old silent pond…
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.
Translated by Harry Behn
There is the old pond!
Lo, into it jumps a frog:
hark, water’s music!
Translated by John Bryan
The silent old pond
a mirror of ancient calm,
a frog-leaps-in splash.
Translated by Dion O’Donnol
old pond
frog leaping
splash
Translated by Cid Corman
Antic pond-
frantic frog jumps in-
gigantic sound.
Translated by Bernard Lionel Einbond
MAFIA HIT MAN POET: NOTE FOUND PINNED TO LAPEL
OF DROWNED VICTIM’S DOUBLE-BREASTED SUIT! ! !
‘Dere wasa dis frogg
Gone jumpa offa da logg
Now he inna bogg.’
– Anonymous
Translated by George M. Young, Jr.
Old pond
leap – splash
a frog.
Translated by Lucien Stryk
The old pond,
A frog jumps in:.
Plop!
Translated by Allan Watts
The old pond, yes, and
A frog is jumping into
The water, and splash.
Translated by G.S. Fraser
