These are insect haiku requested by Emma Burleigh for publication in her upcoming book Earth Color ...

While a cicada
sings softly
a single leaf falls ...
—Issa, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

All's well with the world:
another fly's sharing our rice!
—Issa, loose translation by Michael R. Burch

The bee emerging
from deep within the peony’s hairy recesses
flies off heavily, sated
—Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Air ballet:
twin butterflies, twice white,
meet, match & mate
—Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

As autumn deepens
a butterfly sips
chrysanthemum dew
—Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Keywords/Tags: haiku, translation, Japan, Japanese, Basho, Issa, insect, nature, cicada, bee, fly, butterfly, butterflies, INSECTAGEDDON

Year: 
2021
Author of original: 
Basho and Issa
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