House

This Old Village

This old village–
Not a single house
Without persimmon trees.
— Matsuo Basho (Translated by Robert Hass)

But for a woodpecker
Tapping at a post, no sound
At all in the house
— Matsuo Basho

Spring rain
leaking through the roof
dripping from the wasps’ nest.

— Matsuo Basho (Translated by Robert Hass)

Rain on the green grass

And rain on the tree,

Rain on the house top

But not upon me.

— Anonymous