Part 6

CONSIDERATE DOGS ...
STEPPING OFF
INTO THE SNOW
AS I WALK THE PATH

ISSA

BUT WHEN I HALTED
ON THE WINDY STREET
AT TWILIGHT...
SNOW STRUCK AGAINST ME

KITO

CALL HIM BACK! AH NO,
HE'S BLOWN FROM SIGHT
ALREADY...
FISH-PEDDLER IN THE SNOW

ANON.

CROSSING IT ALONE
IN COLD MOONLIGHT...
THE BRITTLE BRIDGE
ECHOES MY FOOTSTEPS

TAIGI

SUCH A LITTLE CHILD
TO SEND TO BE
A PRIESTLING
ICY POVERTY

SHIKI

WINDY WINTER RAIN...
MY SILLY BIG
UMBRELLA
TRIES WALKING BACKWARD

SHISEI-JO

BUDDHA ON THE HILL...
FROM YOUR HOLY
NOSE INDEED
HANGS AN ICICLE

ISSA

THIS SNOWY MORNING
THAT BLACK CROW
I HATE SO MUCH...
BUT HE'S BEAUTIFUL!

BASHO

LOOK AT THE CANDLE!
WHAT A HUNGRY WIND
IT IS...
HUNTING IN THE SNOW!

SEIRA

IF THERE WERE FRAGRANCE
THESE HEAVY SNOW-
FLAKES SETTLING...
LILIES ON THE ROCKS

BASHO

AH! I INTENDED
NEVER NEVER
TO GROW OLD ...
LISTEN: NEW YEAR'S BELL!

JOKUN

SNOW-SWALLOWED VALLEY:
ONLY THE
WINDING RIVER...
BLACK FLUENT BRUSH-STROKE

BONCHO

ROARING WINTER STORM
RUSHING TO ITS
UTTER END ...
EVER-SOUNDING SEA

GONSUI

ELEVEN BRAVE KNIGHTS
CANTER THROUGH THE
WHIRLING SNOW...
NOT ONE BENDS HIS NECK

SHIKI

GOING SNOW-VIEWING
ONE BY ONE THE
WALKERS VANISH...
WHITELY FALLING VEILS

KATSURI

"YES, COME IN!" I CRIED...
BUT AT THE WINDY
SNOW-HUNG GATE
KNOCKING STILL WENT ON

KYORA

SEE: SURVIVING SUNS
VISIT THE ANCESTRAL
GRAVE ...
BEARDED, WITH BENT CANES

BASHO

THE ORPHAN SPEAKS:
THE YEAR-END PARTY...
I AM EVEN ENVIOUS
OF SCOLDED CHILDREN

ISSA

I GAVE THE GREETINGS
OF THE BRIGHT
NEW YEAR ... AS THOUGH
I HELD A PLUM-BRANCH

SHIKI

ON JOLLY NEW YEAR'S DAY
MY LAST YEAR'S BILLS
DROP IN
TO PAY THEIR COMPLIMENTS

ANON.

DEATH-SONG:
LEAF ALONE, FLUTTERING
ALAS, LEAF ALONE,
FLUTTERING ...
FLOATING DOWN THE WIND

ANON.

DEATH-SONG:
I HAVE KNOWN LOVERS...
CHERRY-BLOOM ...
THE NIGHTINGALE ...
I WILL SLEEP CONTENT

ANON.

DEATH-SONG:
FEVER-FELLED HALF-WAY,
MY DREAMS AROSE
TO MARCH AGAIN...
INTO A HOLLOW LAND

BASHO

DEATH-SONG:
THREE LOVELIEST THINGS:
MOONLIGHT ... CHERRY-
BLOOM ... NOW I GO
SEEKING SILENT SNOW

RIPPO