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
'' old pond — / a frog jumps in / the sound of water '' Basho's bright intuition... the frog jumping into the metaphysical sound of water...
The old frog preserved Frozen in cold immortality Basho's simplicity Thankyou for putting this haiku in my head
The only translation worth the effort is that of Alan Watts. The euphony of the last line would have made the inscrutable Basho smile.
Its a beautifil and amazing poem. It has brought me to piece after my pokemon cards were burned. It makes me miss froakie though.
You can't. the whole point of a haiku is to have no plot, just capture a moment.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
___________________ 古池や蛙飛びこむ水の音 ___________________ furu ike ya / kawazu tobikomu / mizu no oto an ancient pond / a frog jumps in / the splash of water [1686]