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Studies in Translation: Basho’s Frog Haiku

~ 1 ~

“Old dark sleepy pool

quick unexpected frog

goes plop! Watersplash.”

Translated by Peter Beilenson (1968)

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~ 2 ~

“Listen! a frog

Jumping into the stillness

Of an ancient pond!”

Translated by Dorothy Britton (1974)

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~ 3 ~

“Old pond

leap — splash

a frog.”

Translated by Lucien Stryk (1985)

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~ 4 ~

“The old pond —

a frog jumps in,

sound of water.”

Translated by Robert Hass (1995)

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~ 5 ~

“At the ancient pond

a frog plunges into

the sound of water.”

Translated by Sam Hamill (1999)