The old pond Analysis

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

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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

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    The old pond--
a frog jumps in,
    sound of water.


Translated by Robert Hass

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Old pond...
a frog jumps in
water's sound.


Translated by William J. Higginson

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An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.


Translated by Harry Behn

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There is the old pond!
Lo, into it jumps a frog:
hark, water's music!


Translated by John Bryan

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The silent old pond
a mirror of ancient calm,
a frog-leaps-in splash.


Translated by Dion O'Donnol

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old pond
frog leaping
splash


Translated by Cid Corman

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Antic pond--
frantic frog jumps in--
gigantic sound.


Translated by Bernard Lionel Einbond

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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.

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Old pond
leap -- splash
a frog.


Translated by Lucien Stryck

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The old pond,
A frog jumps in:.
Plop!


Translated by Allan Watts

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The old pond, yes, and
A frog is jumping into
The water, and splash.

Translated by G.S. Fraser

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