The HyperTexts
AARGH, Uncredited Again!
by Michael R. Burch
I have good news and bad news to report. On the good side,
Reedsy Discovery published three of my haiku translations on a page of 40 haiku "everyone
should know about." The page introduces the poems by saying, "Here are 40 haiku
that ought to leave you in wonder."
On the not-so-good side, they failed to credit me with any of the translations.
AAARGH!
Am I doomed to be yet another instance of that prolific poet, Anonymous?
My uncredited translations on the page are:
The childless woman,
how tenderly she caresses
homeless dolls ...
—Hattori Ransetsu, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
The first soft snow:
leaves of the awed jonquil
bow low
—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
Grasses wilt:
the braking locomotive
grinds to a halt
—Yamaguchi Seishi, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
On an amusing note, I might have had more of the top 40 because I think I have
better translations of some of the other poems:
Petals I amass
with such tenderness
prick me to the quick.
—Kobayashi Issa, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
This world of dew
is a dewdrop world indeed;
and yet, and yet ...
—Kobayashi Issa, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
(The poem above was written shortly after the death of Issa's daughter.)
I write, erase, rewrite, erase ...
until, suddenly,
a poppy blooms.
—Katsushika Hokusai, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
Pale moonlight ...
the wisteria's fragrance
wafts faintly from far away.
—Yosa Buson, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
Lowly snail,
climb holy Mount Fuji,
but slowly, slowly!
—Kobayashi Issa, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
I'm trying to sleep!
Please swat the flies
lightly
—Masaoka Shiki, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
After killing a spider,
how lonely I felt
in the frigid night.
—Masaoka Shiki, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
I murder an ant
then realize my three children
were watching.
—Shuson Kato, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
Bitter winter wind,
why bellow so
when there's no leaves to blow?
—Natsume Soseki, loose translation by Michael R. Burch
The lamp extinguished,
once-distant stars
gather at my window.
—Natsume Soseki, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
Yesterday's snows
falling like cherry blossoms
are once again water.
—Gozan, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
Fall’s first morning:
the mirror I investigate
reflects my father’s face.
—Masaoka Shiki or Murakami Kijo, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R.
Burch
This evening in Kyoto,
hearing the cuckoo’s cry,
I long for Kyoto ...
—Kobayashi Issa, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
(The Japanese cuckoo sings a mournful song at night. I take Issa to be saying
that he longs for his youthful days in Kyoto.)
The crow has departed
leaving a leafless tree
swaying as night falls.
—Natsume Soseki, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
One candle
lights another:
spring twilight.
—Yosa Buson, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
This is another haiku translation I came up with recently:
A solitary crow
clings to a leafless branch:
nightfall
—Matsuo Basho, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
The following are links to other translations by Michael R. Burch:
Jaun Elia
Mirza Ghalib
Gulzar
Ahmad Faraz
Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Allama Iqbal
Rahat Indori
Nasir Kazmi
Amir Khusrow
Rabindranath Tagore
The Love Song of Shu-Sin: The Earth's Oldest Love Poem?
Ancient Greek Epigrams and Epitaphs
Meleager
Sappho
Basho
Oriental Masters/Haiku
Ono no Komachi
The Seafarer
Wulf and Eadwacer
Sweet Rose of Virtue
How Long the Night
Caedmon's Hymn
Anglo-Saxon Riddles and Kennings
Bede's Death Song
The Wife's Lament
Deor's Lament
Lament for the Makaris
Tegner's Drapa
Alexander Pushkin's tender, touching poem "I Love You" has been translated into English by Michael R. Burch.
Whoso List to Hunt
Miklós Radnóti
Rainer Maria Rilke
Marina Tsvetaeva
Renée Vivien
Veronica Franco
Bertolt Brecht
Ber Horvitz
Paul Celan
Primo Levi
Sandor Marai
Vera Pavlova
Wladyslaw Szlengel
Saul Tchernichovsky
Robert Burns: Original Poems and Translations
The Seventh Romantic: Robert Burns
Free Love Poems by Michael R. Burch
Doggerel by Michael R. Burch
Related pages:
Mirza Ghalib,
Ahmad Faraz,
Allama Iqbāl,
Faiz Ahmed Faiz,
Whoso List to Hunt,
The Most Beautiful Sonnets in the English Language,
The Most Beautiful Lines in the English Language,
The Best Anglo-Saxon Riddles and Kennings,
Ancient Greek Epigrams and Epitaphs,
The Best Poems Ever Written,
The Best Love Poems,
The Best Erotic Poems,
The Best Love Songs Ever,
The Best Urdu Love Poetry,
The Best Poetry Translations,
The Best Poems for Kids,
The Best Nonsense Verse,
The Best Rondels and Roundels,
The Best American Poetry,
Caedmon's Hymn Modern English Translation,
The Seafarer,
Free Love Poems by Michael R. Burch,
Doggerel by Michael R. Burch,
The "ur" poems of Michael R.
Burch
The HyperTexts