Haikai

I.

White petals afloat
     On a winding woodland stream—
What else is life’s dream!

II. 

Butterflies a-wing—
     Are you flowers returning
To your branch in Spring?

III.

At new moon we met!
     Two weeks I’ve waited in vain.
To-night!—Don’t forget.

IV.

Oh, red maple leaves,
     There seem more of you these eves
Than ever grew on trees.

 

From Tanka and Haikai: Japanese Rhythms (1916) by Sadakichi Hartmann. These poems are in the public domain.