Ah, how sublime. —
The green leaves, the young leaves.
In the light of the sun!

From Yone Noguchi's book Japanese Hokkus for Haiku Bones

To-day, at last to-day,
I grew to wish to raise
The chrysanthemum flowers.

From Yone Noguchi's book Japanese Hokkus for Haiku Bones

Like a cobweb hung upon the tree,
A prey to wind and sunlight!
Who will say that we are safe and strong?

From Yone Noguchi's book Japanese Hokkus for Haiku Bones

The maple leaves on the mountain top would
wait for a king's train to pass once more,
Why will my life wait for my own song?

From Yone Noguchi's book Japanese Hokkus for Haiku Bones

The fickle waves of a strand do drench my
sleeves with sprays:
My songs cry only to make the stars sing.

From Yone Noguchi's book Japanese Hokkus for Haiku Bones

I row across the expanse of sea,
And the far-away sky, —
I row across the white billows of pain.

From Yone Noguchi's book Japanese Hokkus for Haiku Bones

It is too late to hear a nightingale?
Tut, tut, tut, . . . some bird sings,-
That's quite enough, my friend.

From Yone Noguchi's book Japanese Hokkus for Haiku Bones

Speak not again, Voice!
The silence washes off sins:
Come not again, Light!

From Yone Noguchi's book Japanese Hokkus for Haiku Bones

This way? or that way?
Where's the very street to Heaven?
What webs of streets!

From Yone Noguchi's book Japanese Hokkus for Haiku Bones