Lydia Hirsch: Favorites

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

Nothing in the cry

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

Matsuo Bashō

Nothing in the cry

Nothing in the cry
of cicadas suggests they
are about to die

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

A caterpillar

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

Matsuo Bashō

A caterpillar

A caterpillar,
this deep in fall--
still not a butterfly.

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

A monk sips morning tea

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

Matsuo Bashō

A monk sips morning tea

A monk sips morning tea,
it's quiet,
the chrysanthemum's flowering.

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

Autumn moonlight

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

Matsuo Bashō

Autumn moonlight

Autumn moonlight--
a worm digs silently
into the chestnut.

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

How admirable

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

Matsuo Bashō

How admirable

How admirable!
to see lightning and not think
life is fleeting.

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

Wrapping the rice cakes

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

Matsuo Bashō

Wrapping the rice cakes

Wrapping the rice cakes,
with one hand
she fingers back her hair.

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

When the winter chrysanthemums go

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

Matsuo Bashō

When the winter chrysanthemums go

When the winter chrysanthemums go,
there's nothing to write about
but radishes.

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

the pine tree of Shiogoshi

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

Matsuo Bashō

the pine tree of Shiogoshi

The pine tree of Shiogoshi
Trickles all night long
Shiny drops of moonlight.

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

A cicada shell

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

Matsuo Bashō

A cicada shell

A cicada shell;
it sang itself
utterly away.

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

The dragonfly

Dec 2016 Lydia Hirsch

Matsuo Bashō

The dragonfly

The dragonfly
can't quite land
on that blade of grass.