Lazing through the winter
I lean against the wall
it is my heart’s mountain.

Tucked away in the northwest part of Kyoto is Konpuku-ji, a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect. On it’s grounds is a teahouse where Buson, considered one of the greatest haiku masters of Japan, drank tea, wrote poetry and painted with his contemporaries. I would like to write in greater depth about the work of Buson and this Zen temple in later postings. For now I would like to share some of his winter poems.

The expected person’s
footsteps sounding from a distance
on fallen leaves!

In the aging house
crookedness of the door being straightened
a spring-like winter day.

Early winter-
I thought I was going visiting
but the person has come here.