Catullus. “Come, Lesbia, Let Us Live and Love.”

 

My sweetest Lesbia, let us live and love;
And though the sager sort our deeds reprove,
Let us not weigh them. Heaven's great lamps do dive
Into their west, and straight again revive;
But, soon as once set is our little light,
Then must we sleep one ever-during night.

If all would lead their lives in love like me,
Then bloody swords and armor should not be;
No drum nor trumpet peaceful sleeps should move,
Unless alarm came from camp of love.
But fools do live and waster their little light,
And seek with pain their ever-during night.

When timely death my life and fortune ends,
Let not my hearse be vexed with mourning friends;
But let all lovers rich in triumph come,
And with sweet pastime grace my happy tomb.
And, Lesbia, close up thou my little light,
And crown with love by ever-during night. 
- Gaius Valerius Catullus 

Buson, Taniguchi. “Haiku.”

THE WINTER RIVER; 

 DOWN IT COME FLOATING  

 FLOWERS OFFERED TO BUDDHA

- Taniguchi Buson

Blake, William. “The Lamb” & “The Tiger”

Little lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee,

Gave thee life, and bid thee feed

By the stream and o'er the mead;

Gave thee clothing of delight,

Softest clothing, woolly, bright;

Gave thee such a tender voice,

Making all the vales rejoice?

Little lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Little lamb, I'll tell thee;

Little lamb, I'll tell thee:

He is called by thy name,

For He calls Himself a Lamb.

He is meek, and He is mild,

He became a little child.

I a child, and thou a lamb,

We are called by His name.

Little lamb, God bless thee!

Little lamb, God bless thee!

- William Blake

Baudelaire, Charles. “The Revenant.”

With an angelic, rapacious eye

I shall return to where you lie,

And to you I shall soft alight

With all the darkness of the night.

I shall, to you, my dark and fair,

Give kisses cold as moonlit air

And caresses like a serpent's lust

Twisting in the lightless dust.

When comes the morning, cold and pale,

You will look without avail

For me, for I shall not be near.

While others, by their tenderness

Prevail upon your innocence,

I shall claim your heart by fear.

- Charles Baudelaire

Basho, Matsuo. “Haiku."

THE SCENT OF PLUM BLOSSOMS

ON THE MISTY MOUNTAIN PATH

A GREAT RISING SUN

-  Matsuo Basho