Don’t come

An all alone crow
perched on a high leafless branch
an autumn evening
***
The whole blessed day long
he was singing—for the lark,
but not long enough
***
Neither flocks of birds
nor butterflies know blossoms
the dark evening sky
***
Remain still, tombstone!
And may as autumn wind be
my lamentation

MATSUO BASHÔ (Japan, 1644 –1694)
English versions by Germain Droogenbroodt – Stanley H. Barkan