David – HOKKU
hear the hototogisu ~
A reader asked me to discuss this hokku by Bashō:
京にても京なつかしやほとゝぎす
Kyō nite mo Kyō natsukashi ya hototogisu
So how then shall we translate the verse into English? Well, here is how I would do it while remaining close to the original:
Though in Kyōto,
Still longing for Kyōto;
A cuckoo.
– English translation by David
Source: David – HOKKU
word pond 