Natsume Sōseki Poems

Collections

The Sōseki Poetry project has a new home! This site will remain active, but updated poems (including haiku) can be found at https://soseki.create.fsu.edu/

Collection

The Japanese text comes from Natsume Sōseki. Sōseki zenshū. 29 vols. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 2003.

English translations and annotations by Matthew Mewhinney.

No. Title Date
1Swan Tower, Two Poems - No. 1
2Swan Tower, Two Poems - No. 2
3Painting Inscription
4To My Fellow Poet Okuda Upon His Return Home
5Ode to a Friend at Parting
6Improvisation
7Improvisation, Two Poems - No. 1
8Improvisation, Two Poems - No. 2
9From my Critique of the Seven Herbs Collection - No. 1
10From my Critique of the Seven Herbs Collection - No. 2
11From my Critique of the Seven Herbs Collection - No. 3
12From my Critique of the Seven Herbs Collection - No. 4
13From my Critique of the Seven Herbs Collection - No. 5
14From my Critique of the Seven Herbs Collection - No. 6
15From my Critique of the Seven Herbs Collection - No. 7
16From my Critique of the Seven Herbs Collection - No. 8
17From my Critique of the Seven Herbs Collection - No. 9
18From the Wood Chip Chronicle, 14 Poems (September 1889) - No. 11889-09
19From the Wood Chip Chronicle, 14 Poems (September 1889) - No. 11889-09
20From the Wood Chip Chronicle, 14 Poems (September 1889) - No. 31889-09
21From the Wood Chip Chronicle, 14 Poems (September 1889) - No. 41889-09
22From the Wood Chip Chronicle, 14 Poems (September 1889) - No. 51889-09
23From the Wood Chip Chronicle, 14 Poems (September 1889) - No. 61889-09
24From the Wood Chip Chronicle, 14 Poems (September 1889) - No. 71889-09
25From the Wood Chip Chronicle, 14 Poems (September 1889) - No. 81889-09
26From the Wood Chip Chronicle, 14 Poems (September 1889) - No. 9 An Impromptu Poem I wrote on the Road from Tōgane to Chōshi.1889-09
27From the Wood Chip Chronicle, 14 Poems (September 1889) - No. 101889-09
28From the Wood Chip Chronicle, 14 Poems (September 1889) - No. 11 An Impromptu poem I wrote at a restaurant after my boat reached Mitsubori at dawn.1889-09
29From the Wood Chip Chronicle, 14 Poems (September 1889) - No. 12 While traveling, I think of home.1889-09
30From the Wood Chip Chronicle, 14 Poems (September 1889) - No. 13 Remembering my friends in Tokyo after bidding them farewell.1889-09
31From the Wood Chip Chronicle, 14 Poems (September 1889) - No. 14 I write a poem of self-scorn as coda to my Wood-Chip Chronicle1889
32Untitled (September 20, 1889)1889-09-20
33Maple Viewing on a Mountain Road (November 1889)1889-11
34Untitled (Late August 1890)1890-08
35Untitled (Late August 1890)1890-08
36Miscellaneous Poems at Mt. Hakone, 8 Poems (September 1890) - No. 11890-09
37Miscellaneous Poems at Mt. Hakone, 8 Poems (September 1890) - No. 21890-09
38Miscellaneous Poems at Mt. Hakone, 8 Poems (September 1890) - No. 31890-09
39Miscellaneous Poems at Mt. Hakone, 8 Poems (September 1890) - No. 41890-09
40Miscellaneous Poems at Mt. Hakone, 8 Poems (September 1890) - No. 51890-09
41Miscellaneous Poems at Mt. Hakone, 8 Poems (September 1890) - No. 61890-09
42Miscellaneous Poems at Mt. Hakone, 8 Poems (September 1890) - No. 71890-09
43Miscellaneous Poems at Mt. Hakone, 8 Poems (September 1890) - No. 81890-09
44Seeing a Friend off, I come to Moto-Hakone, 3 Poems (September 1890) - No. 11890-09
44Seeing a Friend off, I come to Moto-Hakone, 3 Poems (September 1890) - No. 21890-09
46Seeing a Friend off, I come to Moto-Hakone, 3 Poems (September 1890) - No. 31890-09
47Impromptu Poems on the Way Home, 2 Poems (September 1890) - No. 11890-09
48Impromptu Poems on the Way Home, 2 Poems (September 1890) - No. 21890-09
49I thank Masaoka Shiki for the gift of his photograph, and present in return a poem following the rhyme scheme of the poem he sent to me. (October 24, 1890)1890-10-24
50My Reply to Your Witchery (July 14, 1891)1891-07-14
51In a Boat on Oi River
52Untitled (March 9, 1894)1894-03-09
53Untitled, 5 Poems (March 1895) - No. 11895-03
54Untitled, 5 Poems (March 1895) - No. 21895-03
55Untitled, 5 Poems (March 1895) - No. 31895-03
56Untitled, 5 Poems (March 1895) - No. 41895-03
57Untitled, 5 Poems (March 1895) - No. 51895-03
58Untitled (January 9, 1896)1896-01-09
59In May 1896, mysterious mushrooms were growing in Jokei’s courtyard - No. 11896-11-15
60In May 1896, mysterious mushrooms were growing in Jokei’s courtyard - No. 21896-11-15
61In May 1896, mysterious mushrooms were growing in Jokei’s courtyard - No. 31896-11-15
62In May 1896, mysterious mushrooms were growing in Jokei’s courtyard - No. 41896-11-15
63In May 1896, mysterious mushrooms were growing in Jokei’s courtyard - No. 51896-11-15
64Untitled (December 12, 1897)1897-12-12
65Spring Rhapsody (March 1898)1898-03
67Meditating on a Spring Day (March 1898)1898-03
67Untitled (March 1898)1898-03
68Mustard Blossoms (March 1898)1898-03
69I send this to Shiki on encountering spring while traveling. (1899)1899
70Untitled (1899)1899
71Ancient Parting (April 1899)1899-04
72Untitled (April 1899)1899-04
73Untitled (1899)1899
74Untitled (1899)1899
75Untitled (1899)1899
76Untitled
77Untitled (July 31, 1910)1910-07-31
78Untitled (September 20, 1910)1910-09-20
80Untitled (September 25, 1910)1910-09-25
81Untitled (September 29, 1910)1910-09-29
82Untitled (October 1, 1910)1910-10-01
83Untitled (October 2, 1910)1910-10-02
84Untitled (October 3, 1910)1910-10-03
85Untitled (October 4, 1910)1910-10-04
86Untitled (October 7, 1910)1910-10-07
87Untitled (October 7, 1910)1910-10-07
88Untitled (October 8, 1910)1910-10-08
89Untitled (October 10, 1910)1910-10-10
90Untitled (October 11, 1910)1910-10-11
90Untitled (October 11, 1916)1916-10-11
91Untitled (October 16, 1910)1910-10-16
93Untitled (October 24, 1910)1910-10-24
93Untitled (October 27, 1910)1910-10-27
94Improvisations on a Spring Day, 10 Poems (May 24, 1912) - No. 11912-05-24
95Improvisations on a Spring Day, 10 Poems (May 24, 1912) - No. 21912-05-24
96Improvisations on a Spring Day, 10 Poems (May 24, 1912) - No. 31912-05-24
97Improvisations on a Spring Day, 10 Poems (May 24, 1912) - No. 41912-05-24
98Improvisations on a Spring Day, 10 Poems (May 24, 1912) - No. 51912-05-24
99Improvisations on a Spring Day, 10 Poems (May 24, 1912) - No. 61912-05-24
100Improvisations on a Spring Day, 10 Poems (May 24, 1912) - No. 71912-05-24
101Improvisations on a Spring Day, 10 Poems (May 24, 1912) - No. 81912-05-24
102Improvisations on a Spring Day, 10 Poems (May 24, 1912) - No. 91912-05-24
103Improvisations on a Spring Day, 10 Poems (May 24, 1912) - No. 101912-05-24
104Untitled (June, 1912)1912-06
105Untitled (June, 1912)1912-06
106Untitled (June, 1912)1912-06
107Untitled (July, 1912)1912-07
108With this Poem I Thank Master Yokoyama for his Painting (July, 1912)1912-07
109A Poem to Master Yokoyama for his Lovely Painting (July, 1912)1912-07
110Preface to An Album of One Hundred Poem Strips of Meiji Haiku Masters (July, 1912)1912-07
111Waterfall Viewing at Wondrous Cloud Temple (September 17, 1912)1912-09-17
112An Inscription on My Painting (November, 1912)1912-11
113An Inscription on My Painting (November, 1912)1912-11
114Untitled
115An Inscription on My Painting of Bamboo
116Improvisation
117An Inscription on Bamboo Painted for Amusement
118An Inscription on My Painting (1914)1914
119Painting Inscription (February, 1914)1914-02
120An Inscription on My Painting (1914)1914
121I take Master Kendō’s Poem Celebrating his 70th year, and the and Seventy Year Goblet, and congratulate him with a poem in the same rhyme scheme. (1914)1914
122I mimic my fellow poet Rinpū (Facing the Wind) with an improvisation from my place of retirement. (1914)1914
123I write a roamer’s song like my fellow poet Engetsu (Round Moon) (February, 1914)1914-02
124An Inscription on My Painting
125An Inscription on My Painting (November, 1914)1914-11
126An Inscription on My Painting
127Painting Inscription
128An Inscription on a Painting by Nishikawa Issōtei (Rustic Abode)
129An Inscription on My Painting (November, 1915)1915-11
130An Inscription on a Painting by Yūki Somei (November, 1915)1915-11
131An Inscription on My Painting (January, 1916)1916-01
132An Improvisation from my Humble Abode (Spring 1916)1916
133An Inscription on My Painting (Spring 1916)1916
134Untitled (Night of August 14, 1916)1916-08-14
135Untitled (August 15, 1916)1916-08-15
136Untitled (August 15, 1916)1916-08-15
137Untitled (August 16, 1916)1916-08-16
138Untitled (August 18, 1916)1916-08-18
139Untitled (August 19, 1916)1916-08-19
140Untitled (August 20, 1916)1916-08-20
141Untitled (August 21, 1916)1916-08-21
142Untitled (August 21, 1916)1916-08-21
143Untitled (August 22, 1916)1916-08-22
144Untitled (August 23, 1916)1916-08-23
145An Inscription for a Painting on the Third Year of the Dragon (August 26, 1916)1916-08-26
146Untitled (August 26, 1916)1916-08-26
147Untitled (August 29, 1916)1916-08-29
148Untitled (August 30, 1916)1916-08-30
149Untitled (August 30, 1916)1916-08-30
150Untitled (September 1, 1916)1916-09-01
151Untitled (September 1, 1916)1916-09-01
152Untitled (September 2, 1916)1916-09-02
153Untitled (September 2, 1916)1916-09-02
154Untitled (September 3, 1916)1916-09-03
155Untitled (September 4, 1916)1916-09-04
156Untitled (September 4, 1916)1916-09-04
157Untitled (September 5, 1916)1916-09-05
159Untitled (September 6, 1916)1916-09-06
159Untitled (September 9, 1916)1916-09-09
160Untitled (September 10, 1916)1916-09-10
161Untitled (September 11, 1916)1916-09-11
162Untitled (September 12, 1916)1916-09-12
163Untitled (September 13, 1916)1916-09-13
164Untitled (September 13, 1916)1916-09-13
165Untitled (September 15, 1916)1916-09-15
166Untitled (September 16, 1916)1916-09-16
167Untitled (September 17, 1916)1916-09-17
168Untitled (September 18, 1916)1916-09-18
169Untitled (September 19, 1916)1916-09-19
170Untitled (September 20, 1916)1916-09-20
171Untitled (September 22, 1910)1916-09-22
171Untitled (September 22, 1916)1916-09-22
172Untitled (September 23, 1916)1916-09-23
173Untitled (September 23, 1916)1916-09-23
174Untitled (September 24, 1916)1916-09-24
175Untitled (September 25, 1916)1916-09-25
176Untitled (September 26, 1916)1916-09-26
177Untitled (September 27, 1916)1916-09-27
178Untitled (September 29, 1916)1916-09-29
179Untitled1916-09-30
180Untitled (October 1, 1916)1916-10-01
181Untitled (October 2, 1916)1916-10-02
182Untitled (October 3, 1916)1916-10-03
183Untitled (October 4, 1916)1916-10-04
184Untitled (October 6, 1916)1916-10-06
185Untitled (October 7, 1916)1916-10-07
186Untitled (October 8, 1916)1916-10-08
187Untitled (October 9, 1916)1916-10-09
188Untitled (October 10, 1916)1916-10-10
190Untitled (October 12, 1916)1916-10-12
191Untitled (October 15, 1916)1916-10-15
192Untitled1916-10-16
193Untitled (October 17, 1916)1916-10-17
194Untitled (October 18, 1916)1916-10-18
195Untitled (October 20, 1916)1916-10-20
196Untitled (October 20, 1916)1916-10-20
197Untitled (October 21, 1916)1916-10-21
198Untitled, 3 Poems - No. 11916-10-21
199Untitled, 3 Poems - No. 21916-10-21
200Untitled, 3 Poems - No. 31916-10-21
201Untitled, 3 Poems (October 22, 1916) - No. 11916-10-22
202Untitled, 3 Poems (October 22, 1916) - No. 21916-10-22
203Untitled, 3 Poems (October 22, 1916) - No. 31916-10-22
204Zen Master Genjō came to my house with his donation bowl after a gathering at Tokugenji, and stayed for ten days. Before leaving, he bothered me for a painting. As a gift to the Zen Master, I painted bamboo and with an accompanying poem inscription. (October 31, 1916)1916-10-31
205On October, 1916, I complete a painting for Zen Master Genjō. After one day, I look at all the pictures on the walls and excitement suddenly stirs. Next, I pull out my brush and paint a small pine atop two or three stones for Zen Master Keidō. I do not whether or not the Zen Master will accept my gift. (November 1, 1916)1916-11-01
206Untitled (November 13, 1916)1916-11-13
207Untitled (November 19, 1916)1916-11-19
208Untitled (November 20, 1916)1916-11-20