Fukuda Chiyo lived in Japan during the Edo period (18th century). She began writing haiku at age seven and eventually became one of Japan's best-known women poets. She studied with two students of the great haiku master, Basho, and some consider her Basho's heir. Many of her poems reflect on nature.

Chiyo didn't just write haiku. Like other Japanese masters, she strove to follow the Way of Haiku, to embody the essence of haiku in her own life. In later years Chiyo became a Buddhist nun and her name became Chiyo-ni in recognition of this.

on her day off
the prostitute wakes alone
the winter's chill

the morning glory
has seized the well bucket
I must go elsewhere for water

the dandelion
sometimes wakes the butterfly
from her dreams

the evening temple bells -
stopped in the sky
by cherry blossoms

at the crescent moon
the silence
enters the heart

audio (computer generated, no words, but gives a fair idea of the piece)