Basho

 

                                                         Portrait of Bashō - Hokusai



Matsuo Munefusa, alias Bashō (1644-94), was a Japanese poet and writer during the early Edo period. He took his pen name Bashō from his bashō-an, a hut made of plantain leaves, to where he would withdraw from society for solitude. Born of a wealthy family, Bashō was a Samurai until the age of 20, at which time he devoted himself to his poetry. Bashō was a main figure in the development of haiku, and is considered to have written the most perfect examples of the form. His poetry explores the beauties of nature and are influenced by Zen Buddhism, which lends itself to the meditative solitude sensed in his haiku. He traveled extensively throughout his lifetime. His 1689 five-month journey deep into the country north and west of Edo provided the insight for his most famous work Oku no hosomichi (Narrow Road to the Deep North). This great work was posthumoustly published in 1702 and is still read by most Japanse high school students.






Matsuo Bashō

(1644-1694) Even in Kyoto-- hearing the cuckoo's cry-- I long for Kyoto. 

 A crow has settled on a bare branch-- autumn evening. 

The crane's legs have gotten shorter in the spring rain. 

Weathered bones on my mind, a wind-pierced body. 

This road - no one goes down it, autumn evening Another year gone-- hat in hand, sandals on my feet. 

The old pond-- a frog jumps in sound of water. 

The winter sun-- on the horse's back my frozen shadow. 

Seeing people off, being seen off-- autumn in Kiso. 

A cold rain starting and no hat-- so? 

Singing, flying, singing the cuckoo keeps busy. 

Visiting the graves-- white-haired, leaning on their canes. 

Midnight frost-- I'd borrow the scarecrow's shirt. 

When the winter chrysanthemums go there's nothing to write about but radishes.






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