Basho's Haikus

Haiku : This Japanese form of poetry with deep spiritual overtones,
beautiful description and analogy derived from everyday life is simply amazing.

Haiku is a traditional Japanese verse form, notable for its compression and suggestiveness. A great haiku presents, through imagery drawn from intensely careful observation, a web of associated ideas. The form emerged during the 16th century and was developed by the poet Basho (1644-1694) into a refined medium of Buddhist and Taoist symbolism.

Traditionally and ideally, a haiku presents a pair of contrasting images, one suggestive of time and place, the other a vivid but fleeting observation. Working together, they evoke mood and emotion. The poet does not comment on the connection but leaves the synthesis of the two images for the reader to perceive. Here are few of his Haikus that I like.

Now the swinging bridge

Is quieted with creepers
Like our tendrilled life

Seas slowly darken
And the wild duck's plaintive cry
Grows faintly white

Summer grasses:
All that remains of great soldiers'
Imperial dreams

Come out to view
The truth of flowers blooming
In poverty

Seen in plain daylight
The firefly's nothing but
An insect

Lonely silence,
A single cicada's cry
Sinking into stone

Ungraciously, under
A great soldier's empty helmet,
A cricket sings

Sick on my journey,
Only my dreams will wander
These desolate moors

- Basho