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Learn how to listen as things speak for themselves.

Matsuo Basho

Year’s end, all corners of this floating world, swept.
MATSUO BASHO

Age Float Time World
Farewell, my old fan. / Having scribbled on it, / What could I do but tear it / At the end of summer?
MATSUO BASHO

End Fan Myself Old Summer
The oak tree: not interested in cherry blossoms.
MATSUO BASHO

Flower Interest Tree
The journey itself is my home.
MATSUO BASHO

Home Journey Myself
Felling a tree and gazing at the cut end – tonight’s moon.
MATSUO BASHO

Fall Moon Night Tree
Make the universe your companion, always bearing in mind the true nature of things-mountains and rivers, trees and grasses, and humanity-and enjoy the falling blossoms and the scattering leaves.
MATSUO BASHO

Companion Humanity Leaving Mindset Mountain Universe Wisdom Yourself
Awakened at midnight by the sound of the water jar cracking from the ice.
MATSUO BASHO

Awake Ice Night Sound Water
April’s air stirs in Willow-leaves, a butterfly Floats and balances.
MATSUO BASHO

Balance Butterfly Leaves
With every gust of wind, the butterfly changes its place on the willow.
MATSUO BASHO

Butterfly Change Mindset Place
Between our two lives there is also the life of the cherry blossom.
MATSUO BASHO

Live Nature Ourselves Tree
Old pond, leap-splash – a frog.
MATSUO BASHO

Frog Old
Without bitterest cold that penetrates to the very bone, how can plum blossoms send forth their fragrance all over the world?
MATSUO BASHO

Bone Cold Deep Fragrance Nature Perfume World
Every moment of life is the last, every poem is a death poem.
MATSUO BASHO

Death Life Moments Poem
Nothing in the cry of cicadas suggests they are about to die.
MATSUO BASHO

Cry Death Flower
No matter where your interest lies, you will not be able to accomplish anything unless you bring your deepest devotion to it.
MATSUO BASHO

Accomplishment Deep Devotion Interest Yourself
Seek not the paths of the ancients; Seek that which the ancients sought.
MATSUO BASHO

Journey Path Seek Wisdom

Learn how to listen as things speak for themselves.

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Learn how to listen as things speak for themselves.

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