black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

Sitting quietly, doing nothing, Spring comes, and the grass grows, by itself.

Matsuo Basho

Calm and serene The sound of a cicada Penetrates the rock.
MATSUO BASHO

Calm Rock Serene Sound
Breaking the silence Of an ancient pond, A frog jumped into water – A deep resonance.
MATSUO BASHO

Break Deep Frog Resonate Silence Water
Nothing in the cry of cicadas suggests they are about to die.
MATSUO BASHO

Cry Death Flower
Collecting all The rains of May The swift Mogami River.
MATSUO BASHO

Collection Rain River Water
Learn the rules, and then forget them.
MATSUO BASHO

Forget Inspirational Learning Rule
There came a day when the clouds drifting along with the wind aroused a wanderlust in me, and I set off on a journey to roam along the seashores
MATSUO BASHO

Day Journey Myself Sea Wind
Winter solitude- in a world of one colour the sound of the wind.
MATSUO BASHO

Oneself Solitude Sound Wind Winter
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
Go to the object. Leave your subjective preoccupation with yourself. Do not impose yourself on the object. Become one with the object. Plunge deep enough into the object to see something like a hidden glimmering there.
MATSUO BASHO

Deep Enough Gide Leaving Object Subject Yourself
At the ancient pond the frog plunges into the sound of water.
MATSUO BASHO

Pond Sound Water
The fact that Saigyo composed a poem that begins, “I shall be unhappy without loneliness,” shows that he made loneliness his master.
MATSUO BASHO

Beginning Lonely Master Myself Poem
For this lovely bowl let us arrange these flowers since there is no rice.
MATSUO BASHO

Flower Food Love Poverty Togetherness
Every moment of life is the last, every poem is a death poem.
MATSUO BASHO

Death Life Moments Poem
Spring rain leaking through the roof dripping from the wasps’ nest.
MATSUO BASHO

Home Insect Rain Spring
I hope to have gathered To repay your kindness The willow leaves Scattered in the garden.
MATSUO BASHO

Garden Hope Kindness Pay
Around existence twine, (Oh, bridge that hangs across the gorge!) ropes of twisted vine.
MATSUO BASHO

Existence Plant Rope Twisted

Sitting quietly, doing nothing, Spring comes, and the grass grows, by itself.

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Sitting quietly, doing nothing, Spring comes, and the grass grows, by itself.

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