Two days ago, I had to go to a government office (which will remain nameless) to deal with paperwork (which was necessary but ultimately not very important). I anticipated waiting awhile before I would be helped, so I brought a book: The Essential Haiku edited by Robert Hass. While the blur of government routine went on around me, I thought about Basho, a 17th century Japanese poet and poetry teacher. He chose his own pen name, which means “banana tree” (yes, I agree, a vivid choice!), and he was a haiku master. Here are some examples of his verse, translated into English, for interested mortals such as ourselves:
felling a tree
and seeing the cut end —
tonight’s moon
II.
a bee
staggers out
of the peony
III.
harvest moon —
walking around the pond
all night long
IV.
midfield
attached to nothing
the skylark singing
So many extraordinary poems! I loved them all. It made my wait seem short.
If you have somewhere to go, and you know you will be waiting a long time, I suggest reading Basho. You will feel as if you are traveling without moving, seeing the wonders of nature in your soul even if you are confined to a chair!
THE POETRY PLACE 