Vision through Voice: The Poetry of Basho in the English Language Anonymous College

In Narrow Road to the Deep North, Japanese poet Bashō expresses himself masterfully through the traditional forms of haibun, covering themes of nature, folklore, faith, and journeys both physical and spiritual. All these stories and sentiments are contained within a haibun---a short piece of prose that tells the story and sets the mood---and meaningfully condensed into three lines in the haiku. The form seems simple---a short narrative, then three lines with a five-seven-five syllable pattern---which has lead many readers to regard it as a “children’s form”. It is this simplicity, however, that testifies to the brilliance of Bashō. Such strict and simple parameters require precise and purposeful word choice---there is no room for flowery embellishments. Every syllable must contribute fully to the meaning of the work, and Bashō makes deliberate choices to poignantly and accurately convey the depth of his feelings. In this way, he demonstrates the value of haibun as an art form---for children and adults alike.

In the selection entitled “IN TSURUGA: Second Year of Genroku”, two folk tales appear: first the ancient ritual of carrying sand to the Kei Shrine, and later a story recounted by an innkeeper at Tsuruga Harbor about a...