Bashô On the Road

Although, it goes back a full year to February 2008, this is an interesting article with fantastic photographs on Bashô in National Geographic. Click on the above photo to see the full gallery of pictures.

Here's the fine article by the writer Howard Norman, author of The Bird Artist and other novels, who followed in the footsteps of Basho's 1200 mile journey, with accompanying photos by Michael Yamashita.

With all the various Bashô translations that I've looked at here in The Hut, I never fail to be amazed and delighted when I stumble across another fresh interpretation. The following, from the Norman article, perfectly captures Bashô's ennui and spiritual doubts.

Tired of cherry,
Tired of this whole world,
I sit facing muddy sake
and black rice.

Matsuo Bashô

Don't miss Norman's last line in the article. Worth it's weight in haiku ...

best,

Don