Barn's burnt down --
now
I can see the moon.
~Masahide
from this site:
Mizuta Masahide was a samurai in the Zeze domain of Ohmi Province. Masahide initially studied haikai first under Shohaku but later became a disciple of the famous poet Basho.
In 1688 Masahide's house was burnt down, prompting him to write his most famous haiku Barn's burnt down... This haiku is said to have been highly praised by Basho. Masahide visited Basho who was staying in the southern shore of the Lake Biwa and under Basho's tutorial studied haikai diligently.
After the death of Basho in 1694, Masahide lamented that no one would praise if he wrote haikai according to ryuko (newness, change or fashion) and that he would therefore just concentrate on fueki (eternal poetic truth).
Masahide practiced medicine as well and loved drink. He died about 30 years after Basho.
(Thank you to Susumi Takeguchi and Gabriel Rosenstock for supplying these biographical notes.)
Do you, like I, feel claustrophobic looking at this drawing? My desire after reading the poem by Masahide is to tear down the barn so I can see that moonrise!
Photo: paid subscription clipart.com
2 comments:
Helps me think of arson differently. hard to see a new moon from an old barn.
Thanks for that.
I'm not so sure about the arson part....but burning down your own barn on your property is ok, especially for such an enlightened reason. :)
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