Tuesday Poem: "In the midst of the plain …" Bassho

In the midst of the plain

sings the skylark

free of all things

Matsuo Bassho 1644-1694

—

Haiku is such a popular form, both in New Zealand and internationally, that I felt it was time to include one as a Tuesday Poem. This poem, by the Japanese master, Matsuo Bassho, is a personal favourite, both because of its simplicity, but also the way it "speaks" to the deeper yearnings of our humanity. Despite that, it's also very "zen", which resonates with my martial arts background.