Bashō's Haiku Quotes

“Ganjin of Sho ¯daiji Temple endured seventy adversities in his attempts to come to Japan from China. He is said to have lost his sight due to the salt wind blown into his eyes. Worshipping at his sacred image:

with a young leaf
I would wipe the tears
from your eyes”
― Bashō Matsuo, Bashō's Haiku: Selected Poems

“Temple of Suma—
hearing the unblown flute
in the deep shade of trees

sumadera ya / fukanu fue kiku / koshitayami”
― Bashō Matsuo, Bashō's Haiku: Selected Poems