The Beauty of Nature ( Haiku Poems)

Matsuo Basho is a name associated with the renowned Genroku era when most of the Japanese literary and artistic personalities thrived. Basho, the haiku master, was born in the 17^th century near Kyoto  Kyoto in Japan (Poetry Foundation). Shortly after Basho’s birth, the borders of  Japan were closed; this move was aiming at seclusion, which could have flourished Japan. Basho was interested in literature contrary to his siblings, who became farmers, so while in Ueno castle in the service of the lord's son, his interest intensified. Later, when the young lord passes, Basho leaves the Ueno Castle and travels back to Kyoto, where he studied with the renowned poet Kigin (Poetry Foundation). Through these years, he studied Taoism, and Chinese poetry soon afterward began writing the Haikai no Renga poetry form of connected verses composed in collaboration (Poetry Foundation). In this form of writing, the structure encompassed three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables, a form called hokku which was, later referred to as haiku, a form Basho became a master of.  

The Edo period (Tokugawa) falls between 1603 and 1867, which saw the transformation of the classical culture, government, and society. The Edo era is the ancient dynasty of Tokugawa, which lasted over 250 years (Encyclopedia –Britannica). The era enjoyed its share of prosperity, political stability, peace, introduction to the new merchant class, and increased development in terms of urbanization. In guarding against the encroachment of the external and western influences into their territory, the dynasty closed off Japan, especially with regards to Christianity. The Tokugawa era’s focus was on the reestablishment of order in political, international, and social matters, and this came after a series of warfare.  The Ieyasu established a stable political structure that made it last that long, and it also prohibited anyone from owning large tracts of land. This era also came to an end in 1868 with another uprising from two powerful clans, which toppled the authority of the Tokugawa that is the Meiji emperor (Tokugawa Period and Meiji Restoration). 

The Haiku form poetry gained popularity in the 9^th century. Its traditional Japanese poems that encompass three short lines and no rhyme. Haiku is considered to be more than a poem as it gives a clear reflective perspective of things and having a deeper understanding of the universe. A good Haiku should leave the reader with a strong impression or feeling, should emphasize simplicity, and include images from nature. Below is an of haiku ( Examples of Haiku Poems):

 An Old silent pond… 

A frog jumps into the pond, 

splash! Silence again. 

Autumn moonlight- 

a worm digs silently into the chestnut. 

In the twilight rain these brilliant-hued hibiscus- 

A lovely sunset.

This is an example of one of the Matsuo Basho’s haiku, the greatest poet in the period of 1644 -1694. Haikus can take any form like the one in the original composition bellow. This poem is an original haiku on the beauty of the universe how different natural occurrences of the planet earth are related and significant. 

The sun blazes the earth 

leaves sprout to the light, 

Makes food efficiently. 

The  earth eats the rain droplets

dust  consumed in water, 

An interesting downpour. 

The galaxy rich in glitters all those are its treasures, 

Amazingly how nature existed.

In this poem, I am trying to expound on the nature that we have, its significance to us, how, when the sunshine, the plants can make their food, when the sunshine, the plants can make their food, which in turn feed us as humans. The universe is beautifully made of all the glitters in the sky from the stars and the moon. The poem intends to foster environmental conservation, that through conservation, we can enjoy all the beauty of nature. In contrast, the destruction of our surroundings exposes the universe to threats of global warming, which will consequently lead to damage. The poem, to me, means elegance of the world nature. Is the sea this unique and valuable? The poem below is an original composition on the amazing sea, the beauty of the sea to marine life in it. The fantastic voyages that happen in it and the mysteries, to the warfare out of wealth under the sea. 

At the close, ot looks like a flat playground 

Alas! Its spherical navigators know 

Life provides for 

The entire globe it feeds 

Numerous  journeys reroute 

Treasures of the wealth beneath 

War has ensued. 

The poem is about the sea, and all that the sea takes care of, and that is the human life marine life. “Life it provides for” the sea provides experience for both humans and marine life, through the voyages cargo fleets carrying food can be shipped, and humans feed on the marine life supported by the sea. Beneath the sea lies the treasure of oil, which is the most significant cause of warfare globally, with territorial disputes ensuing every time. I am trying to draw the importance of the sea and how well we humans should manage it well and solve disputes amicably sine a lot at stake. 

Technology is one advancement that we must acknowledge its consequences. The poem bellow addresses technology and its impact. 

Just a click you on the globe 

It a village so I here 

Fast this happen 

Moderation quite vital 

The ease quite encouraging 

the express created.

The poem is about the ease that things get down with this technological error. With one click, one has traversed the world, how efficient is that? I want to acknowledge that with all these benefits at bay, the behavior has been heavily influenced by it. The poem has a meaning that we should embrace technology but rectify behavior change. 

In conclusion, keeping in mind all the developments that technology has made achievable its quite inevitable. Basho made a great stride in advancing literature through its advancements through to being a master at haiku. Although during the Edo era, penetration of Japan was difficult, works of poetry made it easy and opened the perspective of the Japanese. Haiku syllables are difficult to create, and this games me a hard time though I eventually managed to create. I enjoyed the poems I created.                                                          

Work Cited

The –editors-of-Encyclopedia –Britannica https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of- Encyclopedia-britannica/4419. Matsuo Basho Facts https://biography.yourdictionary.com/matsuo-basho. 

Basho https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/basho. Tokugawa Period and Meiji Restoration https://www.history.com/topics/japan/meiji-restoration.