old pond.....
a frog leaps in
water's sound
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Hahaha....this poem is great...I loved all the translations. What does it say? A little frog...a big pond. The frog jumps in...kerplash!
Perhaps it lends itself to a connotation of disturbance? The "splash" at the end is rather strange. What splash? Why?
My reply to this poem.
Fascinating words
I pause, curious for a spell
Life goes on
-philophant -
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The poetic philosophy of Basho's time normally dictated that a poem reflect the cycles of nature and the great harmony of the universe. In usual verses like this, the emphasis would be upon the circles made in the water after the frog had jumped in, his leap to enlightenment and his identity with life's cycle as represented by the circles. The emphasis would not be on one individual frog. By putting the spotlight on the frog, and, even more, by emphasizing his solitary splash, Basho is defying tradition and making a statement. tishang -
this Haiku, often used as a benchmark example literally crystalises a moment in time as the water sounds as the frog leaps in. Beautiful
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