I am currently reading a book by Makoto Ueda entitled Basho and
his Interpreters. The author, at the time of publication, was
Professor of Asian Studies at Stanford University. I believe he is
now retired. The book contains 255 selected hokku by Basho with an
interpretive translation by Makoto Ueda, followed by the romanized
original and word-for-word translation. Notes with some of the poems
give background such as date and place of composition, and explanations
of some Japanese words where it was felt they were needed. Some poems
have a "headnote" that was written by Basho in his journal,with the poem
below. Commentaries are provided through remarks by a total of 78
Japanese poets, authors, critics, and some of Basho's students.
What I am presenting here is one hokku in the format outlined above as
presented in that book. (Don't fret, there are only 7 of the commentators
presented here.) Everything between the asterisks is excerpted from
Makoto Ueda's book. I am presenting this excerpt without any comment of
my own except to say that reading this book has been very informative and,
if you will, enlightening on a whole range of subjects.
soji
Headnote:
Expressing how I feel
on this road
where nobody else travels
autumn nightfall
kono | michi | ya | yuku | hito | nashi | ni | aki | no | kure
this | road | : | go | person | nonexistent | with | autumn | s | evening
Note:
The opening verse of a half-kasen composed at an Osaka restaurant
on November 13.
Commentary:
While singing of the loneliness of autumn, the poet deplored the
scarcity of people following the way of haiki. - Shogatsudo
This poem is more symbolic than allegorical. The instant we visualize
the scene presented in it, we are struck by what Basho had in mind. - Komiya
"This road" is a conceptual road that is all-inclusive. It is real,
and yet ultimately it transcends reality. It is not as limited or
identifiable as the road of haikai to which Basho dedicated
his entire life. - Handa
Sometimes we see a road without any passers-by and that sight makes
us realize how utterly lonely our life is. This hokku seems to embody
loneliness of that kind, only more refined in quality by going through
Basho's mind. - Saisei
"This road" is not a road leading to a bright future. Standing at the
"autumn nightfall" of his life, Basho looked back to the road he had
trodden. Thereupon it occurred to him that he had always been alone,
that he would also be alone in the future, and that was what fate had
given him. - Yamamoto
An artists road is ultimately a lonely one. The greater the artist, the
greater the distance between himself and the masses. - Imoto
For the aged and ailing poet, the road led straight to the nether world.
Surely this poem pictures Basho walking away all alone into that twilight.
- Miyamoto
Copies of this book, in it's entirety, are available through Amazon.com
Basho, a childrens story