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 Interpretations a comparison. Basho, a childrens story Basho's own comments on his life as a poet. Basho Index