Welcome to Poem of the Day –The squid seller’s call by Matsuo Basho.
Matsuo Basho, one of Japan’s most revered poets, is often associated with the profound simplicity of haiku poetry, a form that distills the essence of nature and human experience into a brief, vivid snapshot. His work, known for its clarity and depth, frequently draws on themes of transience, nature, and human emotion. Among his many haiku, “The Squid Seller’s Call”stands out for its evocative simplicity and its insightful commentary on the intersection of nature and human life.
The squid seller’s call Poem
the squid seller’s call
mingles with the voice
a cuckoo
The squid seller’s call Poem Explanation
The Squid Seller’s Call: A Representation of Human Activity
The first line of the haiku introduces a squid seller, whose call is presumably heard in a market or a small street corner where seafood is sold. The “squid seller’s call” is likely a common feature of life, drawing attention to the way human routines unfold in the world. The voice of the seller is one of commerce, of human transaction. However, this everyday call is not just about selling squid; it becomes a focal point for exploring deeper themes.
Basho often uses the mundane to invite readers to pause and reflect on the larger world. The seller’s voice, though simple and direct, is not a detached noise. It is woven into the fabric of the moment, and it is from here that Basho connects the human world to the natural one.
The Darkness of the Inn: Symbolism of the Transitory
In the second line, Basho introduces the idea of darkness inside the inn. This darkness is more than just the physical absence of light; it is symbolic of the ephemeral nature of life. Darkness can represent the unknown, the transient, and the inevitable approach of the night, a recurring theme in Basho’s poetry.
The inn—“Naka ni mo miso”—becomes a space not only for rest but also for reflection. It is a temporary shelter, a liminal space where travelers come and go. Just as the squid seller’s call marks a specific place in time, the inn represents a fleeting moment, a pause in the journey of life. This brings the reader’s attention to the impermanence of human existence, a key theme in Basho’s works.
The Mist: A Metaphor for Ephemeral Nature
The final line brings in the image of mist, which is closely tied to the transient nature of existence. Mist lingers, but it is never permanent. In fact, it is something that can dissipate or change with the slightest shift in the environment. Basho’s use of mist serves as a powerful metaphor for the passage of time and the fleetingness of all things. Just as the mist envelops the scene, it reminds us of the constant movement of life and the inevitability of change.
Furthermore, the mist might be interpreted as an element of the natural world that interacts with human activity. The squid seller’s call might be understood as one of the few things that break the stillness of the scene, but even it, too, is fleeting, soon to be obscured by the mist. Basho’s haiku invites us to reflect on how human action is but a momentary ripple in the vastness of time and nature.
The Duality of Human and Natural Worlds
The most striking aspect of this haiku is its juxtaposition of the human and natural worlds. The squid seller, representing the daily grind of human activity, calls out to customers, unaware—or perhaps indifferent—to the surrounding environment. The mist, on the other hand, represents nature’s silent, invisible presence. By framing both these elements within a single haiku, Basho suggests that human life, though busy and filled with activity, is ultimately intertwined with the larger, uncontrollable forces of nature.
In the case of the mist, we see the passage of time encapsulated in something as subtle as fog, which rises from the earth and is bound to disappear with the changing of the weather. The squid seller’s call is likewise transient, a reminder that even the loudest human actions are brief and fading in the face of nature’s timelessness.
A Reflection on the Concept of Wabi-Sabi
The theme of impermanence in “The Squid Seller’s Call” aligns with the Japanese aesthetic principle of wabi-sabi, which celebrates the beauty of things that are imperfect, transient, and incomplete. The squid seller’s call and the mist are both evanescent and imperfect, existing only for a short time before they vanish. This impermanence is not something to be lamented but to be accepted and appreciated. Basho’s haiku captures the very essence of wabi-sabi—the quiet beauty of things as they are, in their most fleeting moments.
Conclusion
Matsuo Basho’s “The Squid Seller’s Call” is a profound meditation on the fleeting nature of life. Through the simple image of a squid seller’s call, the poem contrasts human action with the silence of the natural world, framed within the brief, ephemeral presence of mist. In just a few lines, Basho invites readers to consider the fragility of existence and the beauty found in impermanence. This haiku, like so many of Basho’s works, demonstrates his mastery in using minimal words to convey the most complex and profound insights about life, nature, and the human condition.
