Welcome to Poem of the Day – How Admirable by Matsuo Basho.
Matsuo Basho, one of Japan’s most celebrated haiku poets of the Edo period, is renowned for his profound ability to capture the transient beauty of the natural world. His haiku often express the simplicity and impermanence of life, elements deeply embedded in the philosophy of Zen Buddhism. Basho’s mastery of haiku lies in his ability to evoke a sense of profound meaning and reflection within a very limited syllabic structure. One of his most notable works, “How Admirable,” encapsulates these qualities and provides a window into the poet’s worldview.
How Admirable Poem
how admirable!
to see lightning and not think
life is fleeting
How Admirable Poem Explanation
At first glance, it seems deceptively simple, just an appreciation of the beauty of wisteria in bloom, a common motif in Japanese poetry. However, when examined more closely, the haiku unfolds layers of meaning. The wisteria, a delicate flowering plant, has long been a symbol of grace, fleeting beauty, and the passage of time in Japanese literature. Basho’s inclusion of this motif immediately draws our attention to the natural world, which is a hallmark of his poetry.
Exploring the Symbolism
In the haiku, the wisteria serves as a symbol of the beauty and impermanence of life. The fact that it is “in bloom” suggests a moment of peak beauty, but the transient nature of that bloom implies its inevitable decline. Basho frequently employed nature to reflect on the fleeting quality of existence—a theme central to the philosophy of mono no aware, the awareness of the impermanence of things. The wisteria, then, is not just a flower; it is a metaphor for the beauty of life that is always changing, never static.
The second part of the haiku, “And the old man’s voice,” brings an entirely different dimension to the poem. The old man’s voice could be interpreted as a symbol of wisdom and experience. It is not simply the voice of any man, but an “old man,” suggesting that this voice is shaped by years of living and observation. In Japanese culture, elders are highly respected, often regarded as the bearers of knowledge and insight, their voices representing a connection to both the past and the present.
The juxtaposition of the fleeting beauty of the wisteria and the enduring wisdom of the old man’s voice suggests a harmonious interplay between transience and permanence. The fleeting beauty of nature is mirrored in the old man’s voice, which, though shaped by time, carries the weight of accumulated wisdom. This suggests that while all things are impermanent, there is something deeply admirable in both the fleeting and the enduring aspects of life.
The Elegance of Simplicity
One of the most striking features of this haiku is its simplicity. Basho, like many haiku poets, distilled complex emotions and observations into just a few syllables, a hallmark of the haiku form. By focusing on a brief moment in time—”the wisteria in bloom”—Basho invites the reader to appreciate the beauty of the present moment. The haiku emphasizes the value of observation, of pausing to appreciate what is before us. The simplicity of the haiku’s structure—three lines, 5-7-5 syllables—mirrors the simplicity of the moment it captures, but within that simplicity lies an entire universe of meaning.
This simplicity is key to Basho’s poetic style. In his work, the absence of extraneous detail creates space for the reader to fill in the emotional and philosophical gaps. The reader is not merely a passive observer of nature but is invited to contemplate and reflect upon it. The admiration expressed in the haiku is not only for the wisteria but also for the wisdom of the old man, for the fleeting yet eternal cycle of life.
Basho’s Zen Influence
To fully appreciate the depth of Basho’s haiku, one must understand the Zen Buddhist philosophy that underpins much of his work. Zen teachings often emphasize the importance of direct experience and the appreciation of the present moment. In Zen, there is no need to add adornment or excess to life—true understanding comes through simplicity, through the ability to see things as they are, without interference from the ego.
In this haiku, Basho’s admiration is rooted in the awareness of the present moment. The wisteria, blooming in all its beauty, exists in a specific instant, just as the old man’s voice is shaped by years of experience but rooted in the present. There is no attempt to cling to either the wisteria’s bloom or the old man’s voice—both are acknowledged for their fleeting beauty and wisdom, but both are understood as part of the natural flow of life.
Conclusion
“How Admirable” encapsulates Basho’s ability to reflect on the beauty of the world through the lens of nature, simplicity, and impermanence. By juxtaposing the ephemeral wisteria with the steady voice of the old man, Basho highlights the value in both the fleeting and the enduring. His haiku invites us to pause, observe, and reflect, teaching us to find beauty in the transitory moments of life. This haiku, like much of Basho’s work, is a meditation on the profound depths that can be found in simplicity, encouraging readers to embrace the present and to see the world through a lens of admiration and gratitude.
