According to Jane Reichhold's Old Pond: Basho's (almost) thousand haiku, Basho wrote the following haiku on Mount Yudano (bathroom). On this mountain was a spectacular waterfall which had been a Shinto place of worship since early times. Only men could visit it and only after a rigorous climb with several rituals and services in various temples. At the gate, after purification rites, they must remove their shoes to climb the rocks barefoot. In addition, before being allowed to view this wonder, each men had to swear never to reveal what he witnessed there. In modern times, in interests of disclosure, the secret of Mount Yudano has been revealed.
Due to the wearing away of the rock and the reddish minerals in the thermal-warmed water, the waterfall looks exactly like the private parts of a woman complete with sounds and gushing water. The practice can be thought of as worshipping the reproductive aspect of the feminine earth.
The priest Ekaku had asked Basho to write some poems on his visit to the three holy mountains of Dewa. Basho couldn't do that because it was an awesome experience for him and so he couldn't find the words. Also it was forbidden to talk about what he had witnessed on the mountain.
katara re nu yudano ni nurasu tometo kana
forbidden to say
how sleeves are wetted
in the bathroom
It's a strange story, but it has also something ... spiritual. To write a haiku in the same tone and sense as Basho did ... looks like climbing a mountain barefoot, but I will try.
what has happened?
petals of red roses around
the morning glory
an other haiku inspired by the one of Basho:
secret admirer -
petals of red roses around
my morning glory
A little bit of humour :)
Sincerely,
A weblog about Matsuo Basho, a haiku master, and his haiku. On this weblog you can read several items about Basho's haiku and in every item I (Chèvrefeuille, a haiku poet) will write an own haiku inspired on the one by Basho.
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Monday, January 9, 2012
Basho Revisited, how sleeves are wetted
Labels:
Basho,
haibun,
haiku,
morning glory
Location:
Nederland
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