Basho Essay

In Japan, Bashō often began his Haikus with a single experience that sparked a journey through his mind. He used simple ideas and themes throughout his writing world, and became known as a great Haiku writer (Poetry Foundation). This is the story of how Bashō brought the Haiku to life. The Haiku is a Japanese poem consisting of seventeen syllables in three lines, the order of syllables being: five, seven, five. A Haiku used to remember the order of syllables is:
I am first with five
Then seven in the middle --
Five again to end. (kidzone.edu)
They hardly ever rhyme, and are typically used for common experiences. Although Matsuo Kinsaku, known as Bashō, was recognized for originating the Haiku, its history is traditional. It began as the “opening verse of a renga, known as hokku” (Poetry Foundation), and then turned into a poem itself. After adapting the writing format of the Haiku, the credited inventor began the journey to making it become well-known.

While his siblings became farmers, he became a literacy teacher and grew towards the love of writing. He found a community of literature growing in Edu (now known as Tokyo). His work was “[an] observation of the natural world as well as in historical and literary concerns” (poetryfoundation) that made the mind think through his simple and complex use of imagery. A fire destroyed his house, along with much of his city, which led him to create a new poem style: the Haibun. The poetic forms he created led people to read through his journey of life across