Breaking the silenceOf an ancient pond, A frog jumped into water-A deep resonance.This poem is representative of Basho's mature style. On the surface it is a description of the actions of a frog. However, considered more deeply, it is also a mirror that reflects the author. Basho writes: "Your poetry issues of its own accord when you and the object have become one--when you have plunged deep enough into the object to see something like a hidden glimmering there. However well phrased your poetry may be, if your feeling is not natural-if the object and yourself are separate-then your poetry is not true poetry but merely your subjective counterfeit" (Basho, 33).Breaking the silenceOf an ancient pond, A frog jumped into water-A deep resonance.This poem is representative of Basho's mature style. On the surface it is a description of the actions of a frog. However, considered more deeply, it is also a mirror that reflects the author. Basho writes: "Your poetry issues of its own accord when you and the object have become one--when you have plunged deep enough into the object to see something like a hidden glimmering there. However well phrased your poetry may be, if your feeling is not natural-if the object and yourself are separate-then your poetry is not true poetry but merely your subjective counterfeit" (Basho, 33).Breaking the silenceOf an ancient pond, A frog jumped into water-A deep resonance.This poem is representative of Basho's mature style. On the surface it is a description of the actions of a frog. However, considered more deeply, it is also a mirror that reflects the author. Basho writes: "Your poetry issues of its own accord when you and the object have become one--when you have plunged deep enough into the object to see something like a hidden glimmering there. However well phrased your poetry may be, if your feeling is not natural-if the object and yourself are separate-then your poetry is not true poetry but merely your subjective counterfeit" (Basho, 33).
