Basho: Summer grass
The samurai found an honorable death in battle. In Basho's poem, the futility of our efforts becomes plain. All we have are our actions in any given moment.
Natsu-gusa ya
tsuwamono-demo-ga
yume-no ato.Summer grass:
of stalwart warriors splendid dreams
the aftermath.
— Matsuo Basho
The samurai found an honorable death in battle. We can imagine Basho here, on his journey in search of famous utamakaru, looking upon the fields of war. All that remains of once heroic deeds are the ruined castles of the Fujiwara, and overgrown grasslands. In Basho's poem, the futility of our efforts becomes plain. All we have are our actions in any given moment.