(Print by Hasui Kawase)

This is one of Basho's most famous verses. He wrote it when he was visiting the ruins of Takadate Castle, once a fort of the great Fujiwara clan. Centuries before the castle had been besieged and all within killed. Now all that is left is the summer grass. The brave deeds of those warriors is gone, forgotten, nothing more than fading dreams and echoes on the landscape. Basho was so overcome with this realization that he burst into tears and wept openly.

The tale is a tragic one. Yoshitsune, one of the more famous warriors in Japanese history and a main player in The Tale of the Heike, had received the protection of Fujiwara no Hidehira and lived peacefully at his town. Upon Hidehira's death, his son, Yasuhira, promised to uphold his father's pledge of protection. However, Yoritomo, Yoshitsune's jealous half-brother, twisted the heart of Yasuhira against Yoshitsune. Yasuhira betrayed him, surrounding his residence and killing everyone within, forcing Yoshitsune to commit seppuku.

He remains a very popular figure in Japan. He is thought to have been kind and honorable, but naive. There are many popular legends and stories claiming he actually survived, went into hiding, and lived out his life elsewhere.

	David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku.

1. That is, me! If you like this translation, feel free to use it. Just credit me. Also link here if you can. ↩