A heartrending sound!
Underneath the helmet,
the cricket.

I cannot help but feel that I am only experiencing a fraction of what there stands to receive from Basho's observations during his travels, for I do not have prior understanding or emotional recognition of any of the many, many allusions he makes to various things that influence him on his journey, as an individual, and his writings.

That said, I still found this to be very interesting and beautiful in its simplicity. I honestly preferred the haikus of his disciple, Sora, to Basho himself, though. The immortalization of the natural world and artistic interpretations within poetry throughout the continuity of time is an amazing thing.

The sorrow of the one who departed and the unhappiness of the one who remained resembled the feelings of a lapwing wandering lost in the clouds, separated from its friend.