In The Moonlight

 

Deer in the Moonlight by Yosa Buson

In pale moonlight

the wisteria’s scent

comes from far away.

Yosa Buson

 

Haikus are the embodiment of being short and precise. Since they are so short, they leave a lot of blank spaces for the reader to fill in. In the Moonlight is definitely a more traditional Haiku, written by Yosa Buson in the mid-17th century. You might point out that it doesn’t follow the typical 5-3-5 syllable pattern, but that is due to the translation. The reverence to nature definitely follows typical Haiku thought. The first line is very straightforward, and similar to many older Haikus, and sets a setting in nature for the next two lines. As a reader, you already start to associate other senses, such as a serene silence just from the idea of a pale moon. The second line adds in smell, the flowery scent of the hanging lavender plant, native to Japan. We have been given some concrete visualization, and also as typical of Haiku poems, the last line opens it up for deep metaphorical interpretation. The smell, coming from far away creates a sense of longing for whatever it is in the distance, and adding in the moonlight makes it more wistful. You immediately get this atmosphere, just from a quick read. Usually flowers are associated with spring, the movement from the cold depressing winter to the warmer more peaceful times, the blossoms of wisterias initiating this change. The scent of warmth and a new beginning comes from far away, creating hope that it will soon reach the protagonist. It is there, just a little bit out of reach, but coming. In the pale moonlight also implies that in this darkness, there is just enough light to illuminate and make the world visible. However, you still have to discern your surroundings by looking at this pale light that is in everything, reminding you to be mindful and aware of the light and goodness in the world around you, even with all of this darkness around you. As long as you continue to stay mindful, at peace, underneath the pale moonlight you will be able to appreciate this, and find the balance between longing for something better and amplifying the goodness around you. 

Or I just took ten words somebody wrote three hundred years ago and made up some nonsense. That's what is so amazing about Haiku’s. I very much doubt Yosa Buson was focused on trying to tell people from the twenty-first century that there’s goodness in the world around you. For all we know, the author spent one minute and just wrote whatever was first in his mind, knowing the readers would try to make it meaningful. With Haikus, you can literally take ten words and get five hundred out of it. But it doesn’t matter what the author's intentions were. The audience can make it mean whatever they subconsciously want it or need it to mean.

-Eve Anderson