Matsuo Basho

How Admirable ~ A Poem by Matsuo Basho

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Beyond the Flash: Why Basho’s Lightning Haiku is the Antidote to Modern Anxiety

We often view life as a race against the clock, but what if the secret to peace is simply watching the lightning without fear?

How Admirable

Matsuo Basho

how admirable!
to see lightning and not think
   life is fleeting

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Finding Eternity in a Flash: Basho’s Lesson for the Modern Soul

In his haiku, Matsuo Basho captures a rare moment of spiritual transcendence. Most of us see a bolt of lightning—brilliant but momentary—and immediately think of our own mortality. We equate the flash with the “fleeting” nature of life, a common trope that often leads to anxiety or a sense of loss.

However, Basho praises the person who can witness this power without the burden of ego or the fear of death. To see the lightning simply as lightning, without projecting our existential dread onto it, is an act of profound presence.

In our contemporary society, we are hyper-fixated on “capturing” moments before they disappear. We live in a rush of digital notifications and “limited-time” pressures. Basho invites us to stop mourning the passage of time and start experiencing the vibrancy of the now. By detaching from the fear of how short life is, we actually begin to live it more deeply. True admiration requires us to look at the world without making it all about our own end.

As you read this poem, ask yourself:

Am I truly looking at the beauty in front of me, or am I too busy worrying about how quickly it will fade?

Stillness ~ A Poem by Matsou Basho

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The Sound of Stillness: When Silence Speaks the Loudest


In a world that rarely pauses, Basho’s timeless haiku reminds us that even in stillness, there is a sound that carves deep into our being.

Stillness

Matsou Basho

stillness—
the cicada’s cry
   drills into the rocks

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Reflection:

In just a few syllables, Basho delivers a universe. The poem opens with stillness—an invitation into quietude, perhaps even peace. But quickly, that stillness is pierced by the persistent cry of the cicada, not soft or subtle, but so powerful it seems to drill into rocks. Here, silence isn’t an absence of sound but a canvas that magnifies every sensation. The cicada becomes a metaphor for time, memory, or even sorrow—relentless and sharp, echoing into the heart of our still moments. What we often call silence is rarely truly silent; it is filled with echoes of life, emotion, and presence. Basho’s poem doesn’t let us rest in stillness—it asks us to feel what lies beneath it.

Questions for Deeper Reflection:

  1. What emotions or memories does the image of the cicada’s cry evoke in your own moments of stillness?
  2. How does your experience of silence change when it is interrupted by nature or emotion?
  3. In what ways can something persistent—like the cry of a cicada—serve as a guide or a teacher in your life?

Today’s Quote: Wander Well: When the Journey Is the Destination

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Forget finish lines—what if life’s true meaning is found in the wandering? Matsuo Bashō’s timeless words invite us to embrace each day not as a task, but as a sacred path we walk with the moon and sun.

“The moon and sun are travelers through eternity. Even the years wander on. Whether drifting through life on a boat or climbing toward old age leading a horse, each day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.” ~ Matsuo Basho


Bashō reminds us that life is not a race toward a perfect ending, but a quiet unfolding—step by step, breath by breath. The moon, the sun, the years—none are in a hurry. In every drift and climb, we find not just movement, but meaning. To be present in the journey is to be already home.

Something to Think About

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The poet, Matsuo Bashu, wrote, “Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.” It’s a common occurrence for people to place all their hopes and energy in one person. We see this all the time in politics. It’s as if they believe the person whom they place all their hopes in holds the keys to the doors to happiness, prosperity, and security. Instead, as Bashu suggests, it is better to seek what they are seeking if it is the good you are seeking.

Today’s Inspiration ~ Enjoy the Journey

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“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.” ~ Matsuo Basho

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