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Basho and his Narrow Road to the Deep North

Station 25 - Obanazawa

Benihana blossom drying

I visited Seifu in the town of Obanazawa. He was a rich merchant and yet a man of a truly poetic turn of mind. He had a deep understanding of the hardships of the wandering journey, for he himself had travelled frequently to the capital city. He invited me to stay at his place as long as I wished and tried to make me comfortable in every way he could.


I felt quite at home,
As if it were mine,
Sleeping lazily
In this house of fresh air.
Crawl out bravely
And show me your face,
The solitary voice of a toad
Beneath the silkworm nursery.
With a powder-brush
Before my eyes,
I strolled among
Rouge-plants.
In the silkworm nursery,
Men and women
Are dressed
Like gods in ancient times. -- Written by Sora


Related image

Old-fashioned house


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