nd nature, and so on, culminating with the creation of the poem. The discovery leads to the origination of the poem in the poet's imagination, but it is also part of the process which leads to the actual writing of the poem.
Of course, the first discovery made by Basho leading to the first poem in the work is that he must set out on his journey in order to advance his spiritual progress. He wants to cast off worldly possessions in a quest reflecting the quest of "the ancient priest." His poem reflects not only this non-materialist aspiration, but also the pain and sorrow suc
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