Matsuo Basho on ancient warriors

Basho followed by Sora in his journey through Japan in the Edo period - Public Domain.
Basho followed by Sora in his journey through Japan in the Edo period - Public Domain.

I just read Narrow Road to the Deep North from Matsuo Basho as translated by Professor Nobuyuki Yuasa. 

This travel diary that combines prose and verse recounts Basho's trip of the spring of 1689. One of the verses of the old master of haiku caught my attention.

 A thicket of summer grass
 Is all that remains
 Of the dreams and ambitions
 Of ancient warriors.

Deep wisdom. 

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