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Alexis Lapid Mrs. Boyd MYP English 9 May 7, 2013 The Moon Glows the Same is a haiku-styled poem written by the Japanese poet Matsuo Bash. Bash is known for his transformation of haikus from a humorous form based on wit and word play into a means for philosophical observations by describing typical settings within the Japanese life and connecting it to the nature of life with the use of allegories. He focused on creating his poems so that his readers would feel as if they are actually experiencing what is described within his poem and that they will come to a conclusion of realization. In The Moon Glows the Same it is evident that, as a monk, Bashs values of non-attachment take place. Although little information is known of Matsuo Bash, he is claimed to be one of the greatest haiku writers. Bash focused his poems so intently with his feelings that, at times, he ignored the time honored elements of haiku, which included syllabic limitation. His goal was to set his readers within an experience in order to unfold a revelation. When Bash became a monk, he advised fellow haiku poets to rid their minds of superficiality with what he called karumi, or lightness (Ruby). This quality is the result of realization of overwhelmingly sensed truth; an artistic expression of non-attachment. Bash took advantage of the safe conduct and mobility Zen priesthood offered, practically giving up all possessions because his only concern was spiritual and artistic discovery. According to critics, Matsuo Bash is primarily responsible for developing the modern style of haiku. Within the poem, The Moon Glows the Same, David Kelly, who is an instructor of creative writing, finds that it is one of Bashs lesser haikus. He believes that it

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violates the show dont tell principle that a surplus of modern poetry relies on because it is the sense of fun that the best haiku have. Because a typical haiku leaves it up to the readers to figure out how unrelated things are connected within the natural world, this poem explains its point directly and lacks the air of transcendent mystery that makes his works capable of changing a readers way of feeling about the world (Kelly). Not only does the poem provoke ones sense of wonder, but it also states the obvious. This is so, because its message is bluntly clear which causes readers to why the poet is so interested in the occurrence of strange, pictorial effects within the sky. The Moon Glows the Same touches on the devout question of humanitys place in the universe, while it addresses readers with language that is flat and too mechanical to stir up much inspiration (Kelly). According to Lucien Stryk, she believes that Bashs poetry demonstrates that, in spite of periods of acute self-doubt, he was able to achieve unity of life and art. Bash was able to do this because he kept his mind high in the world of true understanding, and then, returning to daily experience; Bash once wrote, we must never forget it has a bearing on everlasting self, our poetry. The Moon Glows the Same is a haiku-styled poem that compares the moons to the clouds while contrasting the static to the progressive. Within the first line of the haiku, Bash makes a daring yet obvious statement writing, The moon glows the same throughout the night. In the next two lines, he clarifies the first lines statement. The moon appears to change in shape and color because of the drifting clouds that cross upon the night sky between the observer and the moon. While the observers gaze at the night sky, the clouds are actually the ones to change whereas the moon remains constant. Because of this, the moons appearance seems to change. With this haiku, Bash seems to be implying that there are aspects in life that are also unchanging like the light of the moon whereas other aspects may appear to be transformed due to

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their relationships with temporary events and objects; optical illusions are all around us in our everyday lives (Ruby). Bashs goal was to set his readers within an experience in order to unfold a revelation. As a monk, he knew that the unconditioned is attainable only within the conditioned, nirvana within samsara that the illuminations sought were to be found in the here and now of daily life (Stryk). In the haiku, The Moon Glows the Same, it is evident that he did exactly that. Within this haiku, readers who notice parallels between the underrated clouds and the overrated moon can perceive their relative positions as reflections of human interactions, where false assumptions are often made about abilities and responsibilities (Ruby). Because Bash was influenced by the way of Zen tend to use the fewest words and strokes of brush to express their feelings, he created the haiku, The Moon Glows the Same because of his belief that when one fully expresses themselves, there is no room for suggestions because suggestibility is the secret of the Japanese arts (Stryk). Although this poem seems to be missing the sense of fun that the best haiku generally have which is the use of the show, dont tell policy, Bash still initiates ones sense to wonder. Within Bashs haiku, The Moon Glows the Same, it is apparent that, as a monk, his values seem to take place. Karumi, meaning lightness, is a quality vital to Zen that expresses non-attachment as a result of calm realization of profoundly felt truth (Ruby). Despite the missing aspect of show, dont tell, Bash still manages to commence ones sense to wonder. From the haiku, one can conjecture that one must be careful of their perspectives on daily life because sometimes things are not always what they appear to be. Readers come to the conclusion that we should not always make assumptions and just go with it, but instead to stop, and take a moment to take a deeper look.

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Works Cited "Bash, Matsuo." Gale Contextual Encyclopedia of World Literature. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2009. 147-150. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 7 May 2013. Kelly, David. The Moon Glows the Same. Poetry for Students. Ed. Mary Ruby. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale Group, 2000. Print. Matsuo Basho." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Biography In Context. Web. 6 May 2013. Ruby, Mary. The Moon Glows the Same. Poetry for Students. Ed. Mary Ruby. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale Group, 2000. Print. Stryk, Lucien. The Moon Glows the Same. Poetry for Students. Ed. Mary Ruby. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale Group, 2000. Print.

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The Moon Glows the Same Matsuo Bash

The moon glows the same: it is the drifting cloud forms make it seem to change.