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Today, on November 20th, 2009, the site contains 196 poets, 8,692 poems and 7,650 comments.
Analysis and comments on A caterpillar by Matsuo Basho

Comment 7 of 7, added on October 3rd, 2007 at 10:03 PM.

a very nice poem...

tintin from Philippines
Comment 6 of 7, added on January 21st, 2006 at 6:20 PM.

I think this haiku means that some people take longer to develop than others, or maybe it takes longer for them to get something or do something.

Ash
Comment 5 of 7, added on June 24th, 2005 at 7:17 AM.

In other words, the writer is using the enigma of the short poetry form. Having us believe one thing, just to, in the next phase force us understand the true meaning...after contemplating what he really says.

Just like life.

Ola from Sweden
Comment 4 of 7, added on June 24th, 2005 at 7:10 AM.

A caterpillar,
this deep in fall--
still not a butterfly.

....Is a poem about death. The first thought that comes to mind when reading this haiku, is that the writer is describing a strong and tough animal. That the caterpillar in this case is a superior one, that takes all summer and into fall to become a butterfly. However, this is not what the poem means...This poem is saying that sadly it is never going to be a butterfly at all...Winter is coming.

/thanks Bill, for teaching me life.


Ola from Sweden
Comment 3 of 7, added on May 25th, 2005 at 11:13 PM.

The caterpillar should have long since become a butterfly but for whatever reason - has not. Basho is referring to himself. At the time of composition he himself was "deep in fall" of his life cycle (Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall) and laments sweetly that he is not yet a butterfly.

S from United States
Comment 2 of 7, added on May 2nd, 2005 at 8:02 AM.

A caterpillar
Who has left it late
To fulfil his destiny

Billy from United Kingdom
Comment 1 of 7, added on April 16th, 2005 at 1:03 PM.

a butterfly in early fall
forgetting where he came from

j



Information about A caterpillar

Poet: Matsuo Basho
Poem: A caterpillar
Volume: The Essential Haiku
Year: 1994
Added: Feb 20 2003
Viewed: 5317 times


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