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Matsuo Basho - The dragonfly

The dragonfly
can't quite land
    on that blade of grass.

Added: on January 21st, 2006 at 6:12 PM | Viewed: 6832 times | Comments (6)


The dragonfly - Comments and Information

Poet: Matsuo Basho
Poem: The dragonfly
Volume: The Essential Haiku
Year: Published/Written in 1994

Comment 6 of 6, added on February 7th, 2006 at 9:43 PM.

I'm not certain that this poem is meant to have a particular meaning, though I enjoyed reading what you folks had to say about it. To me, it just depicts a single moment in time, a dragonfly hovering, bouncing in the air the way dragonflies do, perhaps a bit indecisive or just reluctant to stop flying. A small but a vivid moment. Just my two cents, for what they're worth :D

Jenny from United States
Comment 5 of 6, added on January 24th, 2006 at 6:50 AM.

It is really about the longing for something one doesn't have, or else, can't have. The dragonfly may land on every other leave of grass, and that's exactly why it doesn't want to, so it keeps trying to land precisely on that blade of grass.

M.C. Arnold from Brazil
Comment 4 of 6, added on January 21st, 2006 at 6:12 PM.

The meaning of this Haiku is that everyone has something they are good at, but you may have to try many things before you find that one special thing. If something doesn't work out, move on.

Ash from United States

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