Bitter Tasting Ice

Bitter Tasting Ice - context Summary

Composed in Winter 1691

Written in winter 1691 and published in Sarumino, this haiku belongs to Basho's late Edo-period karumi ("lightness") style. Its spare image—bitter ice barely moistening a sewer rat—turns attention to lowly life and fleeting sensation, finding beauty and empathy in the ordinary. The poem's brevity and cool setting reflect Basho's pared-down aesthetic and interest in transience, inviting readers to notice small, often overlooked moments.