Matsuo Basho

Crossing Long Fields

haiku austere

Crossing Long Fields - meaning Summary

Winter Travel and Solitude

This short poem depicts a traveler crossing long, frozen fields while a shadow moves beside him. The frozen saddle and creeping shadow compress motion and stillness into a single moment, making the journey feel both physical and solitary. The image evokes cold, isolation, and quiet persistence. It invites readers to linger on the mood and the silent companionship of the shadow rather than a narrative or explicit explanation.

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Crossing long fields, frozen in its saddle, my shadow creeps by

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