On Buddha's Deathday

On Buddha's Deathday - context Summary

Buddha's Deathday Observance

Composed for the Buddhist observance of Buddha's Deathday, this brief poem freezes a single, respectful scene: an aged pair of hands praying with rosary beads. The occasion frames the image as ritual remembrance and quiet mourning, so the poem's spare language prompts readers to note mortality, devotion, and communal liturgy. It functions as a concentrated moment of religious observance rather than narrative, suited to Basho's short-form practice.