Passing Through the World

Passing Through the World - meaning Summary

Transience as Humble Shelter

Basho's short poem frames life as movement: Passing through the world finds only a brief, modest refuge—Sogi's rain shelter. The single image conveys impermanence and humility; the shelter serves as both literal cover and a metaphorical haven within poetic lineage. Invoking Sogi links the speaker's transient journey to earlier poets, suggesting that small, shared refuges—tradition, memory, or simple human kindness—accompany us in passage.