Matsuo Basho

This Old Village

haiku serene

This Old Village - meaning Summary

Nature Defines Village Life

This brief poem presents a calm image of an aging village defined by persimmon trees at every house. The recurring tree suggests continuity, shared habit, and a landscape shaped by domestic life across generations. Its simplicity invites readers to see how a single, ordinary detail can signal communal identity, seasonal rhythm, and quiet persistence rather than dramatic action. The tone is observational, compressing a larger social picture into a small scene.

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This old village-- not a single house without persimmon trees.

Translated by Robert Hass
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