Quote by Kobayashi Issa: “Don't weep, insects – Lovers, stars themselves, must part.”

This haiku offers a melancholic yet universal truth about separation and loss. It suggests that parting is an inevitable part of existence, affecting all beings from the smallest insects to the grandest celestial bodies, inviting acceptance of impermanence.

Issa often reflected on suffering and the transient nature of life, particularly after the loss of his children. This haiku reflects the Buddhist understanding of impermanence in Edo period Japan.

Late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century Japanese haiku poet known for his deeply personal, compassionate verse and his affinity for small, overlooked creatures. He suffered significant personal tragedy throughout his life, including the loss of his mother, multiple children, and his first wife. His collection Oraga Haru (The Year of My Life) is a masterpiece of haiku prose.