Quote by Matsuo Basho: “The world is a dewdrop world, a dewdrop world it is, and yet...”

This haiku profoundly reflects on the fragile, temporary nature of existence, likening the world to a fleeting dewdrop. The repetition emphasizes impermanence, while 'and yet' suggests a resilient acceptance or even a poignant appreciation for life despite its transience.

This haiku was composed near the end of Bashō's life, reflecting his acceptance of mortality and the impermanence (mujo) that is a central theme in Buddhist philosophy and his poetry, especially during his final journey.

Seventeenth-century Japanese poet widely regarded as the master of haiku, a poetic form he elevated from light verse into a vehicle for Zen-infused contemplation of nature and transience. His travel journal Oku no Hosomichi (Narrow Road to the Deep North) is considered a masterpiece of Japanese literature. He spent much of his life wandering Japan's rural landscapes on foot.