gripe
NOTE. . . .
This is what Marlene Mountain (who I believe to be an utter fool (at best) argued could be omitted from Basho's original [L1]. I took her to task about this. . . .
She declined for a year or so and then responded with gobbldygook over at HSA FB. I re-stated my original query in a group question. When challenged to unpack the meaning of Basho's original, nary a one of the 'clever' people (the money-grubbing pundits and bookworms) got anywhere close. Not even on a simple level Imagist level.
This is when I realised that Western haiku was a house of marked cards in a Yukon red-light district. Upon which confirmation I resolved to declare war upon all who defiled beautiful haiku, as exemplified by the classicists - under the supernal radiance of the great man himself, beautiful Matsuo Basho. Emissary of Heaven's Mandate for the people, unto all the ages. Also, I decided to communicate and continue to live a better example than this nonsense. Amen! :)
HERE YOU WILL FIND THE SECTION WHICH GOT MY GOAT :
HERE'S THE QUOTE. . . .
"Basho, also, wrote single image with two components haiku:
Looking carefully,--
A shepherd's purse is blooming
Under the fence.
By dropping the superfluous opening comment, and assuming all haiku poets look with care..." - Marlene Mountain [certifiable idiot]
See what I mean? MM is positioning herself above MB. She knows better than one of the most important literary figures of all time. Therefore, ipso factotum, she is greater than Matsuo. lol
[This nitwit is on the run now - from her own acid shadow. Thus does karma, irrevocably and without compunction, sustain the integrity of all things.]
I rest my knapsack.
— jp
For the record: the first line (L1) of Basho's masterful haiku is meant to invite the reader to share in (experience) the 'telescoping' effect of bending and concentrating our vision on the subject at hand. It is a crucial component of a quite mysterious observation.