What magic! How can someone evoke so much with so few words?

Bashō evokes sceneries, moments frozen in time, and feelings so moving, you can’t hold back your tears.

In Bashō’s haikus, Zen is completely embodied: lack of words create the silence, which impressions pierce; but also you hear a whole scenery when he captures a moment so well, it’s like a painting. You see these moments with your heart’s and mind’s eyes with so much clarity, clearer than you see with your own two eyes. 

These are so dense with sensation and lyricism, they filled my soul with warmth. They’re so good, so beautiful, so tender, like home. 

I feel changed, cleansed, one with the nature Bashō so lovingly observes and invokes.

(Also the notes are great at giving necessary context! I did not feel like I missed any reference, despite not being familiar!)