Gathered once again underneath the tree by the pond in the park, with a pot of tea and a small pile of texts waiting for the students, Shunsui waited for everyone to get settled before venturing forth into another morning of poetry in the park.
c
"Last week," he started, "we focused on a few of Bashō's miscellaneous poems; this week, we return to his travelogues. Very specifically, his Oku no Hosomichi, or The Narrow Road to the Deep North, as it's often translated as ♥. Published posthumously, it is regarded as one of the major literary works of the Edo era, and some of the poet's most moving work....quite literally," he chuckled faintly, "actually, as it inspired many to follow in Bashō's footsteps on this iconic journey into Kyoto, in the company of Kawai Sora, and inspired by the waka poet Saigyō, being sure to visit all the spots mentioned in Saigyō's own prose ♥. 'Every day,' Bashō posits, 'is a journey, and the journey itself home.'"

With that, Shunsui took a thoughtful sip of his tea and let hat settle a little before he continued.

"Another, far more contemporary writer, Kenji Miyazawa, once claimed that Oku no Hosomichi is 'as if the very soul of Japan had itself written it.' I do not think anyone would be remiss in feeling this claim was not too far off ♥. It is also considered an excellent study in Zen meditation. But...let us not focus on what others have said, when we can form our own opinions ♥."

He smiled over at them, took another sip of tea.

"You know how this goes by now; take some time, flip through the book, share your thoughts and ideas as you do, and we'll go from there. Or just sit and enjoy the lovely morning and contemplate your own poetic, meditative journey and the things it might inspire within you ♥."

Even if all it inspired was the need for a good nap.