Trying to understand the first verse of Basho's Haiku Japanese Zen poet Basho started one of his Haiku with these words: &nbsp; さびは句の色なり ("Sabi is the color of a poem".) &nbsp; Just amazing verse isn

Kamila

Trying to understand the first verse of Basho's Haiku

Japanese Zen poet Basho started one of his Haiku with these words:

さびは句の色なり

("Sabi is the color of a poem".)

Just amazing verse isn't it?

I just wonder what is the meaning of the sign 句 and 色 ?

Where is exactly the verb in this sentence?

I would be grateful for your help.

xxx

References

Aug 4, 2015 6:07 PM

I believe なり would be the verb in this sentence. I think it functions like だ for classical Japanese.

August 4, 2015

Thank you very much for your kindness, David!

Wonderful idea. I see it now.

August 4, 2015

Kamila

Language Skills

English, Japanese, Norwegian, Sanskrit

Learning Language

Japanese, Sanskrit

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