Undoubtedly, a controversial piece, these excerpts from " The Narrow Thread " by Anita Virgil trace an innermost theme in Basho's poetry. In 2004, Ray Bradbury wrote to Virgil calling it "fascinating."
Read the complete essay, “The Narrow Thread” (PDF 325kb)
by Anita Virgil
Intro haiku:
“It is deep autumn.
My neighbour, —
How does he live?”