--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In this mortal frame of mine which is…" description: "\"“In this mortal frame of mine which is made of a hundred bones and nine orifices there is something, and this something is called a wind-swept spirit f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/bash-matsuo-64478_art-of-writing_in-this-mortal-frame-of-mine-which-is-ma_469368.jpg" --- # In this mortal frame of mine which is made of a hundred… ![“In this mortal frame of mine which is made of a hundred bones and nine orifices there is something, and this something is called a wind-swept spirit for lack of a better name, for it is much like a thin drapery that is torn and swept away at the slightest stir of the wind. This something in me…” quote by Bashō Matsuo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/bash-matsuo-64478_art-of-writing_in-this-mortal-frame-of-mine-which-is-ma_469368.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/bash-matsuo-64478_art-of-writing_in-this-mortal-frame-of-mine-which-is-ma_469368.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/bash-matsuo-64478_art-of-writing_in-this-mortal-frame-of-mine-which-is-ma_469368.jpg) > ““In this mortal frame of mine which is made of a hundred bones and nine orifices there is something, and this something is called a wind-swept spirit for lack of a better name, for it is much like a thin drapery that is torn and swept away at the slightest stir of the wind. This something in me took to writing poetry years ago, merely to amuse itself at first, but finally making it its lifelong business. It must be admitted, however, that there were times when it sank into such dejection that it was almost ready to drop its pursuit, or again times when it was so puffed up with pride that it exulted in vain victories over the others. Indeed, ever since it began to write poetry, it has never found peace with itself, always wavering between doubts of one kind and another. At one time it wanted to gain security by entering the service of a court, and at another it wished to measure the depth of its ignorance by trying to be a scholar, but it was prevented from either because of its unquenchable love of poetry. The fact is, it knows no other art than the art of writing poetry, and therefore, it hangs on to it more or less blindly.”” [Bashō Matsuo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bash-matsuo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poet’s spirit, likened to wind‑swept fabric, is torn between pride and doubt, yet remains devoted to poetry despite hardships. **In simple terms:** Poet’s spirit is fragile, torn, yet committed to poetry. Key Takeaway Embrace your art despite doubts and pride. Themes art identity pride doubt commitment Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - writing career - artistic blocks - academic pursuits - court service Key Concepts literature philosophy existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What drives your artistic devotion? - How do you balance pride and humility? A Different Perspective Pride can blind self‑assessment; doubt can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art of writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-of-writing/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Love Of Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-of-poetry-213354/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry Hangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-hangs-4060488/) [Poetry Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-peace-4060487/) [Swept Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swept-spirit-4060486/) [Wind Swept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind-swept-882624/) [Writing poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-poetry/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know a better preparation for life than a love of poetry and a good digestion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zona-gale/i-don-t-know-a-better-preparation-for-life-than-a-love-of-poetry-and/) [Zona Gale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zona-gale/) > [It's not a love of poetry readings that attracts those who do come to them but theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-ammons/it-s-not-a-love-of-poetry-readings-that-attracts-those-who-do-come-to/) [A. 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Or was Tara also gone with the wind which had swept through Georgia?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/was-tara-still-standing-or-was-tara-also-gone-with-the-wind-which-had/) [Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/) > [The powerful wind swept his hair away from his face; he leaned his chest into the wind, as if he stood on the deck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-powerful-wind-swept-his-hair-away-from-his-face-he-leaned-his/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [The wild hawk to the wind-swept sky The deer to the wholesome wold; And the heart of a man to the heart of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/the-wild-hawk-to-the-wind-swept-sky-the-deer-to-the-wholesome-wold/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace, Where never the lark, nor even eagle flew- And,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/up-up-the-long-delirious-burning-blue-i-ve-topped-the-wind-swept/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Bashō Matsuo > [“Temple of Suma— hearing the unblown flute in the deep shade of trees sumadera ya / fukanu fue kiku / koshitayami”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bash-matsuo/temple-of-suma-hearing-the-unblown-flute-in-the-deep-shade-of-trees/) [Bashō Matsuo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bash-matsuo/) > [“Spring passes and the birds cry out—tears in the eyes of fishes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bash-matsuo/spring-passes-and-the-birds-cry-out-tears-in-the-eyes-of-fishes/) [Bashō Matsuo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bash-matsuo/) > [“Skylark sings all day, and day not long enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bash-matsuo/skylark-sings-all-day-and-day-not-long-enough/) [Bashō Matsuo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bash-matsuo/) > [“Ganjin of Sho ¯daiji Temple endured seventy adversities in his attempts to come to Japan from China. 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Part Two: Say it well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/what-is-the-essence-of-the-art-of-writing-part-one-have-something-to/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [“Literature is the art of writing something that will be read twice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/literature-is-the-art-of-writing-something-that-will-be-read-twice-2/) [Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/) > [The art of writing is not, as many seem to imagine, the art of bringing fine phrases into rhythmical order, but the art of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/the-art-of-writing-is-not-as-many-seem-to-imagine-the-art-of-bringing/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [“NOVEL, n. A short story padded. A species of composition bearing the same relation to literature that the panorama bears to art. 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This something in me took to writing poetry years ago, merely to amuse itself at first, but finally making it its lifelong business. It must be admitted, however, that there were times when it sank into such dejection that it was almost ready to drop its pursuit, or again times when it was so puffed up with pride that it exulted in vain victories over the others. Indeed, ever since it began to write poetry, it has never found peace with itself, always wavering between doubts of one kind and another. At one time it wanted to gain security by entering the service of a court, and at another it wished to measure the depth of its ignorance by trying to be a scholar, but it was prevented from either because of its unquenchable love of poetry. 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