--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In this poor body, composed of one…" description: "\"In this poor body, composed of one hundred bones and nine openings, is something called spirit, a flimsy curtain swept this way and that by the slighte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/matsuo-basho-7207_body_in-this-poor-body-composed-of-one-hundre_1505882.jpg" --- # In this poor body, composed of one hundred bones and nine… ![“In this poor body, composed of one hundred bones and nine openings, is something called spirit, a flimsy curtain swept this way and that by the slightest breeze. It is spirit, such as it is, which led me to poetry, at first little more than a pastime, then the full business of my life. There have…” quote by Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/matsuo-basho-7207_body_in-this-poor-body-composed-of-one-hundre_1505882.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/matsuo-basho-7207_body_in-this-poor-body-composed-of-one-hundre_1505882.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/matsuo-basho-7207_body_in-this-poor-body-composed-of-one-hundre_1505882.jpg) > “In this poor body, composed of one hundred bones and nine openings, is something called spirit, a flimsy curtain swept this way and that by the slightest breeze. It is spirit, such as it is, which led me to poetry, at first little more than a pastime, then the full business of my life. There have been times when my spirit, so dejected, almost gave up the quest, other times when it was proud, triumphant. So it has been from the very start, never finding peace with itself, always doubting the worth of what it makes.” [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) ## 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 describes the fragile spirit within the body, its influence on his art, and its fluctuating confidence. **In simple terms:** Spirit is fragile, shaping poetry, with ups and downs. Key Takeaway Nurture your spirit to sustain creative purpose. Themes creativity spirituality self‑doubt Mood introspective inspirational melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing sessions - artistic blocks - personal setbacks Key Concepts poetry philosophy human condition Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconnect with your spirit when discouraged? - What practices sustain your creative drive? A Different Perspective Spirit can be unstable, leading to creative paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Bones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bones/) [Breeze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breeze/) [Called Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-spirit-425152/) [Curtains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curtains/) [Dejected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dejected/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Finding peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-peace/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Gave up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gave-up/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Hundred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hundred/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Nine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nine/) [Opening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opening/) [Pastime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pastime/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Quests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quests/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spirit Dejected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit-dejected-5531871/) [Spirit Flimsy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit-flimsy-5531872/) [Triumphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumphant/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“When you are praying alone, and your spirit is dejected … remember then that God the Trinity looks upon you with eyes brighter than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paraclete-press-editors/when-you-are-praying-alone-and-your-spirit-is-dejected-remember-then/) [Paraclete Press Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paraclete-press-editors/) > [“knew that the result of a battle is decided not by the orders of a commander in chief, nor the place where the troops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/knew-that-the-result-of-a-battle-is-decided-not-by-the-orders-of-a/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [You have to have a certain kind of celebrity to pull something that big together, but I had a whole thing called The Spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-davi/you-have-to-have-a-certain-kind-of-celebrity-to-pull-something-that/) [Robert Davi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-davi/) > [“For that flesh which has been moulded is not a perfect man in itself, but the body of a man, and part of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/for-that-flesh-which-has-been-moulded-is-not-a-perfect-man-in-itself/) [The Church Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-church-fathers/) > [“I want to give the reader knowledge and hope, knowledge that there is this vast, vivid, very alive part of the universe called spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-john-muciaccia/i-want-to-give-the-reader-knowledge-and-hope-knowledge-that-there-is/) [Dr. John Muciaccia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-john-muciaccia/) > [Remember that the only God man comes in contact with is his own God, called Spirit, Soul and Mind, or Consciousness, and these three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/remember-that-the-only-god-man-comes-in-contact-with-is-his-own-god/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [That holy, humble, meek, modest, retiring Form, sometimes called the Spirit of Prayer, has been dragged from the closet, and so rudely handled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asahel-nettleton/that-holy-humble-meek-modest-retiring-form-sometimes-called-the/) [Asahel Nettleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asahel-nettleton/) > [“Know that among the special qualities of the spirits (arwah) is whenever they touch anything life flows into it. This is why the Samiri…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-arabi/know-that-among-the-special-qualities-of-the-spirits-arwah-is/) [Ibn Arabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-arabi/) > [Where was I?""A different island," said old Tallow. Her voice was stern, but there was an ache in her look that Omakayas had never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/where-was-i-a-different-island-said-old-tallow-her-voice-was-stern/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [Yes, 'Aagadu' was a failure. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/if-you-re-the-type-of-person-who-has-to-fulfill-your-dreams-you-ve/) [Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/) > [I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-gave-in-and-admitted-that-god-was-god-and-knelt-and-prayed-perhaps/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) ## More by Matsuo Basho > [Go to the pine if you want to learn about the pine, or to the bamboo if you want to learn about the bamboo.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/go-to-the-pine-if-you-want-to-learn-about-the-pine-or-to-the-bamboo/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Without the bitterest cold that penetrates to the very bone, how can plum blossoms send forth their fragrance to the whole world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/without-the-bitterest-cold-that-penetrates-to-the-very-bone-how-can/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Do not resemble me-Never be like a musk melon Cut in two identical halves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/do-not-resemble-me-never-be-like-a-musk-melon-cut-in-two-identical/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [When I speak My lips feel cold - The autumn wind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/when-i-speak-my-lips-feel-cold-the-autumn-wind/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [“In the end, without skill or talent, I've given myself over entirely to poetry. Po Chu-i labored at it until he nearly burst. Tu…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/in-the-end-without-skill-or-talent-i-ve-given-myself-over-entirely-to/) [Matsuo Bashô](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Nothing in the cry of cicadas suggests they are about to die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/nothing-in-the-cry-of-cicadas-suggests-they-are-about-to-die/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [A flute with no holes is not a flute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/a-flute-with-no-holes-is-not-a-flute/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [The sea darkens And a wild duck s call Is faintly white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/the-sea-darkens-and-a-wild-duck-s-call-is-faintly-white/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/do-not-seek-to-follow-in-the-footsteps-of-the-wise-seek-what-they/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Learn the rules, and then forget them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/learn-the-rules-and-then-forget-them/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Go to the object. Leave your subjective preoccupation with yourself. Do not impose yourself on the object. Become one with the object. Plunge deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/go-to-the-object-leave-your-subjective-preoccupation-with-yourself-do/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [A weathered skeleton in windy fields of memory, piercing like a knife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/a-weathered-skeleton-in-windy-fields-of-memory-piercing-like-a-knife/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [the universe and its beings are a complementarity of empty infinity, intimate interrelationships, and total uniqueness of each and every being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/the-universe-and-its-beings-are-a-complementarity-of-empty-infinity/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [The old pond, ah! A frog jumps in: The water's sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/the-old-pond-ah-a-frog-jumps-in-the-water-s-sound/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) > [Without bitterest cold that penetrates to the very bone, how can plum blossoms send forth their fragrance all over the world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuo-basho/without-bitterest-cold-that-penetrates-to-the-very-bone-how-can-plum/) [Matsuo Basho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) [Explore all 93 Matsuo Basho quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuo-basho/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. 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You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In this poor body, composed of one hundred bones and nine openings, is something called spirit, a flimsy curtain swept this way and that by the slightest breeze. 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