A skylark singing,
in the midst of its song,
a pheasant squawking!
.
A skylark singing,
to the sound of
a pheasant drumming along
雲雀鳴く中の拍子や雉子の声
Hibari naku / Naka no hyōshi ya / Kiji no koe
— Matsuo Basho, Spring, 1690 or 1691
Hibari naku (the skylark sings) Naka no hyōshi ya (in the middle of the song!) Kiji no koe (a pheasant calls)
Two interpretations are possible (or more). In both of them the skylark is whistling its sweet tune. In version one, the pheasant interrupts with its harsh squawk. In version two, the pheasant is beating its wings in rhythm to the skylark’s tune. Version two is harmonious. Version one is more lifelike, considering friends get along, but friends like to argue. In the middle of a quiet conversation, someone shouts out.
By 1690, Basho was getting tired of friends.
It is unclear as to whether this haiku was written in 1690 or 1691.
matsuo-basho-haiku 