Kanbun Era, year two, 1662
Matsuo Chūemon Munefusa, as he was then known, not Basho
The a page to the samurai Tōdō Yoshitada, age 18,
in Ueno, in the city of Iga, Mie prefecture

春や来し年や行きけん小晦日
haru ya koshi toshi ya yukiken kotsugomori
.
Spring, is it here?
The next to last day,
of a new year?
— Matsuo Basho, December, 1662

In the lunar calendar, kotsugomori (ん小晦日) is December 29. The Day before New Year’s Eve (December 31st). The penultimate day of the year? How confusing. Winter’s not over, Spring is no where near. Moving ahead, New Year’s Eve, omisoka (大晦日).