Sumiregusa (Wild Violet)

This is based on a haiku by the Japanese poet Basho (1644-1694). A haiku is a 17-syllable poetic form with lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables. Basho is recognized as the master of the haiku and it was he who made it the accepted form of poetic expression in Japan. The Japanese poet wrote Sumiregusa while he was travelling to Otsu. On his way through the mountain road the sight of a wild violet touched his heart. Enya sings this in the original Japanese of the poem.

This song was used to advertise Panasonic TVs and DVD recorders on Japanese TV.