Matsuo Bashō, the great 17th century Japanese poet, was instrumental in developing the haikai no renga, a popular form of collaborative linked verse meaning 'vulgar' or 'earthy' from which the modern, standalone haiku originates. This style of poetry was composed sequentially by a group of participants, and began with an elegant initiating stanza (hokku) of 17 syllables offered by the most esteemed guest present. The next participant, traditionally the host of the gathering, would respond to the...