107Haiku 俳句
物言えば唇寒し秋の風
ものいえばくちびるさむしあきのかぜMono ieba kuchibiru samushi aki no kaze
“As soon as words are spoken, the lips feel cold — autumn wind.”
The meaning
After the word too many — gossip, boasting — a chill stays on the lips. Bashō captures the physical regret that follows useless words.
At the origin
A haiku by Matsuo Bashō (1644-1694), often quoted as a proverb about restraint in speech.
The characters
In practice
When the urge to disparage comes, let one autumn breath pass.