This is the background to this haiku:

Basho and Tando were close friends and he (Basho) was very sad, as you can read in the haiku, very sad when he heard that Tando had passed away. He weeps, while falling on his knees. Maybe with his hands before his face I think so. Tando had teached him some fundamental rules of Zen Buddhism, so Basho flourished after these teachings. He became the flower, but now his friend and teacher had died, the flower felt to the ground closer to the root. He wept for his friend in farewell and wrote this haiku:

falling to the ground
a flower closer to the root
bidding farewell

My take:

Seeds cascade downward 
fallen tears stain mother earth 
death springs new life

©Vivian Zems

Carpe Diem Haiku Kai #14- weekend meditation 

Image- Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)