What did Basho mean in this quote?

Question

An autumn night... don't think your life, didn't matter.

Answer 1

I agree with Ghostly but I also wanted to add this to it.

As time progresses and we get older, we begin to self reflect more because things we once had an ability to do we can no longer do and we then begin to regret the things we COULD have done. When we sit and self reflect and develop regret we begin to assume our life was worthless and had no relevance, we begin to conclude that we did not take advantage of our existence. So this quote, in my eyes is a reflection of the present. It is basically telling me do not put yourself in a position of regret because when that autumn night comes make sure the life lived matters. Hope that makes sense.

Answer 2

When a person reaches their autumn years, some  tend to look back on their lifetime, have regrets that they could of, should of done better. Maybe they didn't reach their goal & feel that their life didn't matter. Some forgot any or all the good they did. They feel their existance didn't matter.

Answer 3

When autumn comes, and the pizza man is making cheese when the beer arrives, a calm, cool breeze floats over the lake. People get used to this, and they relax in the leaves with one last slice of bread. Ah what a good feeling. p**s drunk in a ditch.

You are welcome for the answer.