The frog symbolizes the energy and newness of spring. When it makes a splashing sound, both the frog and the accompanying splash represent a thought causing ripples in the mind—an action mirroring the frog’s body causing ripples in the pond. The frog’s splash also symbolizes perception; Bashō differently perceived the frog when choosing to focus on its splash instead of its croak, and the frog itself allows Bashō to perceive nature in a whole new light.