Haiku People: Big and Small in Poems and Prints

I must confess, I don't usually consider people interesting. So, had I not discovered this gem on a collector's coffee table, I know I would not be reviewing a collection of well over 100 haiku about - people! As in his other books, Haiku People is for the coffee table so if you entertain, having it around will make life for your guests truly pleasant. Addiss does his usual magic of weaving word with image in another classic book. I wish I could do that.

"Haiku People" combines the elegance of traditional Japanese haiku with the beauty of Japanese woodblock prints (in color and black & white). The design of the book especially nice - it is a pleasure to look at. The book includes brief backround information on the poets and artists, as well as an introductory essay on the multiple interpretations of haiku. The poems are divided into subjects of childhood, maturity and old age. Some of the translations are not my favorites, but others I do prefer. The book is a good introduction to haiku because it contains many of the great masters of haiku as well as other noteworthy works by anonymous poets.