Haiku

The haiku is my favorite form of poetry, the seventeen syllables with 5, 7 and 5 in each line is succinct and would appear to be too restrictive. Yet, it is very rich and dynamic, as is demonstrated in this book. The haiku originated in Japan in seventeenth century and this is a collection of works by Japanese authors. Therefore, as is always the case, some of the original meaning is lost in the translation. There are four chapters of haiku, one for each of the seasons. This is followed by a chapter of odes with the title "Landscapes of Life and Love." To Westerners, the Japanese people often seem incomprehensible and insular. One of the best ways to understand a culture is to examine their literary forms and this book is a window into how the Japanese think about the natural world.

This striking looking book has a black, cloth cover with cover painting in gold by Stephen Addiss. Edited by Johanna Brownell, this collection of traditional Japanese Haiku translates well for any lover of the form. Included are poems for every season of the year. Readers will breathe the soft breezes of spring, feel the quiet touch of sunlight, and enjoy the chill of winter's first snow as these gentle poems transport them, briefly, to elegant landscapes.