Customer Reviews

Classic Haiku: A Master's Selection (Tuttle Classics)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This short book, is visually beautiful, if perhaps short on content. Each page is dedicated to a single poem, first in English, then in romaji (romanized form of Japanese), and also the Chinese characters. On some pages there are appealing ink drawings, often unrelated to the poem, and he occasionally (inconsistently) a background of the poet is given. The poems are arranged by seasons (ending in New Years).

The selections are wonderful and gave a wide ranging selection from 1600's to modern times! There are the classical observations of night herons, dragonflies, cicadas, fireflies and blossoms: (Red dragonflies / Flowing like a ripple / Toward the crimson sky) or (With the cherry blossoms gone/ The temple is glimpsed / Through twigs and branches). But there is also observing people and mind (A woman dozing - The breath from her nostrils / Stirs a cool breeze).

For those wondering about the Frog haiku by Basho (which he discusses why he didn't include) it follow:
Into the ancient pond,
A frog jumps
Water's sound! (Translated by D. T. Suzuki)

One who read this book would have amazzed experience and great pleasure from this book.