Haiku: An Anthology of Japanese Poems (Shambhala Library)

I have loved poetry of all kinds (with the exception of western free verse poems) most of my adult life. My favorite poetic form is the Japanese haiku. For me, the simple three line of 5-7-5 syllable poems have always been Zen like because it captures a moment in time. This collection has selections of haiku from numerous Japanese masters such as Basho, who is considered the greatest of all haiku masters, Buson, Issa, Shiki, Nakamura, Sokan and numerous other great haiku poets.This volume is organized into three parts. It is important to read the introduction to better understand the essential differences of language when evaluating and translating a haiku from Japanese to English. Part one covers haiku with the pulse of nature theme. The second part has haiku with a basic theme of human voices and the final section deals with the resonance and reverberation haiku poems. There are also a number of beautiful drawings taken from Japanese masters which help illustrate the focus on nature and life of the haiku poem form.One of the many things I love about this book is the end section where it provides information of the life of all the poets who have haiku in this book. As a life time student of the Japanese martial arts, as well as a lover of haiku, I was not surprised that many of the ancient Japanese poets were also Samurai.In conclusion, if you are a lover of the Japanese haiku poetic form, you will want this book in your personal collection.Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Haiku Moments: How to read, write and enjoy haiku)

Fresh collection of Japanese poetry spanning the ages. Your favorites Basho Issa and Rikyu are here, but the anthology also has more modern poets, including a nice representative number of women, who are often unjustly ignored in other collections.A quick read, but you will want to go back and savor many of these excellent translations. Humor and pathos and Zen and life. Worth your hard earned dollars for some time spent beside a pond with frogs and carp and a few good friends.

I have over 1000 books, many of which I love. This is one of my top 5. It is beautiful. I travel a lot - like Basho! Please provide a Kindle version so it can be with me all the time.

Much was said and written about the haiku. If you love this kind of poetry, that may make you live in the light of these verses, without other comparison than the old Arabian poetry. It is like one diving in the purest water of a forgotten lake.

Lovely

Well organized into subjects, with evocative imagery used to underline common themes.For best effect, read on a long train ride in the countryside, preferably in japan itself.Peaceful, contemplative, well collected.

Very niiiice. Good reading.

It's tricky to capture the essence if a poem written in a strict style in another language, but this anthology does a good job of just that, while also providing a sampling of poetry covering several hundred years. Many moments of delight, humor, and reflection can be found here. Just what you'd expect from haiku.

A great little book, which gives you a brief introductory insight into haiku poetry. The poems themselves, are as it says on the tin "haiku", style poems, compiled in a very well made attractive looking, quality made book.