Haiku may be the most popular and widely recognizable poetic form in the world. In just three lines a great haiku presents a crystalline moment of image, emotion, and awarenes. Elements of compassion, silence, and a sense of temporality often combine to reveal a quality of mystery. Just as often, haiku may bring a startling insight into the ordinary, or a flash of humour. Collected here are over two hundred of the best haiku of Japanese literature-- written from the seventeenth century to the early twentieth century by the great masters.

About the Author

* Sam Hamill has published over twenty books translated from the Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Latin, and Estonian as well as fifteen books of original poetry and literary essays. He has been the recipient of awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Foundation, the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest fund, the Andrew Mellon Fund, and the U.S.-Japan Friendship Commission.

Reviews

"The Zen aesthetic, so often imitated, is presented here without embellishment--full of earthy humor, poignant description, and subtle spirituality."--"The Bloomsbury Review"

"This is an enjoyable collection . . . and perfect for a Christmas stocking."--"The Japan Times"