Four stars, read in July 2017.
I couldn’t believe my luck to find these three small, beautiful old volumes at my local used bookstore last night—particularly because under their faded, torn jackets the same lovely pattern has been preserved on the hardcover.
Rather than reviews, my posts about haiku are always just a collection of the ones that struck me most notably, and there were many in this first volume. I’m not positive about capitalization and punctuation because they’re printed in all caps, and in fact there’s a note from the publisher explaining that in order to include the decorative Japanese designs that accompany each poem, they had to split the second line into two. I went with what looked right to me.
Twilight whipporwhill . . .
whistle on, sweet deepener
of dark loneliness
Basho
In the open shop
paperweights on picture books . . .
young springtime breeze
Kito
Life? Butterfly
on a swaying grass. That’s all . . .
But exquisite!
Soin
On her dead son:
In what windy land
wanders now my little dear
dragonfly hunter?
Chiyo-ni
Mirror-pond of stars . . .
Suddenly a summer shower
dimples the water
Sora
Angry I strode home . . .
But stooping in my garden
Calm old willow-tree
Ryota
Torches! Come and see
the burglar I have captured . . .
Oh! My eldest son!
Sokan
Lonely umbrella
passing the house at twilight . . .
First snow falling soft
Yaha
Buddha on the hill . . .
From your holy nose indeed
hangs an icicle
Issa
Death-song:
Leaf alone, fluttering
Alas, leaf alone, fluttering . . .
Floating down the wind
Anon.
Death-song:
I have known lovers . . .
Cherry-bloom . . . The nightingale . . .
I will sleep content
Anon.
Death-song:
Three loveliest things:
Moonlight . . . Cherry-bloom . . . Now I go
Seeking silent snow
Rippo
What gorgeous bindings! I love your selection, the Kito poem in particular. I’m there, enjoying the spring breeze, browsing the books.
LikeLiked by 1 person