'gaze I shall!
'til the very blossoms become
a pain in the neck'
The Japanese haiku is world famous for its minimalism, instantly recognizable structure and natural imagery, yet, as this new anthology shows, the verse-form can also be erotic, funny, satirical, crude and mischievous. Ranging from the refined to the ribald, the madcap to the meditative, here are approximately 1,000 classical haiku in vivid translations, bringing together the four major poet Bashō, Issa, Buson and Shiki among many others, accompanied by brief commentaries and vibrant contemporary illustrations.
Translated and edited by Adam L. Kern
