Product Description

Originally a Japanese form that flourished in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, haiku has seen a tremendous growth in popularity in the English language over the last two decades. A haiku is a short poem recording the essence of a moment keenly perceived in which Nature is linked to human nature. Its attraction lies in its ability to create in the mind of the reader an image so real it is almost tangible. It celebrates simplicity, emotion and imagery, one in which only a few words convey worlds of mystery and meaning. This third edition of The Haiku Anthology comprises 850 haiku and senryu (a related genre, usually humorous and concerned with human nature) written in English by 89 poets. A new foreword details developments since the publication of the last edition.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #224753 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

Synopsis
Originally a Japanese form that flourished in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, haiku has seen a tremendous growth in popularity in the English language over the last two decades. It is a type of poetry that celebrates simplicity, motion, and imagery, one in which only a few words convey worlds of mystery and meaning.

Customer Reviews

Essential Haiku Anthology
If I were packed off to a desert island and told I could take only one book, this would be it. This is the most comprehensive anthology of western haiku I've found.

The most comprehensive anthology of haiku from US and Canada
The Japanese haiku is a form of poetry which has become increasingly popular in the West, as its brevity and concentration are highly attractive. The form is accessible yet loaded with meaning and subtle sensitivity.

This has led to a rich production of haiku from English-speaking writers as well. van den Heuvel's anthology has reached its third edition, very much enlarged, of haiku in English from US and Canada. More than 800 haiku are included, with details on their authors. The typography is remarkably fine and adds meaning to these brief poems where every detail is of importance.

van den Heuvel concentrates on the serious artistry, sometimes with a touch of humour, that is cultivated by poets who take an interest in the Japanese background of haiku. Essential, however, is the ability to express the essence of a moment.

This is highly enjoyable poetry and this anthology is the most comprehensive of its kind.