Haiku: Poetry Ancient & Modern

by Jackie Hardy (Editor)

along the mountain road
somehow it tugs at my heart
a wild violet
—Basho

Originating in Japan, the haiku is a tiny poem that is usually only three lines long and contains a total of seventeen syllables. A universally appealing form of poetry, a haiku is able to capture an intensely human—and ordinary—moment and turn it into something extraordinary.

Haiku: Poetry Ancient & Modern is a gorgeously illustrated anthology of over 200 poems from 100 of the best haiku poets in America and around the world, as well as translations of the Japanese masters. The poems range in time from the seventeenth to the twentieth century's, and follow the elemental themes of earth, air, fire, water, wood and metal. This exquisite collection of haiku is a joyful read for anyone, whether new to haiku or looking to expand their collection.

Haiku authors include:
Dakotsu
Patricia Donegan
Humberto Gatica
Jackie Hardy
Kikaku
Shiki
Kenneth Tenemura
Nicholas Virgilio

Genres: Poetry, Japan, Anthologies

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Andisheh Mofidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

کاغذ نرم
بر سر انگشتانم
زبری لغات
جکی هاردی

[Fateme Beygi · Rating 2 out of 5]

هایکوهای قسمت آب از همه بهتر بود

[Deborah Bancroft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Features the work of contemporary poets (including the editor) as well as some by traditional Japanese masters. The introductory essay explains the five elements--wood, fire, earth, metal, fire-- and how they are used as organizing principle. If you are looking for strict 5-7-5 syllable construction, you won't find much of it in this collection.

[Niloofar · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتابی‏ست که من بارها آن را بدست گرفته ام و خوانده ام. زیبا و آرامبخش سرشار از عطر زندگی :)

بر شاخه‏ای لخت
کلاغی نشسته
غروب پاییز

باشو

[𝕸𝖎𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖊𝖑 𝕮. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this book of haikus at all.
All of these haikus were weird, boring, and 99.99% of the haikus were formatted incorrectly (not following the 5-7-5 rule), which was very annoying.

I thought that the haikus would be fun or interesting or at least unique... I was wrong.
These were very lifeless and boring. It's as if the people who wrote these haikus were rushing to get somewhere and they were asked to think of 5-10 random words to pay the toll at the bridge. Those people then just spit out random things to be able to get past the toll faster.
Seriously, they're just weird and useless. No effort was used!
It's like everyone whose haiku was included here HATED haikus! 😂

I only liked one haiku in this book. Yes, one:

Candlelight dinner-
His finger slowly circles
The rim of his glass
-Lee gurga

So yeah, I'll be looking for a better compilation of haikus.

I wish this book was
filled with far better haikus.
This? Disappointing!

Haikus aren't that hard
Why couldn't this book just TRY?
Wish I'd never read.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute little book and my introduction to Haiku poetry!
Very sweet and despite the fact they are such short pieces (5-7-5) many of them are really rather haunting.
It’s incredible the emotions and images you can portray in so few words!
As an avid reader this one was particularly appealing:

‘smoothing paper
on my fingertips
the roughness of words’ (Jackie Hardy)

I also found this one hopeful:

‘piled for burning
brushwood
starts to bud’ (Boncho)

And finally, on the day I read this book it’s pouring with rain so this one made me smile:

‘one word
but so many varieties
of rain’ (David Finlay)

This is a lovely book, fundamentally beautiful and hopeful, in a world, where at the moment all hope seems lost.
Please give it a read!

[Rachel Sandell · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a quick yet insightful introduction, this booklet lays the groundwork for an interest in haiku, poetry, and an appreciation for life. In this collection composed of haiku both ancient and modern, Jacky Hardy presents a beautiful look at the poetry in the five sections relating to Taoist cosmology: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Enlightening, beautiful, and inspirational!

[Jericho Eames · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the collection. In it included a short history on Haikus and how it came to be. I loved some of the poems that really evoked a sense of calm and serenity. Read this collection with soft music and rain in the background for an A+ reading experience.

[Chiro Pipashito T H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Haiku and this is a nice collection.

[Farzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

بعد از تعطیلات ، شن در جیبم ....

[Billy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delivers exactly what the title says, along with some nice artwork. Poems are split into elemental themes, and are excellent examples of the evocative imagery a haiku can conjure. As it turns out, the three-line, 5-7-5 rule we were taught isn't as hard and fast as you might think, particularly when it comes to translations. A quick and fun read.

[Ben Gaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my absolute favorite haiku anthology. I've read it several times and will continue to pick it up again and again. There are so many things to like about the book starting with the book itself. It is perfectly sized. A small square with big bold text that allows for no more than two haiku per page. The illustrations are great. The arrangement by Taoist imagery is great. And, perhaps my favorite part, the poems are not arranged by poet like most every haiku anthology out there. Instead, it shuffles the poets up so you can get lost in the poetry first and then the poet second. I wish more anthologies were set up this way, quite honestly. It is so much more joyful to read. This book also lives up to its title and blends haiku from several centuries, all using the contemporary non 5-7-5 format, which helps showcase the timelessness of the form. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to read as it transcends the genre as a book. I think anyone that picked this up would easily find themselves spending time with it. And what. Ore could you ask for from a book?

[Todd Hoke · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book o' haiku is okay. Not enough wit. No wit, actually. I'd like a book of Ogden Nash haiku, but he didn't do that, so far as I know. I like haiku because of the 5-7-5 framework, and this book has a lot of "haiku" that doesn't adhere to that setup. Who cares, right? Just makin' a short poem shorter. More poems per hour thataway. I guess.

this book of haiku
not good not bad just okay
2 out of 5 stars

[Coco · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like haiku, you'll like this little book. It can be easily read in one sitting or as long as it takes to enjoy. This book is split into five sections, based on Taoist elements--water, metal, wood, fire, and earth--and the author has selected poetry to fit these themes from all time periods. A great mix of olden days and modern times, but you can tell the compiler is heavily biased toward those that don't follow the 5-7-5 model. There were very few, if any, that did. (August 2008)

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent compilation of haiku. I like the blend of classic and contemporary authors. Of course, Basho is one of my favorites. There are illustrations that enhance the writing. I believe poetry and art blend together well.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Zohreh Hanifeh · Rating 4 out of 5]

انتخاب هایی زیبا از جک هاردی.
البته هایکوهای خودش هم که چند تایی شو اون وسط مسطا گذاشته بود قشنگ بودن، جزء بهترین ها بودن حتی!

و اینکه...
هایکوهای قسمت آب دلنشین تر از بقیه بودن. شاید به خاطر لطافت آب و بارون...

[Richard Gombert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Some good, some not so good.

[Clare K H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4.5 stars. Truly marvellous collection.