Haiku: An Anthology of Japanese Poems

by Stephen Addiss (Editor), Akira Y. Yamamoto (Editor), Fumiko Y. Yamamoto (Editor)

This celebration of what is perhaps the most influential of all poetic forms takes haiku back to its Japanese roots, beginning with poems by the seventeenth- and eighteenth-century masters Basho, Busson, and Issa, and going all the way up to the late twentieth century to provide a survey of haiku through the centuries, in all its minimalist glory. The translators have balanced faithfulness to the Japanese with an appreciation of the unique spirit of each poem to create English versions that evoke the joy and wonder of the originals with the same astonishing economy of language. An introduction by the translators and short biographies of the poets are included. Reproductions of woodblock prints and paintings accompany the poems.

Genres: Poetry, Japanese Literature, Japan, Asia, Nature, Classics, Anthologies

190 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Peycho Kanev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter seclusion—
from my wife and children
I too play hide-and-seek
—BUSON

Autumn of my years—
the moon is perfect
and yet—
—ISSA

A whole family
all gray-haired with canes
visits graves
—BASHŌ

Spring moon—
if I touch it, it would
drip
—ISSA

Early summer rain—
a letter from home
arrives wet
—HARITSU

Being hit
the gong spits out
a noontime mosquito
—SŌSEKI

Where there are people
there are flies, and
there are Buddhas
—ISSA

Killing the spider
then so lonesome—
evening cold
—SHIKI

[Chaimaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming to the sea
the winter wind has no place
to return
—SEISHI

Snow
falls on snow
— and remains silent
—SANTŌKA

Dawn—
the storm is buried
in snow
—SHIRŌ

“After you die
they’ll be valuable”
he tells the painter
—ANONYMOUS
❤

[Quiver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply speaking, haiku are tercets of syllabic form 5-7-5 with seasonal themes. The recent popularity of haiku in the West drew me to investigate the roots of the poetic form. This short collection gives a brief introduction before proceeding with a selection of haiku by Japanese masters who lived as early as the fifteenth century.

The most famous example is that by Bashō (1644–94), himself the most famous poet of the Edo period:

Furu ike ya
kawazu tobikomu
mizu no oto

Here the poem is translated as follows, but there are many other translations:

Old pond—
a frog jumps in
the sound of water

(Although, the on-page typographic alignment is different, and forms part of the visual experience!)

This particular collection implicitly assumes (and I would like to think, correctly) that the spirit of the haiku can be effectively rendered in English translation and that therefore the 5-7-5 syllabic count captures the outward rhythmic form of traditional Japanese haiku but does not necessarily define them.

As is apparent from Bashō’s haiku above, the translations in this collection do not attempt to preserve the 5-7-5 pattern forcibly. A padded version is offered as illustration of what preserving the pattern would entail:

[There is an] old pond—
[suddenly] a frog jumps in
the sound of water

To me this reveals the importance of the “spirit” of the haiku—I applaud the translation’s aimed to preserve this spirit—over the form.
The poems in this collection are beautiful and evocative and much deeper than such prosaic adjectives imply. (Do not be misled by the example above; this is not a bilingual edition.) Whilst the lyricism of the Japanese language is no doubt completely lost, I am grateful to have been able to enjoy these works.

Spring chill—
above the rice paddies
rootless clouds
—Hekigodō

[Aoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

A compilation of haiku poets from the ancient masters (Basho, Issa) to pre mordern authors (Soseki). While the selections were top notch , I couldn't but hope for a more complete experience - the original work written by the side, or a brief write up of the poets lives and era that influenced their works.

Without further to ado, some 'snapshots' -

White plum blossoms
return to the withered tree—
moonlit night

—BUSON

The retreating shapes
of the passing spring—
wisteria

—KANA-JO

How interesting—
running errands right and left
fireflies

—KAIGA..

Evening fog—
my horse has learned
the holes on the bridge
—ISSA

All in calmness—
the earth with half-opened eyes
moves into winter

—DAKOTSU

Cold moon—
the gateless temple’s
endless sky

—BUSON

Withered by winter
one-colored world—
the sound of wind

—BASHO

Without a word
the guest, the host,
white chrysanthemums

—RYOTA

Charcoal fire—
my years dwindle down
just like that

—ISSA

This autumn
no child in my lap—
moon-viewing

—ONITSURA

Snow has melted—
the village is full
of children

—ISSA

Frogs grow silent—
noble humans
are passing by

—RAKUKYO

Sharing the same blood
but we’re not related—
the hateful mosquito!

—JOSO

The flute player

Each time
I swat a fly, I chant
“Namu Amida Butsu”

—ISSA

The black dog
becomes a lantern—
snowy road

—ANONYMOUS

[Eadweard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Opening their hearts
Ice and water become
Friends again - Teishitsu

Not in a hurry
To blossom
Plum tree at my gate - Issa

Both partners
Sport whiskers
Cats' love - Raizan

A camelia falls
Spilling out
Yesterday's rain - Buson

Could they be sutras?
In the temple well
Frogs chant - Kansetsu

On the brushwood gate
In place of a lock
One snail - Issa

Inhaling clouds
Exhaling clouds
Mountaintop pines - Anonymous

The old dog
Leading the way
Visiting family graves - Issa

The autumn wind
Takes the shape
Of pampas grass - Kigin

Worse than tears
The smile of the
Abandoned child - Anonymous

Sharing one umbrella
The person more in love
Gets wet - Keisanji

Sharing the same blood
But we're not related
The hateful mosquito - Joso

[Miri Gifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never cared much for poetry, but wow. It turns out that I looooove Japanese haiku. (I think if I'd known that haiku are usually about the seasons and nature, I might have gotten interested sooner.) These poems are so simple and beautiful. Since they're only three short lines, they're very much like snapshots, and the scene that pops into your head is as much a part of the poem as the actual words. Just gorgeous.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah! Beautiful!

[sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Walking the dog
you meet
lots of dogs"

—SŌSHI

[Nathan Albright · Rating 4 out of 5]

When reading a book from this publisher, as I have done on several occasions, I have often pondered what the purpose of this particular book is for that publisher.  After all, haiku are small and easy to anthologize and there are a lot of them, even if one only looks for the good ones in the mass of haiku that exist.  Even if one limits oneself to classical Japanese haiku of the old school and those of the masters, there are still a lot to choose from.  Why anthologize haiku as a Buddhist press?  It seems to me, at least, as a reader of this book that the publisher and presumably the editors of this collection are anthologizing the haiku and have brought this book to market as a way of appealing to the general interest in Buddhist thinking that is so common in the contemporary West.  This book does not appear to be written for those whose interest in haiku springs from a general interest in poetry or even those who are interested in general in Japanese culture, but appears to have a very specific religious root at the base of it, and truth be told that is something that I cannot really get on board with.

This particular book is about 200 pages long and it is divided into two general sections, each of which is divided into three sections.  The bulk of the book, as might be expected, contains various haiku in translation from the native Japanese.  These poems are divided into three sections based on their subject matter.  The first section of poems, taking up about half of the book's contents as a whole, consist of haiku about various aspects of creation, pointing out various seasonal markers and providing reflections on scenes or moods that result from a timely observation of that which is immediately around the writer.  After that the second section contains haiku which reflect human voices, and the aspects of loneliness and relationships and human behavior that struck some poets, especially Issa, as being important.  This section closes with a bit more than 30 pages of haiku that feature themes of resonance and reverberation, that characteristic paradox or irony of life.  The second part of the book is much shorter, and it contains information about the poets, artists, and illustrations contained in this volume.

That said, the contents of this book are not offensive if one is looking for good poetry or even wanting to know what sort of material makes for compelling haiku.  Whether or not one considers the religious aspect of Buddhism that is involved in the Japanese poems to be compelling or not, there are obvious and not very difficult to defend reasons to think of the reaction to the glories of creation or the vicissitudes of human experience as being worthy of poetic explanation.  For those readers who are familiar with the biblical books of Proverbs and Psalms, and various poetic fragments elsewhere, this material will strike the reader as being generally similar in being brief and to the point and elegantly pointed, and that is sufficient to appreciate them.  That said, the publisher is obviously aiming this book at a different audience rather than one who comes to poetry with a biblical context in mind.  Specifically, this book is among many books written about elements of Japanese culture that strongly deal with the Buddhist aspect of Japanese culture that has become widely popular in the West over the past few decades, and it is not by coincidence that so many haiku writer were either Buddhist nuns or monks.

[Ion · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good selection of haikus by different Japanese poets, great illustrations and a nice & short introduction (informative & not too long). Really enjoyed the read.
Few haikus I really like:

The black dog
becomes a lantern -
snowy road
- Anonymous

Even the clams
keep their mouths shut
in this heat
- Basho

Crazed by flowers
surprised by the moon -
a butterfly
- Chora

[Nancy Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of these struck me as ordinary, but there were a few that I especially liked.

Give me back my dream!
a crow has wakened me
to misty moonlight
-Onitsura

Singing as it goes,
an insect floats down the stream
on a broken bough
-Issa

One sneeze —
and I lost sight of
the skylark
-Yayu

[Cherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting.

[Molin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm so confused for the translate tbh

[tiana :) · Rating 1 out of 5]

my rating is purely based on personal opinion. i think i prefer longer poems that i can relate to. however, it was certainly still an experience

[Saadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The imagery in these haikus is absolutely stunning. Featuring some of the masters of this craft, these poems create the most vivid images in your mind with a few words.
It is mind blowing to see how a few syllables can have jarringly profound undertones. Evoking nostalgia and reflection, these poems provide comfort and do justice to hygge.

[Anafú · Rating 4 out of 5]

so cute libro comfort🥰el mundo está vivo todavía que lindo✨✨✨

[S.B. Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology collects together a number of well known Haiku from the acknowledged masters Basho, Buson, Issa and Shiki as well as lesser known poets, many of whom were students of the aforementioned and later became masters in their own right. There’s also a number of well known Haiku by anonymous poets.

The span of history covered by the collection runs from about the 1640’s until the present day, with the volume weighted towards the earlier periods. The collection includes a lengthy intro that covers a brief history of the form (there’s not much new here if you have been seriously writing haiku or reading them for some time) and a good concise bit of information on the difficulty with translation and maintaining the historical form.

The collection is organised thematically into three categories: The Pulse of Nature, Human Voices, and Resonance and Reverberation. From there they are presented in cyclical/seasonal order. This ordering, especially the seasonal arrangement can lead to repetitiveness ie, repeated uses of Spring rain. The trick of course is to spend time examining each poem rather than scanning them ( a habit that’s easy to fall into when you read a lot of prose, or indeed longer poetry) for the two seconds required to read most Haiku.

For someone new to reading Haiku I’d recommend Jane Reichhold’s Writing and Enjoying Haiku - A Hands on Guide. paired with this. Haiku can seem underwhelming when you are used to a poet spending an entire page getting their point across and I think a lot of emphasis is lost in translation. The lack of most readers (me included) knowledge of Japanese Literature can also make it difficult to gain full appreciation of some of the allusions made in individual Haiku.

There’s a biography section on the poet’s included after the three categories, which will be handy reference for some of the less well known Haiku poets and notes on the artists and time of painting for the illustrations included.

Overall I am a fan works is similar to Basho - The Complete Haiku, where the translator appends notes for each Haiku, explains plays on words that don’t come across in the translation.

Still I did find works that I hadn't come across before and that worked well in English.

[Giada Padovani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s a list of some of my favorite haikus. Most of them were written by Issa and Buson.

“The spring sun
shows its power
between snowfalls
—SHIGEYORI”

“Is the dawn, too,
still embraced by
hazy moon?
—CHŌSUI”

“White camellias—
only the sound of their falling
moonlit night
—RANKŌ”

“Highlighting the blossoms,
clouded by blossoms—
the moon
—CHORA”

“Flower petals
set the mountain in motion—
cherry blossoms
—HŌITSU”

“The retreating shapes
of the passing spring—
wisteria
—KANA-JO”


“Spring passes—
the last reluctant
cherry blossoms
—BUSON”

“Forsythia—
and radiant spring’s
melancholy
—MANTARŌ”

“Crossing the sea
into a net of mist—
the setting sun
—BUSON”

“Misty grasses—
water without voices
in the dusk
—BUSON”

“Spring passing—
looking at the sea,
a baby crow
—SHOKYŌ”

“The snake flees—
but the eyes that peered at me
remain in the weeds
—KYOSHI”

“Even in a single blade of grass
the cool breeze
finds a home
—ISSA”

“The stars
have already opened
their autumn eyes
—KŌYŌ”

“Morning glories—
blown to the ground
bloom as they are
—ISSA”

“Fallen leaves
fall on each other—
rain beats on the rain
—KYŌTAI”

“The sound
of the raindrops
also grown older
—SANTŌKA”

“A rinse of vermilion poured
from the setting sun, and then
autumn dusk
—TAIGI”

“The huge setting sun—
little remains of
its power
—KYOSHI”

“All in calmness—
the earth with half-opened eyes
moves into winter
—DAKOTSU”

“Cold moon—
the gateless temple’s
endless sky
—BUSON”

“Snow
falls on snow—
and remains silent
—SANTŌKA”

“Coming to the sea
the winter wind has no place
to return
—SEISHI”

“After you die
they’ll be valuable”
he tells the painter
—ANONYMOUS”

“No talents
also no sins—
winter seclusion
—ISSA”

“Loneliness
also has its pleasure—
autumn dusk
—BUSON”

“Autumn of my years—
the moon is perfect
and yet—
—ISSA”

“Whatever they wear
they become beautiful
moon-viewing
—CHIYO-JO”

[Fez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the introduction.
The Haiku's were divided into three groups: the pulse of nature, human voices and Resonance and Reverberation.

My favourites:
Give me back my dream!
a crow has wakened me to misty moonlight
— ONITSURA

Each time the wind blows the butterfly sits anew on the willow
—BASHŌ

Autumn of my years— the moon is perfect and yet—
—ISSAA

Sharing the same blood but we’re not related— the hateful mosquito!
—JŌSŌ

Early summer rain— a letter from home arrives wet
—HARITSU

Worse than tears— the smile of the abandoned child
—ANONYMOUS

There’s nothing he doesn’t know— the cat on the stove
—FŪSEI

Having given my opinion I return home to my wife’s opinion
—YACHŌ

[from the introduction:] Neither poem has a “moral” or an obvious message. We may well ask who is judging, and who is daydreaming? In this sense, it could be said that every haiku is at least partially about human beings, if only the one who originally composed it and the one reading and experiencing it now. Perhaps all fine poems are expressions of experience rather than merely “things,” and haiku, above all, elicit our own participation as readers, almost as though the poet had disappeared and left us to determine our own experience.

[introduction, regarding Basho's frog Haiku:
Old pond—
a frog jumps in
the sound of water] Is it that it combines old (the pond) and new (the jumping)? A long time span and immediacy? Sight and sound? Serenity and the surprise of breaking it? Our ability to harmonize with the nature? All of these may evoke an experience that we can share in our own imaginations.

[Megan Willome · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haiku: An Anthology of Japanese Poems Stephen Addiss

A friend gifted me this book, a treasure of classical haiku from Japanese masters. I took my time with this anthology because haiku is not to be rushed through.

I'm all for playing with the American 5-7-5 version of the poetic form, but it's so good to be reminded of the real thing, like eating ice cream made from milk from a real cow milked that morning. Savoring the real thing is making me write better haiku.

Because how can I not want to emulate something this good.

Plum blossoms—
"Steal this one here!"
points the moon

–Issa

[Joynab Rimu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll miss this book, this was my constant companion for last month!

Other than Basho, didn’t know any other haiku poets. This book gave me a chance to know about the works of "The Great Four", Basho, Buson, Issa, and Shiki.

So this book assembles haiku poets from the ancient masters or the great four to pre mordern authors . My knowledge of Haiku is very limited, so can't judge if the selections were of the highest quality , but it gave me a wholesome experience. The illustrations before each chapter were also very fetching!

Couldn't help sharing some of my Favourites :

" A shame to pick it
a shame to leave it-
the violet
~ NAO-JO "


" A camellia falls
spilling out
yesterday's rain
~BUSON "


"Crazed by flowers
surprised by the moon
a butterfly
~ CHORA"


Loved it 🌿

[Tylerclem · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a storybook, it has many kinds of the Japanese poem, Haiku. Haiku is one of a really popular type of poem from Japan. I learn it in Japanese school a lot. And now I read it again and it brings back my memories. I saw Haiku from Matsuo Basho who is one of the famous poem writers. I remember one of her poem which is "古池や蛙飛び込む水の音" in English, "Old pond - frogs jumped in - sound of water". I don't know why but this poem stuck in my head. I recommend this book to people who like a poem or Haiku or even who like Japan. Haiku has a really deep meaning so you might have to think a little bit to understand the meaning.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this wonderful collection of Haiku from the library. It's just lovely. I understand why people love Haiku.

Haiku is a 5-7-5 poem about nature. It usually has some sort of twist and delights the reader.

Inhaling clouds
Exhaling clouds -
Mountaintop pines. - Anonymous

When they are translated, they lose that 5-7-5 pattern at times, but after the 1900s that was no longer a requirement to be haiku.

Here my favorite:

‘Sharing one umbrella— the person more in love
gets wet - Keisanjin’

I love the focus on nature and life. This was a refreshing collection of many poets from many time periods over 200 pages. It was simply lovely.

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology includes haiku translations from the early days of haiku to modern poets. It features well-known and frequently anthologized haiku poets like Basho, Issa, and Buson, but also lesser-known poets like Yayu - as well as famous people who were famed for other activities (e.g. Natsume Soseki, a well-known novelist.)

While I enjoyed the translations and felt they made for good poems, I do prefer anthologies that include the original Japanese and / or a literal translation.

All in all, a touching collection of haiku and senryu.

[Athira Mohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down a paulownia tree the rain comes trickling across a cicada’s belly!❤️
I had almost forgotten the delight of relishing the word pictures painted by Haiku. This book takes us along the rooted tradition of Japanese Haiku, offering historical anecdotes along the way. With a short attention span like mine, the best kind of poetry to read would be a Haiku, and this collection is amazing to the last degree.

[Sofia Ferreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really funny book. I amused myself by imagining images of the poems in my head. I felt like an energetic dog excited and happy admiring everything around.
Some of my favourites:

Domestic ducks
stretch their necks
hoping to see the world

Inhaling clouds
exhaling clouds—
mountaintop pines

Spring rain—
just enough to wet tiny shells
on the tiny beach

Crouching,
studying the clouds—
a frog

[Aishwarya · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great collection of classic Haikus by several writers. It felt like the essence of the original writing was entirely lost somewhere in the translation. There were a few good ones with deep meaning. But, the rest, fragmented, broken, and did not make sense.

[Lenore . · Rating 5 out of 5]

delicate verse-
the poets' clarity of mind
woven by moonlight

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really beautiful haiku, translated wonderfully.

[Lu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars