The Heart of Haiku

by Jane Hirshfield

silence: the cicada’s cry soaks into stone shizukasaya iwa ni shimiiru semi no koe

19,000 haiku about Spam—“Spamku”—have to this date been posted online.

Art can be defined as beauty able to transcend the circumstances of its making.

I’m wealthy— going into the new year with 20 lbs of old rice

Mist, rain, not seeing Fuji— an interesting day! kirishigure Fuji wo minu hi zo omoshiroki

the 9th-century Buddhist teacher and poet Kukai’s words: “Do not follow the ancient masters, seek what they sought.”

spring rain— roof leak drizzling through a hanging wasps’ nest