The Penguin Book Of Haiku

Gaze I shall! ’til the very blossoms become a pain in the neck.

The Japanese haiku is world-famous for its brevity, instantly recognizable structure and natural imagery, yet, as this new anthology shows, the verseform can also be erotic, funny, satirical, crude and mischievous. Ranging from the refined to the ribald, the comic to the meditative, here are over 1000 classical haiku in vivid translations, bringing together the four major poets Basho, Issa, Buson and Shiki among many others, accompanied by brief commentaries and vibrant contemporary illustrations.

Translated and edited by Adam L. Kern