The Heart of Haiku (Kindle Single)

Jane Hirshfield's essay brings a reader a new appreciation of the elegance of Basho's verses. The master's gems gain both power and beauty when one learns of the context and conventions of their creation. Dozens of insights for only ninety-nine cents. Such a deal!

In a moment, I found myself entering into the world of 17th century Japanese Haiku’s through one of its most esteemed poets--- Basho, and under the guidance of Hirshfield, a most gifted writer and translator. This simple little book of 17 syllable Haiku’s appears to possess the capacity to render silent my active thinking mind while also re-awakening my spirit in ways I had not thought were possible through written word.
silence:
the cicada’s cry
soaks into stone
Hirshfield has teleported me on a splendid journey of Basho’s poetry, enlivening his simple essence, and interweaving her brief reflections within the vivid stories and sublime Haiku’s in ways that capture my imagination, wonder, and curiosity. I experience a vivid connection with the seamless storytelling writing style of Hirshfield, with visual imagery of seemingly endless variety and aliveness, re-awakening to primordial scents and sounds that seem to echo deep in my own BE-ing. The entire reading is most captivating, and I am given a glimpse into how one extraordinary human being experienced our world in ways that conjure deep feeling.
dusk: bells quiet
fragrance rings
night-struck from flowers
For one who was not raised in or around literature and poetry The Heart of Haiku speaks to my heart as well as my mind. Like a book of universal gratitude and prayer, the pages of this short yet pleasant book read with a depth of insight and wisdom that evokes silence and contemplation.
The brevity of the discourse allows for easy approachability and I found myself drawn to reread various passages with great zeal and with new reflections each time. I’ve also found children as well as adults are drawn to Hirshfield’s simple writing style, generating spontaneous collective contemplation and bringing us all together through the magic of Basho’s Haiku’s.

Written by the ever- eloquent Jane Hirshfield, the introduc tion is perhaps worth the purchase of this book. You get the story of zen poet Basho and his whimsical poems thrown in as discussion fodder.
Beautifully presented, the haikus explain the philosophy of his life, and it's journey. It is interesting, and best is the closing poem which was written ironically under the brim of his hat. I like knowing that detail. I am unsure how so much was known of this solitary character from so long ago, but I enjoyed the meandering ride.

I liked all the examples of haiku that was included in the book. The historical background was sort of interesting, but I mostly did speed read through it. I probably would not recommend it to general public but to some one that writes poetry, I would recommend it.

A wonderful essay about a poet and poetry forms written so beautifully that it swirls around in your mind as you read. The words sang in my ears. It was so beautiful and I loved reading this piece. Definitely one for my 'enjoy again later' pile.

For anyone exploring haiku, this is the book to begin the journey. Jane Hirshfield presents the history of haiku and background of Basho in an easy read with her insightful manner but offers the opportunity to contemplate deeply if one is willing...and if you are interested in haiku, that is to be assumed...

This is a beautifully written exploration of the haiku of Basho, in which Hirshfield captures in prose both the simplicity and depth that characterize Basho's haiku. She writes: A sharp Zen spirit glints from his poems, in their compassion, insights, and humor, and in the quietly Buddhist stance of poet and object as “not one, not two.” The same sharp Zen spirit glints from her prose, subtle, accessible, reverberating.

Long an admirer of the Haiku and Basho, I thoroughly enjoyed this glimpse into his life and work. Favorite insight was the comparison of His influence on poetic "form" to the potentialities of You-Tube and other modern media.

My knowledge of haiku is rudimentary at best, besides writing them in poetry classes. These haiku and the poet are beautiful to read, and it helped me to understand them when the author explained them in her terms. For serious students of haiku.

I read this during a week-long watercolor workshop with Thomas Schaller at Madeline Island School of Art. (WI) I realized that his explanation of light and shadow completely align with Jane Hirschfield's wonderful take on Haiku. Loved this piece. Thank you!

Found it to be excellent reading especially in understanding where and how Haiku originated. The poems where lovely and the journey of the poet extraordinary to say the least. The essence of some of the poems I did not grasp but in learning of the art form I realize that it will take some practice. I actually chose to read this book since I recalled learning about Haiku in grammar school years ago and it was wonderful to be able to revisit the art form once again. I will be reading more on the subject and will be aware of my surroundings in a more artful manner.

truly the heart of one individual nicely retold. An adventurous story of an unsettled & unsettling soul. So, our few permitted glimpses of his Haiku are a welcome diversion sending one to a gentle sleep rather than creating our own wanderings...

A great paper outlining Matsuo Basho's personal journey of Haiku. The author was able to draw linkage between Basho's artistic creation to his childhood, his travels, his study of Buddhism, Chinese poetry, Zen, and Shinto. With sufficient understanding of Basho's aesthetics foundations, the author even translated scores of best haiku by the Japanese poet. A pleasant read of a right-sized paper on Haiku.

This book inspired me in both my meditation practice and my reading of poetry. I've memorized several of these haiku and have gone back to reread the book and Bashos poems more than once. I've even begun writing haiku for myself.

commentary there if interested but the big thing is, lots of great haiku

more by same author available through K store

see too
https://www.the store.com/gp/product/055334935X/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

commentary there if interested but the big thing is, lots of great haiku

more by same author available through K store

see too
https://www.the store.com/gp/product/055334935X/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The beauty of this book, is the journey. The chance to live Basho's time, via the authors vivid description of his times, along with the Haiku from Basho that provide the texture for the world that he lived (lives) in.

It was fine. A good biography. I would have liked more explanation of the differences in the English translations and the poems that he wrote in Japanese. Other than that, It was an interesting story story about the life of a poet in Japan centuries ago. Could have had a bit more details of how and why he was in such poverty and what the overall status of the artists were in his environment but I did enjoy the book and it did give me some areas to search for more information that I did not have before as I like Haiku but never had read about its earlier posts until I read this book.

Interesting, informative and well-written, this is a nice introduction to Haiku and Basho. The author presents the material with a light hand and no obvious personal agenda. I'm not familiar with either haiku or Basho's work, but the translations seem good, and are both lyrical & affecting.