Breath Marks: Haiku to Read in the Dark

by Gary Hotham

Gary Hotham has been described as a poet whose vision and craft combine to form an aesthetic all haiku poets aim for but few ever achieve. This little book, Breath Marks , gives a little taste of that talent, the kind of haiku to meditate, ponder, relish, and read over the years.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction

110 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ummm...okay? I apparently am not a fan of Haiku. I really didn't understand this book and the poems within, though there were a few that I did enjoy even while not understanding them. I think my poor brain is just not wired to understand poetry.

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book of haiku, which probably makes it my favorite book of poetry ever. Pro tip: Read them slowly, with a pause between each haiku so you have space to connect with the moment being described.

[Stephen Amor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing poems in the perfect format! One of my all time favorites!

[Gabriel Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful. Very short, but so much quality in the words.

[Timothy Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second time reading _Breathmarks_, and I think I enjoyed it even more this time.
In addition to a whole pile of stunning haiku, the book also features a little article by Hotham called "Why Haiku?" that shares a little of his vision for practicing and appreciating the form. For those of you who suffered through the rigid 5-7-5 syllable format of grade-school haiku, you'll be pleased to know that the grown-up version -- while just as concentrated -- is a little freer than that.
Hotham is a modern master of the form, and his work is startling and evocative. I highly recommend it. Stick this little book in your jacket pocket and forget it's there; every time you find it again, read one or two more haiku, then put it back in your pocket for next time. You'll be the richer for it.

[C.B. Wentworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful little collection of haiku! Hotham tosses rules aside and constructs haikus using one, two, three, or four lines, which is a welcome break from haiku convention. Breath Marks offers a beautiful array of snapshot poetry that both redefines and reinforces the original intent of haiku. Razor sharp focus elevates the mundane into something truly special - even something as small as a paper coffee cup can have meaning. Well worth the read for any haiku enthusiast, (I actually read it twice!).

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hotham knows how to use haiku effectively, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book; however, I was bothered the whole time because I couldn't imagine how one is supposed to read haiku in the dark.

[Craig Houston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed several of these Haiku poems immensely. One of my favorite below.

coffee
in a paper cup-
a long way from home

[M.G. Bianco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collection of American haiku from Gary Hotham. Enjoyable reading. The essays at the beginning and end of the book on poetry and haiku were especially interesting.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Sophia Nuñez · Rating 4 out of 5]

In these lovely poems, Hotham counts the moments - elegantly distilled - more so than the syllables. The result is beautiful; these are poems to be slowly savored, despite their brevity.

[Benjamin Sigrist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. As visual as words can be.