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Japanese Haiku Series by Peter Pauper Press #4
Haiku Harvest
Step into a series of dazzling, funny, melancholy, and joyous moments with this collection of haiku masterworks. Translators Peter Beilenson and Harry Behn approached this volume with the twofold goal of crafting a book of haiku accessible to anyone and rendering their best guess at what the poets would have written in English. Their translations preserve the sublime spirit of each verse, conjuring vivid visual and emotional impressions in spare words.
Haiku icon Basho is represented amply here, as are imagery-virtuoso Buson and wry, warm, painfully human Issa. The verses of Shiki, Joso, Kyorai, Kikaku, Chora, Gyodai, Kakei, Izen, and others also appear, illuminated by lovely woodblock prints. From the playful (Oh, that summer moon!/It made me go wandering/Round the pond all night –Basho) to the bittersweet (Everything I touch/With tenderness, alas/Pricks like a bramble –Issa) to the fondly amused (It is not easy/to be sure which end is which/of a resting slug –Kyorai), this collection will stir your senses and your heart.
Haiku icon Basho is represented amply here, as are imagery-virtuoso Buson and wry, warm, painfully human Issa. The verses of Shiki, Joso, Kyorai, Kikaku, Chora, Gyodai, Kakei, Izen, and others also appear, illuminated by lovely woodblock prints. From the playful (Oh, that summer moon!/It made me go wandering/Round the pond all night –Basho) to the bittersweet (Everything I touch/With tenderness, alas/Pricks like a bramble –Issa) to the fondly amused (It is not easy/to be sure which end is which/of a resting slug –Kyorai), this collection will stir your senses and your heart.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1962
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 7, 2007
In my small village
Even the flies
Aren't afraid
To bite a big man.
-Issa
Even the flies
Aren't afraid
To bite a big man.
-Issa
August 6, 2007
a lovely collection of haiku!
August 5, 2014
A fun little book to take for momentary pauses in a busy world.
January 23, 2025
You fleas seem to find
the night as long
as I do.
Are you lonely, too?
the night as long
as I do.
Are you lonely, too?
August 13, 2016
Small book of hundreds of haiku by Basho, Buson, Issa and others. Fun to 'dip' into now and again.
February 21, 2024
It was just okay.
I read one other book from this Peter Pauper Press series: Cherry Blossoms, Vol. 3. I enjoyed that one much more. I'm not sure whether it was the selection or translations. In the intro of Series 4, we find out Peter Beilenson, who translated the previous three volumes of this series. I have not yet read 1 and 2 for comparison, but I MUCH preferred volume 3 to 4.
There were very few poems that caught my attention. I found myself immersed in the book as I went along in Vol. 3. That didn't happen with this book.
I read one other book from this Peter Pauper Press series: Cherry Blossoms, Vol. 3. I enjoyed that one much more. I'm not sure whether it was the selection or translations. In the intro of Series 4, we find out Peter Beilenson, who translated the previous three volumes of this series. I have not yet read 1 and 2 for comparison, but I MUCH preferred volume 3 to 4.
There were very few poems that caught my attention. I found myself immersed in the book as I went along in Vol. 3. That didn't happen with this book.
September 24, 2025
This is a very good collection of haiku. The focus: Fall. Many enlightening words included. A few clunkers that are over whelmed by the whole.
Bottom lie: I recommend this book. 10 out of ten points.
Bottom lie: I recommend this book. 10 out of ten points.
March 29, 2024
This is a relaxing collection to read.
December 6, 2024
A collection of charming poems by Haiku masters. Such stunning images presented in a few syllables! Each poem is like a sip of cool water on a long hot day.
September 12, 2025
A wonderful haiku collection! I'll always love a book of haikus if it has works by Basho and Issa!
November 13, 2025
A short easy to read volume of wise haikus. This book is very relaxing and fast to read.
March 5, 2017
The book I bought for two cents at a thrift shop in my small town; this has a beautiful selection of haikus from many of the greats.
March 19, 2017
This collection ranges from the elegiac to the contemplative to the joyful--and sometimes joyful haiku can be a little too cute. So not every poem here is a gem. But most are. And it's probably good for the soul to chuckle at the old masters every once in a while.
October 12, 2008
we have to read a poetry book for my creatvie writing class. i like poetry, and i really like Haikus, so this book is good if u ask me.
October 26, 2008
When my canary
escaped, well
that was the end
of spring in my house.
Shiki
Small bird forgive me,
I'll hear the end
of your song
in some other world.
Anon.
escaped, well
that was the end
of spring in my house.
Shiki
Small bird forgive me,
I'll hear the end
of your song
in some other world.
Anon.
January 5, 2009
Very favorite:
Rash tom-cat lover
careless even
of that rice
sticking to your whiskers.
--Taigi
Rash tom-cat lover
careless even
of that rice
sticking to your whiskers.
--Taigi
April 19, 2020
Another great collection.
June 17, 2023
Nice ones, some nostalgic and some motivational
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews