I have been fascinated by haiku for years. I find the form inspiring, as the briefest description can open up the world. The haiku form mimics the traditional Japanese use of it. However, English is a different animal. This anthology is entirely in English and covers the first hundred years of haiku in English. I found the examples more relatable and easier to use than English translations of haiku. My favorite haiku writer in English was Kenneth Rexroth.
From Haiku in English edited by Jim Kacian, Philip Rowland, and Allan Burns
As the full moon rises
The swan sings
In sleep
On the lake of the mind.
This haiku makes me think of the full moon and the swan’s lonely song. How does this connect to human loneliness of the mind? Our swan song, never heard by anyone else, that repeats in your own mental state. The imagery of the full moon, swan, and lake connects it to the abstract concept of the mental state.
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