Haiku Handbook: How to Write, Share, and Teach Haiku - by William J. Higginson, 1992
It seems that some of the better poetry handbooks were written about a decade or more ago, and this book is no exception. What makes this haiku book stand out above the rest is its representations of haiku poets who wrote in English, Spanish, French, German, and five other languages on an equal footing with Japanese poets. Not only are the four great Japanese masters of the haiku represented (Basho, Buson, Issa, and Shiki) but also several major Western authors not commonly known to have written haiku. In addition, you get a history of haiku, lesson plans for both elementary and secondary school use, and lists of haiku publishers and magazines (in several languages). The Handbook concludes with a full reference section of haiku-related terms, bibliography, and a comprehensive season-word list to aid in understanding and appreciating Japanese haiku.
Posted by beanybabe at 10:34 PM PST
