The Way of Haiku

The Way of Haiku is a guide for learning to write the most popular form of Japanese poetry: haiku. But true to the inviting and personal style of its author, Naomi Beth Wakan, it is also an eye-opening view into the way that reading and writing haiku can change the way one looks at life. “Writing haiku helps you appreciate the wonder of ordinary things and ordinary days.” Wakan discusses the history of haiku’s development, its important literary elements, and the differences between haiku written in Japanese and those written in English. Numerous examples of haiku are provided, some written by Japanese haijin (haiku writers) and presented in translation, and some written by English-speaking writers. The rich explanation of the experience of writing haiku and the encouraging words of the author nurture readers in their own writing of haiku while remaining open to the possibilities it provides for personal growth. (Along with Poetry That Heals and The Way of Tanka, The Way of Haiku completes Naomi Beth Wakan’s important and insightful Japanese poetry trilogy.)