The Haiku Year

I wanted to share this little book with you. I found it a few years ago and loved it instantly. It has become one of my favourites.

The paragraph on the back of the book explains how these poems came together...

'In 1996, seven friends agreed to write one haiku a day and mail them to each other. At the end of the year, they realized that their collection of simple, critical observations had given them a new way to look at the details of their lives.'

Told in a seasonal cycle the haiku in this book are really inspiring, and I have many favourites among them. There is a quote from someone called Todd Colby on the back also...

'In this era of computer screens, it's nice to be reminded just how underrated reality is. Sometimes we miss the most sublime moments on our way to where we'd rather be. These haiku remind us to look, listen, and feel what's right at the end of our noses.'

The other thing that is interesting about this book is who the collection of friends are...

Tom Gilroy - actor, director and playwright from New York

Anna Grace - a writer and performer from New York

Jim McKay - film and videomaker

Douglas A Martin - writer and poet

Grant Lee Philips - songwriter and recording artist for the group Grant Lee Buffalo

Rick Roth - human rights activist, businessman

Michael Stipe - singer/songwriter with REM, photographer and film producer.

A wonderful find and an excellent collection of contemporary haiku.

Highly recommended!