There were a handful I liked, the rest were just OK. ( )

Saigyo was a 12th-century Buddhist monk who left court life to pursue priesthood and poetry. He writes waka in a form which seems to be innovative for its time by focusing more closely on nature themes and imagery and less on social and emotional situations. Saigyo was a strong influence on later poets such as Basho.

This book is a selection of Saigyo's poems organized according to seasonal topics (plus "love" and "miscellaneous"). I enjoyed the poems, though none in particular stand out as exceptional. The introduction and footnotes are helpful and explain Saigyo's life in a sketchy fashion, though apparently very little is actually known about him. ( )