The title is misleading: it's merely a biography of the poet Basho with some standard observations about the genre, not a broader consideration of haiku. Add a star if you are primarily interested in Basho. ( )

A wonderful explication of Basho

Jane Hirshfield seems almost to have traveled alongside Basho during his poetic journey. This essay is accessible to those new to Zen and Basho, but it remains powerful even to those who are more familiar already. ( )

The Heart of Haiku – Jane Hirshfield
kindle single
4 stars

This long essay was my first experience of a ‘kindle single’. It is a highly readable biography of the 17th century Japanese poet, Basho and an introduction to his influence on haiku as an art form. I already knew and appreciated Jane Hirshfield as a poet. Now, I look forward to reading more of her collections. If this is any indication of the quality of kindle singles, I will be looking for more of them.
( )

The Heart of Haiku by Jane Hirshfield, which I first read about it on Beth Kephart’s blog, is lyrical, meandering, and informative not only about Haiku — the art, its origination, and its longevity — but also about one of the greatest poets, Bashō, who lived and breathed Haiku. Knowing very little about this Japanese poet from the 17th century doesn’t mean you don’t know him because as Hirshfield points out, he infuses every Haiku with his soul and experiences. Not only can readers live his moments alongside him, but they also can create their own experiences within the Haiku.

Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2013/03/the-heart-of-haiku-by-jane-hirshfield.html ( )