The Spring of My Life: And Selected Haiku - Paperback
Out of Stock
This product is currently out of stock. Enter your email address below to be notified once the product is back in stock
Autobiographical Haiku Collection from a Japanese Master
An autobiographical blend of prose and haiku from one of Japan's greatest poets.
Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827), along with Bashō and Buson, is considered one of the three greatest haiku poets of Japan, known for his attention to poignant detail and playful sense of humor. Issa's most beloved work, The Spring of My Life, is an autobiographical sketch of linked prose and haiku in the tradition of Bashō's celebrated Narrow Road to the Interior.
What's Inside This Collection
This edition features The Spring of My Life, Issa's autobiographical masterwork that blends personal narrative with the haiku form. The book includes more than 160 of Issa's most revered haiku, showcasing his distinctive voice and observational style that set him apart from his contemporaries.
The introduction provides essential background on Issa's life and valuable information on translating and reading haiku, making this collection accessible to both newcomers and seasoned poetry readers. Translator Sam Hamill brings his expertise in classical Japanese poetry to render these works in English while preserving their essence.
About Kobayashi Issa
KOBAYASHI ISSA (1763-1827), along with Basho and Buson, is considered one of the three greatest haiku poets of Japan. His work stands out for its attention to poignant detail, playful humor, and compassionate observation of the natural world and everyday life.
About the Translator
SAM HAMILL (1943-2018) translated more than two dozen books from ancient Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Latin, and Estonian and published fourteen volumes of original poetry. He was the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Foundation, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, and the Mellon Fund; and was awarded the Decoración de la Universidad de Carabobo in Venezuela, the Lifetime Achievement Award in Poetry from Washington Poets Association, and the PEN American Freedom to Write Award. He cofounded and served as Editor at Copper Canyon Press for thirty-two years and was the Director of Poets Against War.
Shambhala Pocket Library Series
This book is part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series. The Shambhala Pocket Library is a collection of short, portable teachings from notable figures across religious traditions and classic texts. The covers in this series are rendered by Colorado artist Robert Spellman. The books in this collection distill the wisdom and heart of the work Shambhala Publications has published over 50 years into a compact format that is collectible, reader-friendly, and applicable to everyday life.
Free shipping on orders over $75. Standard shipping takes 3-7 business days. Returns accepted within 30 days of purchase.