MORE CRICKET SONGS: Japanese Haiku

We know close to a dozen small, attractive haiku collections and this anthology must join that group. It includes twenty-nine Japanese poets, some represented by several selections, many already known to American readers (e.g. Basho, lssa, Buson). A few of the poems may be familiar (even newly translated by Harry Behn) but that won't distract from the agreeable character of the collection as a whole. Complementing the poetry, on alternate two-page spreads, are reproductions of Japanese masters' works which convey mood and sometimes reflect text as well. ""The best I have to/ offer you is the small size/ of the mosquitoes."" Genial and inviting.