101 HAIKU

Kochanowsky offers a contemplative collection of nature-themed haiku.

The U.S.-based author was inspired to write these 101 poems by Matsuo Bashō’s work and by her own recent journey to Japan. She opens the book with a nonfiction section that includes travel reflections, an introduction to Bashō, and rundowns of the essential elements of haiku and the influence of Zen Buddhism on poetry. She then beautifully defines a haiku as “an instant captured, / framed like a picture / with words from the heart.” Although the poet primarily adheres to the traditional 17-syllable haiku structure (5-7-5), she also experiments with variations on the form. Arranged in seasonal order, the haiku emphasize savoring the present moment, the interconnectedness of all things, and reverence and compassion. Winter gives way to spring as “Stubbornly snowdrops / push their little heads against / roofs of crusty frost.” Summertime is marked by “A lush June garden / in dimming day is lit by / a single firefly.” Another poem invites readers into the Kushida Shrine, where “Two wise stone lions / proudly stand beside the gate. / One speaks, one listens.” Others offer glimpses into the author’s mind (“a blank page, / waiting for a drop of ink / to appear, like dew”) and emotions: “Fear runs with quick feet / (with quicker ones at night) / but has nowhere to go.” Some final works effectively capture the bittersweet tenor of relationships between parents and children. Overall, Kochanowsky’s haiku shine with clarity and a sense of surprise, pairing serene scenes with deeper insight: “The sea tastes the shore / again and again. / It can never get its fill.” They include rich sensory details, such as a description of frozen river that “bellows and groans in pain” as spring arrives. That said, the poet occasionally leans on vague language; for instance, multiple haiku mention birds but do not name their species. However, Johnson’s precise black-and-white sketches of wildlife, such as a shy fawn or a trotting red fox, enhance the painterly nature of Kochanowsky’s words.

A calm, meditative haiku collection.