A Bright Forest Path

The first chapter begins: "Why haiku, or why poetry at all?" Then proceeds to answer both questions. After a brief history of haiku's origins the stage is set to have some fun. Yes, haiku can be serious, Zen like, even philosophical, but it can also be fun, both for the reader and the writer. Instead of just filling a book with haiku, the author, David Miller, leads us, chapter by chapter, through the many subjects that can be covered in three simple lines of twenty-seven, sometimes silly, syllables. The chapters include: Seasonal, Hiking, Seashore, Streetlamp, Just For Fun, Goin' to the Dogs, Sensual, Deeply Thought, and Garden haiku. Each chapter begins with an introduction telling why the author enjoys playing with words (even coining a few) in that particular realm. You are not only encouraged along the way to write on your own, you are given incomplete haiku at the end of each chapter to play around with (yes, there are answers later). It's a sneaky way of presenting a "How-To" book without it looking like a "How-to" book (oh, those devilish poets!). If you are looking for Zen, it's here too. But the author's Zen is explained in it's simplest form rather than through a deep and lengthy discourse. Your Zen is for you to find, and he leaves it at that! You may just unleash your inner poet (if you haven't already). Not sure what haiku or Zen is about, enter, and remember, lighten your load, cast out all the noise, relax, and above all, have fun! And, do over and over again, as necessary. (Don't worry about overdosing, and there are no dangerous side-effects.) This book would make a great companion to take along to the beach, to a park, take along on a hike, or wherever 'your' favorite spot is for personal time.