Writing & Reading Haiku

Lesson 4: Blyth and Western Haiku

Introduction

I have a slight confession to make before commencement of the next lesson. The great translator and teacher of haiku R.H. Blyth and I have a shared history. Like Blyth, I was brought up in Essex, England, and also like him I learned to make musical instruments, giving it up in order to devote more time to the translation and teaching of haiku. Therefore, I feel a certain affinity towards the father of Western haiku and may, on occasion, be a little more lenient than I perhaps should be (or others certainly are) towards him.

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Lessons

Introduction

Lesson 1: The Historical Development of Haiku

Lesson 2: Basho, Buson, Issa and Shiki

Lesson 3: Zen and the Art of Haiku

Lesson 4: Blyth and Western Haiku

• Introduction

• R.H. Blyth

• Pound and the Imagists

• Other Western Haiku

• Writing Exercise