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XXVII:2 |
LYNX
A Journal for Linking Poets |
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BOOK REVIEWS
BREASTS OF SNOW: TO A NEW DIMENSION [As part of our efforts to honor the work of Hatsue Kawamura, Konno Mari has translated into English a review she wrote of Breasts of Snow in 2004.] Breasts of Snow -- Fumiko Nakajo: Her tanka and her life. Translated by Hatsue Kawamura And Jane Reichhold. Tokyo, Japan. The Japan Times, Ltd. [2004] Soft cover 15x21cm.152 pages. ￥2,000 ISBN4-7890-1161-5. Available from AHA Books. haha wo jikuni children run around The author of this tanka, Fumiko Nakajo (1922-54), was a talented Japanese poet who lived a tragic life. She died from breast cancer at the age of 32, four months after her first tanka collection Chibusa Soshitsu (The Loss of Breasts) won an award from a renowned tanka magazine Tanka Kenkyu. Her tanka poems are the expression of her love and desperate struggle with death, as a single mother of three. This book includes Fumiko Nakajo’s major tanka poems from Chibusa Soshitsu, mentioned above, and Hana no Genkei (A Prototype of Flowers), published after her death in 1955. Hatsue Kawamura, [then] the editor of The Tanka Journal, an English/Japanese publication of the Nihon Kajin Club in Tokyo. She was the author of four tanka collections and three books on tanka. Jane Reichhold is one of America’s leading tanka poets and has been active in bringing tanka to an English-speaking audience. She is the editor of Lynx – a Journal for Linking Poets. They have co-translated three books: White Letter Poems by Fumi Saito, Heavenly Maiden Tanka by Akiko Baba, and A String of Flowers, Untied…Love Poems from The Tale of Genji. Like their latest publication, Love Poems from The Tales of Genji, they adopted the form of Uta-monogatari, tanka poems interwoven with stories, in this Breasts of Snow. (This review was originally published in Japanese in Tanka Orai magazine 2004 December by Konno Mari, and translated by her.)
HOSHIJO - ROKKA by Konno Mari,[Japanese writer, Snow Crystal * Star-shaped, Amelia Fielden: English, Zvaigznveida sniega kristals, Victor Kravcenko, Liga Busevica: Latvian, plus CD of Sinobue flute composed and performed by Akihiro Hara, book publisher, Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd., 2-3-3 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8078, Japan. ISBN 978-4-04-652281-8 C0092 This is a trilingual (Japanese, English, Latvian) book of tanka, but, also contains tanka chains and a renga. I am not familiar with tanka chains; and, as to renga, I am most familiar with renku. I believe what separates renga from renku are the different rules for the same type of structure and linking.[See Letters to Lynx for correspondence on the subject.] There is an explanation in the book as to why Latvian was the third language. I will not give it away in this review. The author explains that her principal theme addresses the dangerous state of the current world. I felt this a true assessment from reading her tanka. She enthusiastically admits her fascination with snow and the magical shapes water can take. These are also reflected in her tanka. An example:
"... sequences of tanka linked together by diction, imagery or development of an idea ... " Although, tanka chains, are only in a small section in the book, I felt it begged at least a definition.
Mandrakes Round A Gibbet by Anthony Knight. (self published 2011, contact knight.pages@hotmail.co.uk for copies). Anthony Knight is a bit of a mystery to me as I tried to find the scores of poems and anthologies he is published in on both sides of the Atlantic by using a web search, but, to no avail. I am not familiar with any of his work except the book I am reviewing. Mandrakes Round A Gibbet is his second collection according to a blurb in the book. A return address in a portion of envelop I found within the book has him hailing from Essex in the UK. He includes references to prior works on selected poems in the Contents. The references (on ten of about 100 poems) were between the years 1992 and 1996. He explains the title of his book which is key to the nature of his poems. Mandrakes Round A Gibbet is, after all, literally a paradigm for his poems. My advice to the reader is to read carefully the paragraph in the first page of his book that explains mandrakes and gibbets (I had to look up "gibbet" among the other lore and legend references he uses in many of his poems). I suspect, Anthony is well-read. As to the poems, they are a refreshingly peculiar mix of haiku-tanka type forms strung together in an association with their titles. An example may give you an idea:
A FLY IN A WEB After people died I caught you watching,
There is something compelling in the stories within the poems, but, I find them neither haiku-like nor tanka-like. Perhaps, Anthony's work will foment another permutation on the forms? I speculate that with proper ground, maybe so. I encourage him. I suspect I just don't know enough of the author to give him more than a nudge. His poems, as I said, tell compelling stories that in itself says something.
Haiku and Tanka Harvest by Victor P. Gendrano. Published by Heritage Publishers, Lakewood , California , (2012).ISBN: 9781468017854 Victor P. Gendrano is a member of the Haiku Society of America , World Haiku Club, Tanka Society of America, and, the Anglo-Japanese Tanka Society. He has authored one other book, Rustle of bamboo leaves, selected haiku and other poems, 2005. Victor has a section in the HAIKU chapter called "HOW I WRITE HAIKU AND OTHER POEMS", that I found a personable insight into his process. There is a similar section for the TANKA, too, that I found equally informative. A multi-lingual section: MULTI-LINGUAL HAIKU, has English, Spanish, and Filipino (tagalog), although this is a relatively small section. I would like to see more. His poetry in the book is collected between the years 2006-2011; and, he has used throughout the book, samples of his photo haiga (crediting the photographers) from the present back to 2000. Each and every poem is accompanied by a reference to the publication in which it was previously published. I generally agree with Susumu Takiguchi in the first chapter's introduction that Victor is something of a quiet observer, but, I must add there is a melancholy woven in the fabric of Victor's words, as example: alone Even in his use the other forms, haiga and tanka, there is a blue note. An example of this in one his haiga/tanka: spring time As in the introduction to the tanka section by Marjorie A. Buettner, I agree with her that his tanka internal and emotive. I consider his book a fine and informative read.
Connections to this World by Jamese Fowler. Edited by Leah Maines. Published by Finishing Line Press, Georgetown, Kentucky 40324 The author, Jim Fowler, is retired Navy and has a master's degree in Environmental Science from Antioch University New England. He teaches privately at the Village Square Booksellers (I assume is in Georgetown, Kentucky) and has written a role-playing fantasy five book story, "The Silenian Wars.” I feel that the author, James Fowler, has a world of experience and presents these concisely in his haibun, which follows a style reminiscent of Master Basho. The little slices of his life relate to his "world" which includes his veteran experiences in Viet Nam as well as his current life. His haibun is written in a well crafted style that tends to bring you into the scene, demanding a reread to get between-the-lines nuances. One of his small poems at the end of the book struck me as perhaps an insight to the tone and mood of his book: the rain-line This is warrior's poetry.
breath by Sandra Simpson. All photographs and poems by Sandra Simpson. Published by Piwakawaka Press, Tauranga, 2011. In the introduction she explains her approach to haiku being as "single-breath poems" (her quotes). Her poems adhere to this approach throughout her collection. She goes on to say she feels that poets writing this style hope that their words will "disappear" (her quotes) so the reader will also experience a moment of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. I feel her poems very successful at this. "breath" is arranged in the traditional way of grouping poems by the standard four seasons, although, she feels she pays tribute to the majesty of life on Earth by photos of tree leaves and branches marking the beginning of each season section. Photos of wildlife and nature are also interspersed throughout the book. She mostly uses a seasonal reference in her poems, and, sometimes arranges her words in a novel way: frog frog She also uses notes occasionally at the bottom of a page to explain some regional or national reference: pausing also Matai - Prumnopitys taxifolia or black pine. The Haiku refers to Hinehopu's Tree near Lake Rotoiti. I found, these notes provide information, but, tend to be a bit sparse, leaving, the reader to further explore to get the full meaning. I would have preferred to just decide to "google" "matai" on my own. In this age of almost limited instant access to encyclopedic information, notes of this nature are a bit hard to let the words, "disappear" as the author desires (although, this only a minor nit considering her success at other poems). Eventhough, she doesn't explain it, most of her regional references are about New Zealand as I deduced from her bio at the end of the book. As such, I believe the traditional seasons may not be "traditional" events readily interpreted by non-New Zealanders. An example of one of her poems that gave to me a word-disappearing moment of the ordinary transmuted to the extraordinary was a "winter" (my quotes) poem: rain and more rain All-in-all her book, appropriately short (resonates nicely with the haiku-style), was delightful to read.
Biglisanje / Song Of A Nightingale by Stjepan Rozic. Edited and translated by Durda Vukelic Rozic. Illustrated by Ljubomir Radovancevic. Photography by Stjepan Rozic. Published by "Otok Ivanic", 2010. The author, Stjepan Rozic, is a lifelong resident of the town of Ivanic-Grad where he was born in 1946. His profession was electrician, but, retired after 40 years. He has interests in music, photography, and poetry. He is a father as well as a grandfather. He has been writing haiku-like poems since 1996 in Croatian and Kajkavian dialect. He has published one other collection, besides, Song of the Nightingale; and, has contributed to three collections with other authors. CONTENTS (my grouping, although retaining the original book order): Biglisanje / Song of a Nightingale Review by Klaus-Dieter Wirth The next sections are a collection of reviews (in Croatian with English translations) by: Sasa Vazic, Eduard Tara, Darrell Lindsay, and Zinovy Vayman. The last group of sections include the biography, a list of awards, internet links, the author's gratitude, and a bio on the illustrator. As to the poems, some poems, I felt, used mild personification. Examples: daybreak among bare boughs Although, most poems, I would consider traditionally using season words and phrases along with similar traditional approaches as to structure and form. This was very pleasing to me, because, I enjoy the traditional approach to haiku/hokku - like poems. I also enjoyed the senryu section. The book was interspersed with black and white illustrations of what I would call "kanji-like abstracts" (my quotes) sumi-e as well as black and white photo haiga. As I've said in other reviews, I do enjoy books of poems with multiple languages (in this case, Croatian with English translations).
This book is a collection written in both Romanian and English. I, as a reviewer, do not read or write Romanian; and, as such, limited to only reading the English translations. It is encouraging to see a multi-lingual book on short poetry (especially those containing short poetry base on the Japanese haiku tenets). I know little of the author, save, what I have read as a biography included in the book. In summary, Oprica Padeanu, is an author of several poetry and prose books within the genre of Japanese poetry. Books to her credit are Dragonfly's Play and Blackbird's Song as well as a forthcoming tanka book, Mother's Smile. She has contributed to magazines, anthologies, and contests in Romania as well as abroad. Cantecul Mierlei * Blackbird's Song is divided into 4 sections, roughly corresponding to the seasons ("Clinchet de Muguri * Tinkling Buds", "Umbrele Verii * Summer Shadows", "Licurici si Greieri * Fireflies and Crickets", and "Panza de Paiarjer * Cobweb") and features 2 haiku on each page, the poems appearing in Romanian and English. A few examples of Oprica's poems (one from each "season"): Casa natala- Native house – ----------------------------------- Buchet de iasomie, Bunch of jasmine ----------------------------------- Linistea noptii – The night silence – ------------------------------------- Turturi la geam- Icicles at the window – (translations as appear in the book) In a short review about the book from the New Zealand Poetry Society, there is concern about the English translations (ref. http://www.poetrysociety.org.nz/node/530 ). Although, I feel this a general concern about translating poetry from the original language to any other language(s). As an introduction to each section, there is an ink drawing depicting a scene associated with the "season". On the back cover is reference to an email: verus@clicknet.ro and a site www.verus.com.ro where more information on the author and the book may be obtained. I enjoyed reading the poems, and, could at times get the notion of matching the Romanian to the English with similar "root words.” Many of the poems seemed a bit "formalistic,” but, admittedly, short poetry, has by its nature has a limited short-long-short set of variations. I think the author successful in conveying sincere feelings in her poetry in her book.
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENTS
Atlas Poetica Announces ‘Snipe Rising from a Marsh’ Special Feature About the editor: M. Kei,
I hope 2012 is off to a great start for you. It's been a busy one for the press, as is usual at this time of year, but we've managed to pull together another Red Moon Anthology in our usual timing. carving darkness: The Red Moon Anthology of English-Language Haiku 2011 is now available on the website. Just go to www.redmoonpress.com and you'll see it's the first selection at the top of the page. I wanted to let you know about a few other books we released late in 2011 that might have not caught your attention during the holidays, but which I think you'll find worth your notice. Something old: Those of us who go back a couple (or three) decades in haiku remember the striking work of Bob Boldman. RMP released a selection of his work called everything i touch, which we hope introduces Bob to an entirely new generation of haiku poets and enthusiasts. You'll be amazed at how contemporary his work remains, and will also get an idea of where some of today's most interesting directions first came from. A couple somethings new: New books by outstanding contemporary haiku poets Allan Burns—distant virga, his first full-length collection—and Paul Miller—few days north days few, his second collection with RMP—will convince you haiku is in good hands. Allan, you will recall, edited the exquisite Montage: The Book for The Haiku Foundation, and Paul is shortly to become editor of Modern Haiku, so both continue to work for haiku at large as well as towards their own practice. Also a couple somethings borrowed—from the Japanese: Turquoise Milk, a selection of haiku by Ban'ya Natsuishi from his 25-year career and from more than 20 previous books, will provide you with the entire range of his oeuvre, including all the high spots that have so charged and polarized haiku east and west in the last few years. And our second (of four) volumes on the haiku and world contribution of Kaneko Tohta, an extended essay called The Future of Haiku (which pretty much says it all), is now available in translation by the Kon Nichi Translation Group, led by Richard Gilbert. And sadly, too much something blue: postscript volumes honoring three major figures who have passed from among us in the recent days and weeks: phosphorescence (Peggy Willis Lyles), raking aside leaves (H. F. Noyes) and never really mine (Jan Bostok). You'll find all these and many more on the site. And of course we have other things on the way: contemporary haibun volume 13 will appear in april, and collections of haiku (Mark Harris), haibun (Steven Carter), a haiku novel (David G. Lanoue) and haiku in translation (the first of two volumes of Kaneko Tohta's Selected Haiku covering the early years) will all make their appearance by June. We know you'll find something you like, so come take a look when you can. Thanks, and take care. Jim Kacian
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BOOK REVIEWS Breasts of Snow -- Fumiko Nakajo: Her tanka and her life. Translated by Hatsue Kawamura And Jane Reichhold. Tokyo, Japan. The Japan Times, Ltd. [2004] Soft cover 15x21cm.152 pages. ￥2,000 ISBN4-7890-1161-5. Available from AHA Books. HOSHIJO - ROKKA by Konno Mari, , Snow Crystal * Star-shaped, Amelia Fielden: English, Zvaigznveida sniega kristals, Victor Kravcenko, Liga Busevica: Latvian, plus CD of Sinobue flute composed and performed by Akihiro Hara, book publisher, Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd., 2-3-3 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8078, Japan. ISBN 978-4-04-652281-8 C0092 Mandrakes Round A Gibbet by Anthony Knight. (self published 2011, contact knight.pages@hotmail.co.uk for copies). Haiku and Tanka Harvest by Victor P. Gendrano. Published by Heritage Publishers, Lakewood , California , (2012).ISBN: 9781468017854 Connections to this World by Jamese Fowler. Edited by Leah Maines. Published by Finishing Line Press, Georgetown, Kentucky 40324 breath by Sandra Simpson. All photographs and poems by Sandra Simpson. Published by Piwakawaka Press, Tauranga, 2011. Biglisanje / Song Of A Nightingale by Stjepan Rozic. Edited and translated by Durda Vukelic Rozic. Illustrated by Ljubomir Radovancevic. Photography by Stjepan Rozic. Published by "Otok Ivanic", 2010. Cantecul Mierlei * Blackbird's Song, Haiku by Oprica Padeanu. Translated to English by Vasile Moldovan. Edited by Tatiana Barbuccanu. Published by Verus, Bucharest, Romania, 2011. BOOK ANNOUNCEMENTS The Window That Closes The Little Book of Yotsumonos by John E. Carley with six other poets from Darlington Richards Press, publishers of Journal of Renga & Renku. Atlas Poetica : A Journal of Poetry of Place in Contemporary Tanka announces the Snipe Rising from a Marsh edited by Rodney Williams of Australia. Carving Darkness: The Red Moon Anthology of English-Language Haiku 2011 is now available on the website www.redmoonpress.com |
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Back issues of Lynx:
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Next Lynx is scheduled for October 2012.
Send to: Werner@WernerReichhold.com | ||||
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In conjunction with National Poetry Month in April, Turtle Light Press is releasing a new collection of haiku by Nick Virgilio, one of the most beloved haiku poets in the country.