Haiku: Bless You

Abstract

Born of the Japanese tradition, haiku capitalizes on the depth and universal scope of fundamental images (fire, water, vegetation, the seasons, celestial bodies) to make her the property of the world. The following treatment traces the ancestry of haiku, investigates the literary techniques she draws upon and explores the underlying aesthetics which sustain the form, to increase understanding and appreciation of the genre. Having thus established the backdrop, the final chapter illustrates the all-encompassing sweep of haiku through the selection of just one of the basic symbols: water.