When I first read the chapters from Shirane's book, I was surprised to discover how the English idea of haiku as individual three-line poems completely misses the complexity and interconnectedness of haiku and related forms. Both the historical communities like Basho's circle and modern connections like the poetry produced by Machi Tawara and her readers are so impactful because of how contextual they are. Given the importance of this aspect of haiku, I am excited to discuss how haiku can be translated in a way that honors its collective elements and connections to other poets past and present. I was especially intrigued by how haiku and tanka are presented as one or two lines, with some amount of variation. I'd be interested to see translations that embrace the fluidity of the original form and can in some way bring through the meaning that is created by its ties to classical texts and other poets.
Grace Ashton
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