The Art of Reading & Writing Haiku A Reader Response Approach

The Art of Reading and Writing Haiku: A Reader Response Approach features the creative work of Millikin University students -- both original haiku and their reading responses to haiku. Over the last 20 years I have been gathering and saving some of the best haiku and reading responses for this collection. All of the haiku in this collection have been included because one of my students loved it. This book is organized into chapters that correspond to the progression of the course on Global Haiku Traditions at Millikin University. The book begins with readings of contemporary haiku from Mayfly magazine. Then I introduce the process of kukai, in which students read anonymous haiku by each other and discuss favorites. Early in the semester we read and discuss the selected haiku of several outstanding contemporary English-language authors including Peggy Lyles, Wally Swist and George Swede. We also read selected haiku by contemporary Japanese author, Masajo Suzuki. The fifth chapter introduces haiku poetics and the matching contest process. There are two chapters on student responses to the variety of voices evident in contemporary haiku anthologies. Chapters 9 and 10 explore Japanese haiku aesthetics and the literary contributions of Matsuo Basho. The book ends with a chapter on collaborative lined verse by my students, final student collections, and reflections about the value of learning the art of reading and writing haiku.