I recently came across this book that I just had to share.

It's a modern translation of classic haiku poems by four great masters, complete with the original Japanese and phonetic transcription. The stunning artwork and photography accompanying each entry adds an extra dimension to the experience.

What I found particularly amazing was the brief history of the original masters and the explanations of certain words, which made it easier to understand and truly enhanced my enjoyment. The only thing I wished for was a clearer separation between the poets. Other than that, this book is absolutely fabulous.
I highly recommend it to anyone with an appreciation for poetry and art.

There’s one enemy to haiku translation that ruins everything special of the form: overcrowding. Be it making the translations into four lines for some reason, or choose anything but concise wording, betraying the original brevity of haikus makes for the most terrible reading experience. Thankfully, Hart Larrabee is a translator who respects, and clearly loves, this wonderful Japanese poetry, for he seeks the simplest expression within three lines, and does a beautiful job of rendering these small poems in all their loving outlook on the delightful moments in life, with the keenness of observations preserved in a timeless voice.

This edition presents a bite-sized encyclopaedic entry-like information on haiku and the four poets translated by Larrabee; but also what is perhaps the most exciting part of the book: the Japanese originals of the haikus as well as their transliteration on the same page as the translation! This offers the chance to experience the sound of the originals, which is a rare opportunity especially for languages with non-Latin alphabets.

Additionally, there are images thematically corresponding to the haikus, offering a more immersive reading experience. I especially loved how, for Bashō’s poem about cherry blossoms being in every food item when you sit below the tree, the petals were made to cross beyond the illustration page and onto the haiku page — the sweet sense of humour, akin to that found in Bashō’s works, put a smile on my face.

This would be a perfect edition to read either on a spring picnic, or cosied up beneath a blanket, preferably with a cat curled in your lap — ideal for when you need to be cheered up by the beauties of our world.