Episode Details

In addition to being what is probably the most widely used poetic form, haiku is almost certainly the most often misunderstood. In this episode, Jacke examines the life and works of Matsuo Bashō (1644-1694), haiku's greatest master, as he sorts through his thoughts on the uses (and potential misuses) of the haiku form. What makes much of it so bad? And how does that differ from what is truly great?

Additional listening suggestions:

• 62 Bad Poetry
• 7A Proust, Pound, and Chinese Poetry
• 312 Yukio Mishima
• 423 Roger Ebert

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