Koozhankarkal Paadukindrana - S.Ramakrishnan ( கூழாங்கற்கள் பாடுகின்றன )

This book is a good introduction for anyone who wants to know about "Haiku" poetries. As usual the author S. Ramakrishnan did a wonderful job in explaining the various aspects of Haiku.

"ஜென் கவிதைகள் இயற்கையைக் கடந்த காலத்தில் வைத்துப் பார்ப்பதில்லை . நாம் ஒரு மலையை ,அருவியைச் சந்திக்கும்போது இந்தக் கணம் என்ற மட்டுமே நம்மோடு இருக்கிறது . அருவிக்குக் கடந்த காலம் நிகழ்காலம் எதிர்காலம் யாவும் இக்கனமாகவே வெளிப்படுகிறது .அதைத்தான் ஜென் கவிதைகள் தன் கவிதைக் காலமாக முன்வைக்கின்றன ."

The author introduces and explains the aspects of the following Haiku writers :

1. Basho
2. Ryokan
3. Issa
4. Li Bai
5. Ikkyu

The author beautifully highlights how different poets use frog,moon,thief,butterfly and winter season as a metaphor in Haiku poems. The interesting aspect of this book is the way the author compares those famous Haiku poems with our own poets like Devathachan and Premil.

Personally I came to know about Haiku poems only in 2007, previously I heard about it but I did not know much about it. I started reading Basho some years back but I did not understand the deeper meanings of many of the poems so I registered in a haiku forum where people published their haiku poems and discussed about the master poets poems. I learnt a bit from the forum.  I believe understanding these master's poem's will teach to you to appreciate nature and life as a whole.

 This book is only 79 pages, a good introduction to these lovely poetry form.