Not an original haiku this time, but I have to mention this beautiful, lyrical picture book. Today and Today, haiku by Issa, illustrated by G. Brian Karas tells the story of an ordinary family throughout one year. In the artist's note, G. Brian Karas notes that he selected 18 of Issa's (Kobayashi Yataro 1763-1828) poems to tell this story.
What the artist hopes we take away from this book is that even the ordinary moments are extraordinary. TI'll warn you that this is a bit a tear-jerker, but what a lovely way to describe the last year in someone's life. Two children, two parents, and a grandfather garden, fly kites, splash in puddles, and blow dandelion seeds. No doctors, pills, or hospitals are mentioned, rather the lovely, insignificant things that make up a life. One might be reminded of Emily's heart-wrenching speech from Our Town.
"Good-bye , Good-bye world. Good-bye, Grover's Corners....Mama and Papa. Good-bye to clocks ticking....and Mama's sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new ironed dresses and hot baths....and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth,you are too wonderful for anybody to realize you. "
