Just
Enough Light is another beautifully crafted limited
edition produced by Giselle Mayas Koyama Press. This
oversize book is a visual delightthe flecked interior
papers hand-tied with linen thread to a cream cover of heavily
textured handmade paper. Lithographs by Louis Fulconis and
Aisha and calligraphy by Shunkei Yahagi complement the poems.
The generous spacing of June Moreaus thirty-four haiku
and twelve tanka one to three per page allows the reader
to enter and savor each poem on its own. Moreau is a poet
who observes with care, treads lightly, and seeks solace
in the natural world. Even the less interesting poems are
fine examples of shasei (sketch from life):
winter
solstice
in a bush with red berries
a cardinal
At
their best, however, Moreaus haiku subtly demonstrate
the aesthetic characteristics of the Japanese classical
masters:
sabi
(beauty tinged with loneliness)
after
the tea ceremony
the deep purple
of the morning glory
wabi
(austerity):
almost
winter
just enough warmth in the barn
for a cricket to sing
and
yûgen (mystery):
summer
ending
only the scarecrow knows
how many stars there are
Above
all, June Moreaus haiku capture the interconnectedness
of human beings and the natural world with deep reverence,
lightness of touch, and sureness of language.
|