Winner of the 2008 Ginyu Prize for outstanding contribution to international haiku.

"Jim Kacian has been exploring a new way of haiku with a skilled ear and open mind for more than 25 years, and has considered thoroughly its implications. Haiku is the briefest genre in contemporary literature, short enough to graze non-existence. One aspect of poetic power involves the writer’s skill in revealing just how little of reality there is clinging to words—how little is necessary to create a multi-dimensional cosmos. Here in these pages, despite a seeming objectivity, it is mystery that remains.

These seven cycles of 17 haiku present an extension of the lineage of that genre which began with the Imagists and runs through Stevens and Williams, Eluard and Paz, and incorporates both the Beats and the Language poets, while fully cognizant of the century-old dialogue with the Japanese tradition, ancient and modern. What is perhaps exclusive here is the incorporation of the 20th century modern, rather than its rejection. For decades now, the majority of published haiku have followed a reductive formula related to objective realism (Japanese critic Hasegawa Kai refers to such work as “garakuta (junk) haiku”), disallowing metaphor, the surreal, disjunct paradox, etc. These novel incorporations help elevate these poems here to art, and bring much-needed innovation to the genre.

This is not just innovation for innovation’s sake, but innovation with return; innovation in service of return. A turning, for instance, once again to nature; and again, treating the nature of the poem as an inhabitation.” Richard Gilbert, author of Poems of Consciousness

ISBN: 9788889618585
Pages: 178
Size: 7.5" x 4.125"
Binding: perfect softbound

"Jim Kacian is a central figure in the genre of American haiku. As founder of Red Moon Press, Kacian has spearheaded the global haiku movement for more than two decades. An internationally acclaimed poet, Kacian's innovative haiku have received honor after honor for the past 30 years. The poems in long after, a haunting haiku sonata set to the stages of grief, meet the high standard we have come to expect of his work. The Italian and German translations in long after underscore his longstanding commitment to make haiku a universal spoken language.” Roberta Beary, author of The Unworn Necklace

"Jim Kacian è una figura centrale nel genere haiku americano. Fondatore della Red Moon Press, Kacian è stato la punta di lancia del movimento haiku globale per più di due decenni. Acclamato poeta a livello internazionale, gli haiku innovativi di Kacian hanno ricevuto onori su onori negli ultimi trent'anni. Le poesie in long after, una sonata haiku indimenticabile sugli stadi del dolore, raggiungono in pieno gli alti standard che siamo abituati ad attenderci dal suo lavoro. Le traduzioni italiane e tedesche in long after sottolineano il suo impegno di lunga data per fare dell'haiku una lingua universale.” Roberta Beary, author of The Unworn Necklace

"Jim Kacian ist eine Zentralfigur im Genre des amerikanischen Haiku. Als Gründer des Red Moon-Verlags hat Kacian die weltweite Haikubewegung über mehr als zwei Jahrzehnte lang angeführt. Ein international hoch gelobter Poet, Kacian's innovative Haiku haben zahlreiche Ehrungen in den letzten 30 Jahren erhalten. Die Gedichte in lange danach, eine unvergessliche Haiku-Sonate gesetzt um die Stadien der Trauer, erfüllen die hohen Standards, die wir mittlerweile von seinem Werk erwarten. Die italienischen und deutschen Übersetzungen in "lange danach" unterstreichen sein langfristiges Bemühen, das Haiku zu einer universell gesprochenen Sprache zu machen.” Roberta Beary, autor von The Unworn Necklace