The Scare Crow

The Scare Crow, A Collection of Haiku and Senryu, edited and compiled by Leroy kanterman, is our Book of the Week. Leroy’s selection includes works from the old masters, as well as by contemporary English language haiku poets, and shows the range and diversity of treatments possible for a single, defined subject when approached through the haiku lens. A special introduction to scarecrows as practical objects, and as objects of art, by John Stevenson rounds out the contents of this 1999 themed collection from Red Moon Press.
At the end of the book, you can read Ruth Latta’s essay “Farewell to the Scarecrow”, a plea that this venerable poetic symbol be retired, with honour, from the field of modern poetry.

a scream
in the scarecrow’s mouth
of winter wind
–William K. Ramsey

 

the full moon
stoically
the scarecrow stands
–Issa

 

spring storm
the scarecrow’s hat
off with the birds
–Ernest J. Berry

You can read the entire book in the THF Digital Library.

Do you have a chapbook published 2010 or earlier you would like featured as a Book of the Week? Contact us for details.

Haiku featured in the Book of the Week Archive are selected by THF Digital Librarian Garry Eaton, and are used with permission.