My dear followers,
It is with great pleasure that we bring to you the full cover design of Petals of Haiku: An Anthology, a superb book that Literary Revelations plans to release mid to late May 2024. We are humbled by your submissions. Over 150 poets are included in this anthology and we are profoundly grateful to the award winning Japanese painter Hikari whose art work is phenomenal, as well as to the award winning Japanese photographer, Naoki Kimura who provided the background photo.
We are also proud of the wonderful and innovative cover design, done by Iuliana Irimia, a young and talented artist, based in Montreal, Canada. Iuliana worked with Hikari’s beautiful cover art and the end result is a gorgeous marriage between Hikari’s Japanese art and Iuliana’s Western take on the conceptualizing of haiku. This marriage is highly reflected in the haiku included in this book.
A Few Words about the Anthology
Petals of Haiku is not just an anthology that Literary Revelations is proud to publish. It’s a masterpiece that encapsulates the essence of haiku poetry like never before. The spectacular haiku writers featured in this collection bring to life the delicacy of seasons and the profound range of human emotions, from joy to grief, in a way that is both delightful and deeply moving.
The art on the cover by award-winning painter Hikari sets the tone for what awaits inside – a world where words dance off the page and into your heart. The background photo by award-winning Japanese photographer Naoki Kimura adds another layer of beauty to this already exquisite collection.
A few words about Japanese haiku
Before Literary Revelations publishes the anthology I want to share with you several thoughts advanced by Westerns and Asian scholars on haiku. The traditional haiku form is one thing, 5-7-5 syllables and it is generally known by all writers of haiku. However, most importantly for Literary Revelations is what we discovered in the haiku included in our collection. That is to say how the poets included in the anthology expressed their feelings and how haiku evolved since its inception to the present.
As Bruce Ross argues in the The Essence of Haiku (Modern Haiku, 2007), “affective feeling generated through the absolute metaphor of haiku became associated with different kinds of aesthetic values in traditional Japanese haiku. Mono no aware, “the pathos of things,” is an overall term for how one is affected by things. Other aesthetic values in haiku include wabi, “simplicity,” sabi, “metaphysical loneliness,” and yûgen, “mystery.” Contrary to Western poetics (aside from Romanticism), for example, Oriental (sic!) poetry and poetics was centered upon such states of affective feeling…. So rather than being a senseless thing, a flower in a given context could radiate affective feeling for the Japanese haiku poet not as symbol, but as an existentially valid presence.”
The last sentence here is of great importance. Symbolists will disagree that a flower is a senseless thing. However, they will argue that the symbol behind the flower is magic and meaningful; the real flower is just “charming.” Yet, this does not mean that symbolists cannot understand or feel what haiku transmits. Poetry is art and as Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson claims art “helps us identify with one another and expands our notion of we—from the local to the global.” One can go ahead and look at the work of scholars who study the neuroplasticity of the brain and decide for himself/herself.
Bruce Ross continues, “It should be noted, additionally, that the “feeling” in haiku is usually not the demonstrative emotion of Western poetry. Haiku is not used to express strong emotions, which are usually reserved for tanka. Rather it is a mode of receptive feeling between a poet and his natural subject, even though the poet’s emotional climate often affects and even directs his/her relation to the subject.”
While the first part of the paragraph is clear the second claim appears questionable. If the emotional climate affects and directs the relationship to the subject is then the flower only “an existentially valid presence”?
One way or another Bruce Ross’ essay is extremely valuable. You can find it here
Again, we are thrilled to release the gorgeous cover and we hope you enjoy it.
Gabriela Marie Milton
author, editor, publisher
This cover is an absolutely gorgeous work of art, Gabriela! Kudos to you, Hikari, and Naoki Kimura. So proud to have a few of my haikus included. Can’t wait to read all of them! 👏👏👏
Good morning Patrick. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words and support. I am hoping that you were going to like it. I am honored to have you with us.
Great! Congratulations!
Thank you so very much!
Your welcome
xoxo
The cover looks great! I like that you are having people learn more about the origins of Haiku poetry.
I am glad you enjoyed the cover and my few thoughts about haiku. Thank you!
Beautiful cover. I believe the haikus are equally beautiful. Blessings to you🙏💫
Thank you from the bottom of my heart dearest Susana. Blessings to you too!
I love the cover, and I love haikus, too! 🩷🌷
Thank you so much dear Kymber.
A wonderful cover, and I’m thrilled by the contributions of the artists. Your thoughts on haiku are welcome. The artform is simultaneously simple and complex, and when a poem resonates, it’s something special. I’m looking forward to reading and delighted to be included in the collection.
Thank you so much Diana. I am thrilled to have you with us.
“The artform is simultaneously simple and complex, and when a poem resonates, it’s something special.” Beautifully expressed! I really hope you will love the collection.
<3
xoxo
The cover looks amazing 💕
Aw… thank you so much!!!
My pleasure 🤗
xoxo
A magnificent work of art!
I am so glad you think so Dawn.
The cover is lovely. I’m looking forward to what’s inside too.
Thank you so much Mary dear. Enjoy the rest of the day!
Awesome!
Thank you dear Amita.
Looks amazing, Gabriela! Well done and congratulations. The text is brilliant too.
Thank you so much David. You have a heart of gold.
You are so kind, Gabriela, thank you.
My pleasure David.
The cover looks absolutely fantastic!
Thank you so much hon. I am glad you like it.
My pleasure.
The artwork is delicate and finely detailed, just like a flower. I am thrilled to be part of this exciting project.
Thank you so much hon. I am glad you enjoy the cover!
Beautiful cover!
Thank you so much!
I am so excited about this!
Thank you Nicole. So am I
xoxo
What a stunning cover and I know the haiku within will reflect the glorious introduction of it by the cover.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words. They made my evening!
Gabriela, you are very welcome <3
xoxo
stellar indeed. A world of congratulations. And thank you so much. xoxo
My pleasure dear Selma and thank you so much!