Haiku Rhapsodies (verses From Ghana) [Paperback]

Haiku as a poetry genre originated in Japan in the 17th Century, and is traditionally written in three lines of 5-7-5 syllabic arrangement. Over the years, this form has evolved into 3-5-3 syllabic arrangement and yet still into a three line form; short, long, short. Haiku in its simplest definition records a delightful and short moment in nature. A moment as short as the sound of a pebble falling into a pond. This definition posits the brevity and compactness of this genre. But though quite short, there lies a moment of aha which leaves a lasting impression on the mind of the reader. Haiku as a genre is less known on the Ghanaian literary landscape. Against this background, the publication of HAIKU RHAPSODIES, (verses from Ghana) by Celestine Nudanu is very timely and historic. HAIKU RHAPSODIES explores a field where no Ghanaian poet has ever published in hard print. Hence Celestine Nudanu's work distinguishes her as a trailblazer among her contemporaries. And most notably HAIKU RHAPSODIES comes in at the opportune time to answer the world call for haiku to be added to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. HAIKU RHAPSODIES is a finely structured book arranged under the following themes; Afriku, Nature, Haiku My Heart, the Divine and Death. Through these themes, Celestine Nudanu succeeds in transporting the reader into her world by creating animated, serene and yet powerful scenes. At the same time, the poet draws the reader into the complex yet fascinating phenomena of what life is all about; Love, Death, Spirituality and Life itself. The beauty lies in her skill of brevity as a haiku poet. She writes with elegance, using few words which like magic are enchanting, leaving the reader exhilarated and wanting more. Under the first theme Afriku, (haiku with an African flavour) the verses vary in colour and taste, presenting a rich and yet delicate balance with strong sights and sounds peculiar to the African setting. The haiku below describes a very common scene.l³;