Haiku ? seventeen-syllable poems that evoke worlds despite their brevity ? have captivated Japanese readers since the seventeenth century. Today the form is practiced worldwide and has become established as part of our common global heritage. This handy pocket-sized volume presents modern English translations of classic poems by the four great masters of Japanese haiku ? Matsuo Basho, Yosa Buson, Kobayashi Issa, and Masaoka Shiki ? accompanied by both the original Japanese and a phonetic transcription, and a photograph or artwork highlighting or echoing the poem's theme. With a timeless design, Haiku is an expert introduction and celebration of one of the most beautiful and accessible forms of poetry in the world.