pick#ANewChapter Day 17: This book is a labour of love. It is seen from Setsuo Yazaki‘s initial quest to find out more about the very elusive Misuzu Kaneko – this, after #falling in love with her poems – to the painstaking and very deliberate selection of her poetry positioned throughout the retelling of her life story narrative. There is a quiet to the story that allowed Misuzu‘s voice to come forth through her verse. https://wp.me/pDlzr-ek2
pickI appreciate the beauty and story of this book, but I didn‘t really enjoy it, if that makes sense. It is tragic that this poet was almost lost to the ages; it is tragic that she had such a sad, short life. But although this is lovely to look at, the poetry didn‘t do much for me (which could arguably be a translation issue), and I can‘t think of a kid who would choose to read this. Three and a half stars.
What a sad life, and such a beautiful poetry!
My student Michiko here in Shimo-Kitazawa, Tokyo brought this poem to class, which had been printed in the newspaper, and read it to us in English. I'd never heard of Misuzu Kaneko before. Who knew sardines could inspire?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misuzu_Kaneko#
pickWhat a delightful collection of poems!
This is my choice for the @bookriot #readharderchallenge poetry in translation on a subject other than love. The author of these poems only lived to be 26. After she divorced her husband he wanted custody of their children and she committed suicide in protest of that. Her poems were lost for many years, then a man was interested and made contact with her younger brother, then 77. He shared his sister's poems and we now have this collection.
Are You an Echo?: The Lost Poetry of Misuzu Kaneko | 
