Kakos 501 More Haiku Poems


Poetry - General
166 Pages
Reviewed on 09/03/2018
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Kakos 501 More Haiku Poems by Kakos Kakos is the author's second compilation of structured poetry, preceded by Kakos 401 Haiku Poems. Written in the traditional Japanese style of three verses and seventeen syllables (in lines of five, seven, and five again), Kakos presents the poetry in a style of creative organization that carries as well as the verses themselves; displayed “into a sequential order with an alphabetical index of” the first line. He further emphasizes how his poems will be best understood with insight into the context and symbolism of each line. “Love is within you; It spreads by itself; Once your heart lights it.”

Kakos 501 More Haiku Poems is a beautiful book that was absolutely lovely to read and just as wonderful when shared with a group of friends over tea. Kakos writes with elegance and authority in a stream of poetry that encourages thought and reflection on topics ranging from life and death, to politics and war. Kakos has served in the US military and many of his experiences are mirrored in his writing and, for me, these were the verses that were the most poignant. My favorite is a poem that – like the best Haiku – is powerful not just in light of its simplicity, but because of its simplicity. “Life glows in a cave; Worship it forever; Else its light ebbs.” I'd recommend this book to all who appreciate the writing of a skilled poet, and anyone who enjoys the purity of classical poetry with relatable, contemporary themes.

Mamta Madhavan

In this collection of poems, Kàkos 501 More Haiku Poems by Kakós Kàkos, poetry lovers get a blend of Greek and Japanese ways of expression, which gives them a unique spiritual experience. The poet is originally from Greece and he infuses the traditional form of haiku poetry into his writing, leaving readers with a very different form of poetry and aestheticism. The poet enthralls readers with his haiku, even though the constraints of writing haiku have always been difficult for a Western writer. Displayed in sequential order, this collection is a feast for any poetry aficionado; especially those who like the minimalist way of expressing their thoughts.

The haiku poems in the book are interesting and engaging, and they capture diverse emotions and feelings with just the right amount of words that makes it very effective. Readers will want to read these haiku many times to get the underlying thoughts and expressions of the author and what he meant. The black and white pictures go well with the words and highlight the author’s aesthetic way of looking at life and his surroundings. Haiku poetry is profound, crisp, and minimalist, effectively saying a lot in those three lines. It is not an easy form to master as each line explores the nuances of life in a beautiful way. For all those who are into poetry writing, this form is a 'must try' as it knits together a statement, emotion, and spiritualism in three lines, making it a challenging form to experiment with.