The first half of the book is excellent! In the first half of Endless Helix, by Ban'ya Natsuishi of the World Haiku Association, he uses a series of haiku poems to unleash a menagerie of stimulants for the senses. He invokes sight and touch; also seeing, hearing, and tasting, with words such as "spreading of the fountain" to "noise of saw," then "rich colors of nothing," along with "sunflower fields," followed by "roar of laughter," and "peach tree in full bloom." The haiku selection paints life in various stages which positively impact the senses.
Understanding imagery is uplifting. The imagery he invokes in the mind of the reader is priceless. It also shows the quality of his poetic craft. For example, the contrasting of "rainbow and darkness," to "snow roots amidst jet-black mud," and "fog is the sigh of the sun," stretches the imagination and allows the mind to reach for new domain as if one is traveling the galaxy and exploring the Milky Way.
The second half of the book reaches out to the reader in many ways. In the second half of Endless Helix, Ban'ya uses dreams in a concrete manner to stimulate the mind. The figurative language of the wind as a metaphor could not shake his foundation as it blows through openings. This signifies strength to withstand the elements and the test of time. The flowing of water invokes cleansing and rebirth after an arduous journey, just like a newborn baby experiencing its first refreshing drips for cleansing. One is also able to understand the art of massage and meditation as captivating metaphors signifying peace.
During the finally section of the book, as he walks against the wind on a New York street, he reminds us of the golden fruit, angels, and God in his own style, while feeling the rays from the rising of the naked sun above the East River. What an awesome conclusion for this timeless haiku series! In a sense, it concludes like the Endless Helix, as it travels through time and space touching on generational lifelines. This is a great book for all readers and cultures. Ban'ya Natsuishi is located at: http://www.worldhaiku.net
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