Abstract
Richard Wright, author of Black Boy and Native Son, was living in exile in Paris and facing death when he began to write haiku. So deep was his connection and so strong his commitment to the form that he composed over four thousand verses during the final eighteen months of his life. In the "mathematical" syllable count of haiku he found an emotional net, and in the deep connection with nature a mirror for the seasons of the soul. According to his daughter Julia, who introduces Haiku: This Other World, his haiku were "self-developed antidotes against illness" and his "breaking down words into syllables matched the shortness of his breath." She says she read the following haiku at his funeral:
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
