Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827), along with Bashō and Buson, is considered one of the three greatest haiku poets of Japan, known for his attention to poignant detail and playful sense of humor. Issa's most beloved work, The Spring of My Life, is an autobiographical sketch of linked prose and haiku in the tradition of Bashō's celebrated Narrow Road to the Interior. This edition also includes more than 160 of Issa's most revered haiku and an introduction that provides essential background on Issa's life as well as valuable information on translating (and reading) haiku.

This book is part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series.

The Shambhala Pocket Library is a collection of short, portable teachings from notable figures across religious traditions and classic texts. The covers in this series are rendered by Colorado artist Robert Spellman. The books in this collection distill the wisdom and heart of the work Shambhala Publications has published over 50 years into a compact format that is collectible, reader-friendly, and applicable to everyday life.