The Horse’s Haiku

From the field to the stable and from riding to rest, Michael Rosen captures what it is to be a horse in the haiku poetry of The Horse’s haiku. There are three sections each marked by a heading or title to the following haikus. Each one talks about horses, what it does and the surrounding things and places. The way the poems are formatted makes the story flow. This prose poetry after a while stops being “poems” and becomes just another horse tale.

Stan Fellows illustrations are fluid and have a poetic flow as well. Realistic with a hint of otherness make them compliment the text. Colors are vibrant and soft at the same time. Truly a story within themselves, this art could be framed. Fans of horses or good art will enjoy them.

If you are not a fan of poetry or the haiku in general, that is fine. As mentioned, the story becomes a traditional story without the usual breaks individual poems can create. While set up in the haiku form, the rhythm just helps one to move onto the next part of the story.

As always who to recommend this book to comes to mind. The obvious answers are people who like horses and poetry. However, I would like to see this break out of the norm and become a gift for a new baby, a baby shower or even the first birthday. The adult reader would more likely have to fit into the more traditional setting of horse or poetry lover. However, the person who collects art and picture books would also work.