Robert Hass's translations of these three great Haiku masters is wonderful. I just picked up my book again, and I found about 40 yellow stickies in it, pointing to my favorite poems. Here is my absolute all-time favorite:

Children imitating cormorants
are even more wonderful
than cormorants. ( )

This book features versions of about one hundred poems by each of three masters in haiku tradition, Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), Yosa Buson (1716-1783), and Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827). The introduction tells us that according to Japanese literary criticism, these three men represent three types of the poet. Basho is seen as the ascetic and seeker, Buson the artist, and Issa the humanist. The differences in each poet's style can be seen at a glance. This book contains interesting short biographies of each of the men as well as some of their prose and notes on the poems. There are a few interesting black and white illustrations throughout the book including some by Yosa Buson himself. The introduction by Robert Hass is a superb introduction to haiku itself.
These beautiful three line poems, located in Nature with their implied Buddhist reflection are each a meditation, a centering, and a crystalline moment of realization. Reading them has a way of bringing about calm and peace within the reader. The symbolism of the seasons and the Japanese habit of mind blend together in these poems to create an alchemy of reflection that is unsurpassed in literature. The exquisite skill of these three masters make their subject matter seem completely organic, without artifice. Each poem contains a unique "Ah!" experience because they pierce directly to the soul, activating the human capacity for seeing with a still mind and an observing heart.
If you are new to haiku this is a wonderful compendium of the best of the genre. If you are already a lover of haiku this book is a delightfully compact, essential package, a real treasure you are sure to enjoy again and again. ( )

A nicely composed anthology of the three most influential Haiku masters. The translations are very fluid for the most part. The short profiles and prose enhance the experience of reading each poet . A good introduction to haiku. ( )

Useful for reminding western readers that there are other great Japanese haiku writers beyond Basho ( )

Robert Hass has put together an excellent collection of traditional Japanese haiku. He has translated most of them quite well, and does an excellent job of describing their context and of selecting and ordering the poems. Buson is my favorite of the three Japanese poets presented -- he does an amazing job at imagery. Basho, to be honest, is not one of my favorite -- as one of the earliest haiku poets, he strikes me as having many good ideas, but not being quite so skilled at writing -- of course, to be fair, that's really hard to judge in translation. Issa has a nice light-hearted view of the world, but he also seems to be less skilled in description, though I love Issa's haibun. Nevertheless, I expect you'll like the few I've picked out here.

Lightning --
and in the dark
the screech of a night heron.
-- Basho

Tethered horse;
snow
in both stirrups.
-- Buson

Snow is melting
and the village is flooded
with children.

-- Issa ( )