Robert Hass
Robert Hass is an American poet, known for his accessible, clear, and deeply insightful poetry. He served as the U.S. Poet Laureate from 1995 to 1997 and has won numerous awards for his work, including the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. The Essential Haiku
Versions of Basho, Buson, and Issa
"The Essential Haiku" is a collection that features translations of works by three of Japan's most renowned haiku masters: Bashō, Buson, and Issa. Edited and translated by a prominent American poet, the book not only presents a selection of more than 300 haikus, capturing the concise and evocative style of the original Japanese poems, but also includes brief biographical sketches of the poets and an enlightening commentary that contextualizes their work within the broader scope of Japanese culture and the haiku tradition. This anthology serves as both an introduction to and a deep exploration of haiku, offering insights into the philosophical and aesthetic foundations of the form.
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2. Poet's Choice
The book is a collection of essays and reflections on poetry, where the author, a former U.S. Poet Laureate, shares his insights and deep appreciation for the art form. Through a series of personal and engaging commentaries, he explores the works of various poets, offering readers a glimpse into the diverse styles, themes, and emotional depths that poetry can encompass. The author delves into the intricacies of language and the power of poetic expression, encouraging readers to find their own connections to the poems and to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the written word.
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3. The Apple Trees At Olema
New and Selected Poems
The book is a collection of poems that explores themes of nature, memory, and human experience. Through vivid imagery and reflective language, the poems delve into the complexities of personal and collective histories, often drawing connections between the natural world and the intricacies of human emotion. The work captures moments of beauty and introspection, inviting readers to contemplate the interplay between the external environment and internal landscapes.
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4. Time And Materials
Poems 1997-2005
This collection of poetry delves into the intricate interplay between the natural world and human experience, weaving together themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The poems reflect on the beauty and fragility of life, capturing moments of introspection and observation with a keen eye for detail. Through vivid imagery and thoughtful reflection, the work explores the complexities of existence, inviting readers to ponder the connections between the mundane and the profound.
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5. Summer Snow
In this evocative collection of poetry, the author explores the intricate dance between nature and human experience, weaving together themes of memory, love, and the passage of time. Through vivid imagery and reflective musings, the poems capture the fleeting beauty of the natural world and the profound emotions that accompany life's transitions. The work invites readers to pause and contemplate the delicate balance between the ephemeral and the eternal, offering a poignant meditation on the interconnectedness of all things.
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6. Drinking The Sea At Gaza
Days and Nights in a Land Under Siege
A ground-level chronicle of daily life in the Gaza Strip in the mid-1990s, showing how closures, military bureaucracy, and failing infrastructure shape every movement and hope. Blending on-the-scene reportage with intimate portraits, it follows families, fishermen, officials, and activists as they navigate checkpoints, water and electricity shortages, economic isolation, and the fraught aftermath of the Oslo accords. The result is a piercing look at the entanglement of occupation, corruption, and resistance—and the stubborn resilience of ordinary people living under prolonged siege.