[Carl in Tampa]

My favorite poet is Basho. Matsuo Bashō (松尾 芭蕉), born in 1644 in Japan, is probably the greatest master of haiku.

I read his poems in translation, of course, but even in English they still retain the pungent word pictures typical of the haiku style.

I have also gotten a great deal of pleasure from reading the works of other Japanese and Chinese poets who specialize in vivid word pictures drawn from nature and human experience.

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I also enjoy the works of a variety of American and English poets, many of whom have already been mentioned in this thread.

Strangely, although I thoroughly enjoy Shakespeare's plays, I don't care for his poetry.

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