Robert Hass Beaten by Police at OccupyCal

Robert Hass, former American poet laureate who is probably best known to haiku readers for his book The Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson, and Issa, has an article in today's New York Times. He and his wife, Brenda Hillman, were visiting Occupy Berkeley (OccupyCal) at the University of California Berkeley. Hass (a man in his 70s) and Hillman were among the members of the crowd who were beaten by the police. Here is a link to his essay:


Poet-Bashing Police

In the US, there's a close connection between haiku and the Beat Poetry movement. For that reason, I particularly liked Hass's remark here:

The next night the students put the tents back up. Students filled the plaza again with a festive atmosphere. And lots of signs. (The one from the English Department contingent read “Beat Poets, not beat poets.”) 

Here's a link to Hass's haiku book. Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson, and Issa by Robert Hass - Powell's Books