Muž pod černým deštníkem – Hájíček Jiří (2022)

Seeing the world without grand words Successful writer Jiří Hájíček is primarily known in Czech literature as a prose writer, author of short stories and novels. However, he once started with verses. Even now, he occasionally engages in poetry, most often in the form of haiku, a classic Japanese form. He offers lyrical miniatures, fragments of days and stories, small impressions, atmospheres, and inner stained glass. It is civil and unpretentious poetry, with deep personal assurance, yet very modest, hidden within an ancient canon. It is 'Hájíček in a different way,' but still easily recognizable in its basic chords. He has already published a successful volume titled Man on the Brink of Ignition; haiku from the diary 2017—2018 (2018), and the new work presented here follows it not only in title. 'Haiku is like disappearing without grand words somewhere on the road between fields, in the streets of the city, or in the morning dimness of the kitchen. That is haiku for me. Zero stylization, no metaphors, just those few syllables and words and then silence...' says the prose writer with a lyrical soul.