Book Review: “Bridges of Words: Haikus Uniting Cultures from 57 Countries of the World” by Esperanza Pretila

Haikus are a brief form of art that expresses their beauty through simplicity. Haikus originated in Japan in the 17th century, and the author entered the scene 300 years later. She was born in the Philippines but later immigrated to Australia and stepped up to make haikus universal.  

“Bridges of Words: Haikus Uniting Cultures from 57 Countries of the World” by Esperanza Pretila is a poetic anthology of 57 pieces, each one devoted to a different country of the world. 57 might sound enormous, but one of the points the author makes is that we have more in common as humanity than we have differences. 

One of the most brilliant aspects of this book is that the author not only focuses on what’s flashier from each country, but also sometimes on the gloomier aspects. For example, we all think of Brazil as tied to carnival, but the author also mentions the favelas, the least-favored settlements of Brazilian cities. The same happens with Berlin. It would be naive to ignore its belligerent past. The author mentions it, but she also highlights unity and resilience, which Germany has in spades. This comes up again in the mention of the cyclones that, unfortunately, have ravaged Bangladesh, and I think there’s a particular beauty in that acknowledgment of imperfection and of the idiosyncrasies that have forged each country’s identity. 

The author sprinkles words that speak to the significant events of every nation, clearly aware of universal history. For instance, liberty for France, since France was the nation from which we owe the concept of “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité,” a motto so many other nations benefited from. 

Pretila shows a relentless commitment to respect for the environment and our cultural heritage in her poetry. She pays tribute to Kenya’s awe-inspiring nature, as well as the Russian snow forests. Not from a place of fear but from a place of wonder, books like this remind us that our planet is still full of natural beauties, and can help foster our conservation and sustainability activities. 

The author gives the same importance to Slovakian lore, Shakespearean literature, or the traditional wisdom still beating through Australia, demonstrating not only the value of our heritages but also that wisdom can be found in non-academic settings. In her book, there’s room for Celtics, Vikings, pharaohs, and Chinese dynasties, highlighting how the people who came before us are still shaping our lives. 

The book is also a learning opportunity. I learned about Kuwaiti souks and Portuguese fados. This can seem minute, but learning and exposing oneself to different cultures is the best way to foster empathy and achieve a point where “diverse” and “unity” are not exclusive terms.

A multisensory delight is “Bridges of Words.” Its words let us taste the Belgian waffles, listen to a Mexican mariachi, smell the Indian spices, appreciate the Sufi’s dancing, or feel the soft Indonesian sand. Every poem’s accompanying incredible images enhance this sensory experience. Moreover, the application of alliteration and vivid images caught my attention. Take this line by way of example: “Gorillas roam in nature’s womb.”

So many of us have a dream of traveling the world, but while we achieve it, we have the author’s words to guide us from the misty streets of London to the shores of Karachi, the bustle of Bangkok, or a historic square of Kraków. This book is for all readers who were born with the wanderlust bug. 

When our world seems more divided than ever, voices like Pretila’s remind us, in her words, that “culture is not a wall, but a doorway.” 

Share Your Insights

What do you think of the book? Anything that resonates with you the most? Do comment below.