With his first book of poetry John Coulton Waugh introduces a category of cutting-edge short poems, paired with striking photographs and artwork, that he calls busted haiku. With glossy pages and high quality printing, busted is a unique gift idea for any poetry buff.

Waugh’s busted haiku is an unconventional and thought-provoking poetry collection, part meditation, part rebellion. In these minimalist yet piercing verses, Waugh redefines haiku and senryu forms, breaking them open to reveal raw, humorous, and deeply human insights. With flair and wit, alongside striking images, he explores memory, time, and the fractured beauty of perception. This is haiku after the rules have gone home, poetry that’s been set free.

In busted, Waugh delivers a vivid, unfiltered exploration of modern consciousness through the fractured lens of poetic brevity. These are not traditional haiku or senryu; they are “busted,” reshaped into free-form meditations that question language, perception, and what it means to see and to be. Paired with evocative artwork on every page, and drawing inspiration from Zen, humor, and personal reflection, Waugh’s poems wander the boundary between presence and absurdity. From “first loves / her hand and mine” to “first crocus pokes winter in the ass,” his words dance between reverence and irreverence, silence and laughter.

The collection is both accessible and profound, inviting readers to engage rather than simply observe, to participate in seeing the world anew. With an artist’s eye and a philosopher’s wit, Waugh creates a space where poetry and play converge. Perfect for readers of Richard Brautigan, Billy Collins, Matsuo Bashō (reimagined), and Charles Bukowski, busted haiku will resonate with lovers of experimental and Zen-inspired poetry.

The high quality printing, with artwork and photographs on every other page, make busted haiku a unique gift for any occasion, especially for lovers of spontaneity and imagination.