Stephen FitzGerald’s ‘The Best Haiku Collection 5’: A Gentle Invitation to Rediscover the Joy of Poetry

A Small Poem That Fits Into a Busy Day

Stephen FitzGerald did not set out to build an international haiku tradition. He simply missed reading for pleasure. Between being a manuscript editor, a writing coach, and a public school teacher, his days were already full of words that belonged to someone else. Even when he cared deeply about books, the idea of settling in with a long chapter at night felt unrealistic. Many readers live in that same space, where a love of literature exists right alongside a calendar that keeps insisting there is no room.

Then a quiet moment in 2020 reshaped his routine. After returning a relative’s overdue library books and paying the fines, Stephen wandered near the poetry shelves and noticed haiku collections waiting there. He sampled a few pages. The brevity did not feel small. It felt complete. Three short lines created a full reading experience, and it happened quickly enough to fit into the corners of everyday life.

That discovery gave him a simple promise: reading could return, even if it arrived in compact form. A haiku could be read before bed. It could be read while standing in line. It could be read in a waiting room. The experience remained satisfying because the poem carried its own beginning, middle, and finish.

From Personal “Crushes” to a Public Project

Stephen began reading haiku often, sometimes dozens of poems in a single evening. He also started sharing the ones he loved most, calling them his “crushes” and posting them on social media. The habit was consistent, and it stayed rooted in enjoyment rather than obligation. The more he read, the more he noticed how many strong haiku were being written and shared every day, often disappearing quickly in fast-moving feeds.

That realization sparked a bigger idea. He wanted a way for excellent work to be found, celebrated, and kept in a form readers could return to. So HaikuCrush.com was born, shaped around an annual search that invites poets from around the world to submit their haiku. Stephen recruited judges to read and rate hundreds of submissions, then select 50 winning haiku for each book. The process also includes honorariums for the best of the best, adding a layer of genuine appreciation for the writers whose poems rise to the top.

Over time, this annual search became a dependable pathway for readers who want quality without guesswork. It also became a meaningful stage for poets who want their work to be read carefully, not skimmed and forgotten. Stephen’s role sits at the intersection of curator and enthusiast. He brings a professional editor’s attention to language while keeping the delight of a reader who still feels surprised by a great line.

Stepping Into the Fifth Volume: The International Anthology

The Best Haiku Collection 5: International Anthology: The Annual Search by HaikuCrush.com by Stephen FitzGerald is the fifth annual publication in the series titled The Best Haiku Anthologies – The Annual Search for The Best Haiku by HaikuCrush.com. This volume continues the tradition that began with a personal reading habit and grew into an international gathering of voices.

The format stays friendly to modern attention spans. Readers can open the book anywhere and find a poem that offers a complete moment. Many people love that kind of structure because it supports varied reading styles. A reader can enjoy a handful of poems with morning tea. Another reader can read one haiku during a commute. Someone else can carry the anthology into everyday errands and return to it whenever a few quiet seconds appear.

This fifth collection highlights prize-winning poets including E. C. Huddleston (United States), thomas david (England), Tracy Davidson (England), and David Oates (United States). Their inclusion signals the reach of the project and the range of voices involved. Each poem arrives as its own small world, and the anthology becomes a collection of these worlds, gathered with care.

Stephen’s editorial life shows in the way the project is framed. He understands deadlines and distraction. He also understands that readers want work that feels worth their time. Haiku meets that desire through precision. A strong haiku does not waste space. It lands, it lingers, and it invites a second reading without effort.

A Gift That Encourages Reading Again

Many people say they “do not have time to read anymore,” even when they miss it. This anthology offers a gentle way back. It does not ask for an hour of uninterrupted silence. It invites a person to read in small, satisfying increments, then build a habit that feels light rather than heavy.

That is why The Best Haiku Collection 5 often works as a holiday gift for seasoned poets, new writers, and readers who simply want something beautiful within reach. The project also mentions that the book has received only 5-star reviews on Amazon, which adds reassurance for gift-givers who want a dependable pick.

The book is available on Amazon, and readers can explore the annual search, the judging approach, and the broader mission on the official site, haikucrush.com.

For Stephen, the heart of the project remains easy to grasp. A poem can fit into twenty seconds. A reader can fit that into almost any day. The result is a small pause that feels complete, and that pause can slowly bring reading back into a busy life.