Tracing the FernMichael Dylan Welch and Billie Wilson, editors. Press Here, Sammamish, Washington, 2005, 40 pages, 67 poets (two poems each), ISBN 1-878798-28-6.
For 2005, the Haiku North America conference moved to the northwest corner of the United States, taking place at Fort Worden Conference Center, Port Townsend, Washington. From the introduction: “This book’s title reminds us that the carefully chosen words of a memorable haiku are often like tracings of nature—so real that the reader is compelled to participate in the experience that inspired or informed the poem. In each of the haiku and senryu that follow, we hope you enjoy the participation.” The following are fifteen sample poems from the book.
neige qui fond sous le soleil d’hiver le bambou’s s’érige
snow melting in the winter sun —bamboo springs back
Abigail Friedman Quebec City, Quebec
late summer a hermit crab caught between homes
Carole MacRury Point Roberts, Washington
with soft lips she plucks the purple thistle —shetland pony
Carol O’Dell Port Townsend, Washington
crossing a stream the bridge my shadow makes
Christopher Herold Port Townsend, Washington
out in the meadow she uses her “inside” voice
Connie Hutchison Kirkland, Washington
summit meeting the wind
Dietmar Tauchner Puchberg, Austria
bright rain puddle the sun brings mountains down to earth again
Doris Thurston Port Townsend, Washington
forest romp children shout from chanterelle to matsutake
Francine Porad Bellevue, Washington
Horizon moon the snowman headless no longer
George Swede Toronto, Ontario
after the storm the air filled with sweet smell rice stalks fallen down
Kimiyo Tanaka Matsuyama, Japan
afternoon hike— the pussy willows dwindling from my handful
Michael Dylan Welch Sammamish, Washington
migratory ducks I have never kept a diary
paul m. Bristol, Rhode Island
after love she traces the ferns in the window’s frost
Penny Harter Summit, New Jersey
barefoot in dew: across the alpine lake the sweep of stars
Ruth Yarrow Seattle, Washington
autumn morning— the shape of the mountain in the white cloud
William J. Higginson Summit, New Jersey
|