The Western Sky: American Haiku
About fifty years ago, I first encountered haiku, and was profoundly moved. In my impetuous way back then, I attempted to write some, without truly understanding them. Of course, my results were worthless, but I persevered, off and on, for all of my life. I have been much published in what we called back then “little magazines,” now known as literary rags, seeing both poetry and (mostly) prose nudge its way into print. I did not however, until recently, send out any haiku. But in the four years just passed, I have finally achieved the quality of perception that has allowed me to write acceptable haiku, and publish some.
In the time since my audacious youth, I have studied the Japanese language, though my ability in it is primitive indeed, and have read gobs of Japanese literature in translation, and have been to Japan.
So now, in my audacious old age, I present this selection of my recent haiku, written in English, dealing, as in the classic form, largely with the relationship of our species to the natural world.
Here are samples from the cover blurb:
stormwrack on the beach
twists of seaweed, styro cups
under endless skies
if the cold sea fog
would please blind these prideful streets
with forgetfulness
nodding sunflowers
tomatoes and bushy greens
earth tilts towards the warmth
Available directly from the printer at:
Lulu
And if you must help finance Jeff’s new yacht, at:
Cover design by Ko Yunjeon (https://www.behance.net/kokopuff)
Rick Risemberg
