Features

Book of the Week – Bog Cotton by Ken Jones

Jeffrey Woodward writes, “Haibun in English – or the ‘haiku story,’ as Ken Jones would have it – has become, albeit largely underground in reputation, an expansive, international, and labyrinthine literature. The truly exceptional writers in this genre are few in number. Ken Jones must be counted among that precious company. His pioneering presence has been constant for fifteen or more years. I have turned the pages of Bog Cotton, therefore, with the delight and anticipation that led me through five previous titles by this Welsh poet. He has yet to disappoint me.”

Bog Cotton was published by Alba Publishing in 2012. The book was a shortlist nominee for the 2012 Touchstone Awards.

Following are a few selected poems from the book:

We three unsteady friends
raising our glasses
to the morning star

—

From out of the dusk
her quiet Nos da
my distant neighbor

[Nos da (Welsh) “Good night”]

—

“Loving Memory”
on a keeping headstone
blotched with white lichen

—

Shaky bridge
this calm day I cross the water
on its shadow

—

“Things to do today”
I tick off
my life

You can read the entire book in the THF Digital Library and please share your favorite poem from the book with us.

Do you have a chapbook published in 2018 or earlier that you would like featured as a Book of the Week? Contact us for details. Haiku featured in the Book of the Week Archive are selected by the THF Digital Librarian Kenneth Pearson and are used with permission.

Kenneth Pearson

Comments (3)

  1. This wonderful book is now out of print in physical form, but if anyone would like to read it, just send me an email and I can send you a PDF of the book so you can enjoy the late Ken Jones fine haibun, haiku and senryu.

  2. Raising a glass to these morning stars. Love these, and perfect timing. Happy to know of this poet! Thank you!

Comments are closed.

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