Book of the Week: Snail My Friend: A Collection of Haiku by Nika (Jim Force) and Issa
Nika’s haiku were written in direct response to those of Issa or as a response to similar life experiences. Nika (Calgary, AB, Canada) is the pen name of haiku poet and retired educator Jim Force and his haiku have been widely published in magazines and anthologies. Another chapbook by Nika in the digital library is Frogs Singing and his artwork is featured in the THF article Haiga of Nika.
all by itself
without any help . . .
blossoming mountain
— Issa
all on its own
the ancient apple
blooms again
— Nika
first firefly
why turn away
it’s Issa
— Issa
stay by
little sparrow
it’s Nika who feeds you
— Nika
swarms of mosquitoes
but without them
it’s a little lonely
— Issa
this winter day
without mosquitoes or flies
a little lonely
— Nika
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 2017 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 THF Digital Librarian Dan Campbell and are used with permission.
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I am afraid there is no way I could isolate a favourite. The combination of haiku by Issa and Nika is a match made in heaven. It is a privilege to get the opportunity to share such a wonderful book. It led me to find out a bit more about Issa’s life. No wonder he sought refuge in and inspiration from nature. Through Nika’s haiku it appears he does likewise.