The Haiku Foundation Forums

Many thanks for all the kind comments I've received via emails and social media.  I'm gratified that the book sales are in double figures. 

kindest regards,

Alan

.


I was very gratified to see this haikai verse selected by Isamu Hashimoto for a weekend's viewing at Mainichi Daily News:


drifting rain 
my hundred autumn rooms 
to be alone

Alan Summers


This haikai verse had a long and fascinating discussion over at Facebook and was recognised as a hokku.  I'm tempted to initiate a renku around this in 2013 as a project.

Alan

I've already read it, and remember if fondly, looking forward to tomorrow now! :-)

Alan

Quote from: John McManus on October 22, 2012, 06:33:57 AM
Thanks, Alan.

My second poem of the week is now up on the site.

warmest,
John

Thank you Don.

Sales have been good for this book, and readership is even more important! :-)

Alan

Quote from: Don Baird on October 21, 2012, 02:48:39 AM
Best of luck with it, Alan!   :)

It's been a great few days so far, and so I'm eager to visit again today!

Alan

Quote from: John McManus on October 21, 2012, 03:55:56 AM
My first week of haiku on the daily haiku website started today. Here's the link . . .

http://www.dailyhaiku.org/

warmest,
John

Thanks John!

Brendan designed this second cover after the first one, vastly different (and pretty super cool too) didn't work for technical reasons.

The second cover, as you'll find out, really works even better, as it's a wrap around design over spine and back cover.

I've had a lot of incredible support for this book, and for YTBN Press, a dream come true. :-)

Alan

Quote from: John McManus on October 20, 2012, 09:22:28 AM
I love that cover, Alan. Is it your own art work?

I'll put a copy on my christmas wishlist ;)

It was nice of Jeff to contact you with his thoughts.

warmest,
John

Reader feedback:

"Got Fish-God.... I really like what I've read so far... savoring rather than speed reading...I'm very excited...after seeing the formatting, super-cool cover design, and I really like the size a lot. Hooray for YTBN Press!"

Jeff Winke
jeffWINKEconsultancy PR & Writing Services
www.jeffwinke.com


Jeffrey Winke is the co-editor of the first small press North American haiku anthology, the Third Coast Haiku Anthology, which was published in 1977. Jeff has been writing haiku for over 30 years. His book, What's Not There: Selected Haiku of Jeffrey Winke is a 2002 Haiku Society of America Merit Book Award winner.

His "Cool Website" winning motion graphics haiku collection called Chances can be viewed at: http://www.gumballpoetry.com/flash/winke.html


.

Once the cashflow is better later in the year, there will be review copies sent out.

I hope those of you who may have purchased a copy leave a comment here, as gendai haiku is still very new outside Japan.

kindest regards,

Alan

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Does-Fish God Know (gendai haiku and experimental short verse) by Alan Summers, published by YTBN Press.
   

Available at Amazon USA; UK; and Europe:

USA:
http://www.amazon.com/Does-Fish-God-Know-Alan-Summers/dp/1479211044/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359118146&sr=8-1&keywords=does+fish-god+know

U.K.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Does-Fish-God-Know-Alan-Summers/dp/1479211044/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359120118&sr=8-1

Germany:
http://www.amazon.de/Does-Fish-God-Know-Alan-Summers/dp/1479211044/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359120302&sr=8-1

Spain:
http://www.amazon.es/Does-Fish-God-Know-Alan-Summers/dp/1479211044/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359120433&sr=8-1

Italy:
http://www.amazon.it/Does-Fish-God-Know-Alan-Summers/dp/1479211044/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359120478&sr=8-1

France:
http://www.amazon.fr/Does-Fish-God-Know-Alan-Summers/dp/1479211044/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359120510&sr=8-1

Does Fish-God Know [Paperback]
Alan Summers (Author)

Publisher: Yet To Be Named Free Press (October 15, 2012)

158 Pages

ISBN-10: 1479211044
ISBN-13: 978-1479211043


Modern western haiku written by a Japan Times award winning author. Poems that will bend your mind and tempt you to re-evaluate your sense of reality. A must for lovers of experimental short-verse poetry.

Brendan Slater, YTBN Free Press


Ah, out of the old pond and into the city!

Does the Fish-God know? And if, what is it he knows? He knows of life with its hard sides and gloomy shades as it is for the many people really subjected to reality. He knows that life is not all flowers and wonderful sunsets.

These are NEW haiku as they live and breathe on the back of tradition but are present in the world of the 21st century. Alan Summers makes use of the Western mind  and a Japanese tradition to show that haiku has a place in the modern world, and will still have one if we are ready to keep our minds open to every experience and influence that befalls a human.

A manifestation of gendai haiku that shows it's not a dream ...

Johannes S. H. Bjerg
International writer and artist writing in Danish & English. Author of  "Penguins/Pingviner" 2011"

Johannes has grown to be one of the most impressive new haiku practitioners:
http://www.cyberwit.net/authors/johannes-s-h-bjerg
http://www.saatchionline.com/Johannes
http://www.thehaikufoundation.org/poet-details/?IDclient=868
http://tajmahalreview.com/poetryaward.htm



.

Dear Chase,

I respect you taking on a haiku magazine, so don't be put off by disasters at the beginning, they've probably happened to almost every magazine in one shape or another. 

It's great that you've brought out a new magazine, and I hope everyone knows to re-submit, as I'm very excited about seeing the first issue come out.

Here are the submission details for Dark Pens:


Haiku Editor- Chase fire

Please send all haiku, tanka, haibun, or sequence submissions to-

chasefire@rocketmail.com

With "DP SUBMISSION" in the subject line.


Article Editor- Kelsey Murphy

please send any article submissions to-

kelskels39@yahoo.com

With "MOON ARTICLE SUBMISSION" in the subject line



Our submission deadlines are listed below


March first (Spring/Summer issue)

September first (Fall/Winter Issue)


you may send up to three submissions per period.

Submissions page:  http://www.darkpens.com/submit

Home page: http://www.darkpens.com/

kindest regards,

Alan

Quote from: Chase Fire on October 09, 2012, 09:04:00 PM
Dear subscribers and contributors, due to an issue with our submission forms (sending each submission to the spam folder) we have decided to go old fashioned and just use regular email submissions. because i was in a hurry... I deleted my spam folder without checking the messages. As it was in the process of  deleting,  it I saw a good 5 to six submission forms in the box. But it was too late. So if you sent a submission or subscription within the past 2 or 3 days PLEASE re-submit it following the new guidelines in the submission form. Also, due to the higher number of submissions we will not be able to reply to them as fast as we would like. So please allow 2-3 weeks for a reply to your submission.

thank you.

-Chase

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Haikuworld:
http://www.haikuworld.org/kukai/

ON BEHALF OF GEORGE HAWKINS

Dear Haiku Friends,

This kukai began more than 16 years ago on the old Shiki Internet Salon
Workshop, the brainchild of Clark Strand.  If you keep in touch with Clark
Strand, Yu Chang, Pardee Gunter, Billie Wilson, or Rick MacDonald, please
give them a shout out!  They were all kukai secretaries. 

They nurtured it. We're grateful. 

We had three poets offer to help secretary the kukai with George.  None are able to take it on at this time.  And we admit it takes a few hours, involves a lot of email.  If anyone thinks they could be able, please contact George.  After this annual Poets' Choice ends, he will be the sole kukai secretary.

George Hawkins, kukai secretary <shikimonthlykukai@gmail.com>



Welcome to the Tenth Annual Poets' Choice Kukai!

You've already read them during the past year. What we ask you to do this
time is to look with fresh eyes at these fine haiku to judge which of them
is superior.  Please include comments; it serves to enrich the kukai
experience for us all.

This year the kukai has the honor to award prizes for the first, second, and
third place winners in Kigo and Free Format.


First Place winners of the Annual Poets' Choice 2011 will receive:

Playing a Lullaby: the Betty Drevniok Awards. This anthology compiled and edited by Mike Montreuil, published 2012 by Éditions des petits nuagesm, Ottawa, Ontario.  Haiku Canada established a competition in memory of Betty Drevniok.  There are many well-known poets who've placed in this competition and reading through the years' results offers insight into where English-language haiku came into its own and how it continues to evolve.  A book for your library but better to keep beside your favorite reading chair.

Second Place winners will receive a Postscripts Series volume from Red Moon Press.  We awarded these last year and are pleased to be able to do so again.  This year I have a copy of "upright in the washout" by William J. Higginson, "phosphorescence" by Peggy Willis Lyles, and "all of the sky" by
Paul. O. Williams.

Third Place winners will be gifted a copy of the Mississippi Mud Daubers' chapbook, "Confluence, A Haiku Collection", published by Second Reading Publications, Alton, IL.

During the past ten years, we have awarded prizes from The Heron's Nest, Acorn Press, Bottle Rockets, textile crafts by Deb Bauer and artwork donated by Ron Moss, Ion Codrescu, and Olga Hooper.  We were fortunate to have been able to present awards over the years and encourage you to visit these web sites:

Haiku Canada:  http://www.haikucanada.org/id2.html

Acorn -- http://home.earthlink.net/~missias/Acorn.html

Bottle Rockets -- http://www.geocities.com/bottlerockets_99/index.html

Red Moon Press -- http://redmoonpress.com/index.html

The Heron's Nest -- http://www.theheronsnest.com/

Ron Moss -- http://www.ronmoss.com/

Olga Hooper -- http://www.artwanted.com/artist.cfm?ArtID=42235

Ion Codrescu -- http://nc-haiku.org/galleries/codrescu/gallery2_0.htm


------------------------
VOTING GUIDELINES
------------------------
Voting is open to all participants and readers alike.

PLEASE, SEND YOUR VOTES FOR EACH KUKAI SECTION UNDER SEPARATE COVER, USING THE APPROPRIATE SUBJECT LINE AS SHOWN BELOW.

Please refer to your selection using the number assigned to each poem.

SEND EACH SET OF VOTES TO: shikimonthlykukai@gmail.com

Do Not Send votes to any mailing list.

THE DEADLINE FOR VOTING IS NOON, EST-USA (UTC-4), MONDAY, OCTOBER 15th

Results will be posted on or before October 20st

SCORING METHOD: For each kukai section, you have 6 points to use.
You may not assign more than 3 points to any one haiku.

Here's an example:

TO: shikimonthlykukai@gmail.com
[E-MAIL SUBJECT LINE] Free format kukai votes
[E-MAIL MESSAGE EXAMPLE]
#4---3 pts.
#24--1 pt.
#33--1 pt.
#40--1 pt.

TO: shikimonthlykukai@gmauil.com
[E-MAIL SUBJECT LINE] Kigo kukai votes
[E-MAIL MESSAGE EXAMPLE]
#10--2 pts.
#18--2 pts.
#36--2 pts.

Please cast your votes on the merits of each haiku.

-------------------------------------------------
POETS' CHOICE 2012 KIGO POEMS
-------------------------------------------------
1.
lingering cold
the long ride home
from the cemetery


2.
ice cream
again, we debate
our choices


3.
year-end pledge
yesterday's tracks
fill with new snow


4.
foreclosure —
the roses blossom
after they move


5.
deep breaths —
the old eucalyptus
loosens its bark


6.
ice cream
on the patio—
strawberry moon


7.
haiku group
the discussion stops
for a robin


8.
lingering cold
my daughter's handprint
on the window


9.
between
eucalyptus leaves
koala eyes


10.
night vigil --
the garden's yellow roses
afloat in the dark


11.
first taste
of ice cream
- her eyes


12.
kite flying
the desire
to let go


13.
January 1st
this list written
in pencil


14.
falling snow
even our voices
are softer


15.
resolution
refrigerator magnets
making it stick


16.
Drought —
between the farmer's eyebrows
deepening lines


17.
lingering cold...
the sleeping cat breathes
into his tail


18.
origami rose . . .
his fingers gently
unfolding me


19.
winter dawn—
the scent of eucalyptus
filling the silence


20.
roses ...
my grandmother tells me
about her first love


21.
dry season
stones rise
in the stream bed


22.
cigarette ash
other resolutions
he didn't keep


23.
rain all night
the scent of eucalyptus
in my dreams


24.
unpacking grandma's
patchwork quilt
rose scented dusk


25.
spring thaw a river of geese


26.
drought
the redness of the bougainvillea
deepness


27.
spring fever
a murmuring brook
begins to babble


28.
war talk—
the two roosters eye
each other






And now for the free format entries:

-------------------------------------------------
POETS' CHOICE 2012 FREE FORMAT POEMS
-------------------------------------------------
1.
faded wallpaper —
those dreams
we shared


2.
day moon...
i continue last night's
conversation


3.
bath-time
father scrubs away
my sins


4.
full moon --
cumulus clouds slowly
form a wolf


5.
fishing ...
the mackerel
sky


6.
and you
so far away
day moon


7.
prairie sunrise...
wagon wheels
part the bluestem


8.
a warm bed
all that remains
of my dream


9.
cloudless night --
only the frozen moon
in the birdbath


10.
day moon the dreams that linger


11.
morning--
stretching
with the cat


12.
kids all grown
a cloud
is a cloud


13.
refugee huts
ravens rest inside
the shadows


14.
coffee house
the morning regulars
all have names


15.
morning thoughts
a patch of blue
in the puddle


16.
first bath
the mother crying
with her child


17.
tired of half truths--
the blurred edges of a
haloed moon


18.
undecided
whether to leave or linger—
day moon


19.
dark clouds
the shape of things
to come


20.
snow in the city
the homeless man
deep in a doorway


21.
morning paper
reaching into the fog
for news


22.
day moon
the tethered weight
of father's watch


23.
shooting stars...
the fizz of champagne
on my tongue


24.
windswept clouds
the water in the birdbath
changes shape


25.
dream flight...
the sudden loss
of my feathers


26.
Northern Lights the bar empties


27.
dog house --
I show the dog
what it's for


28.
fireworks
my guard dog cowers
beneath the bed


29.
all the blues
I ever knew --
mountain lake




-------------------------------------------------
Thank you to the poets who have participated in the kukai during the year.
Remember also that EACH of the above poems has already been declared a
winner; congratulations once again!

Please send your votes to shikimonthlykukai@gmail.com by noon (EST)(UTC-4)
MONDAY, October 15th.

George Hawkins, the Shiki Kukai Team


----- End forwarded message -----

What a horrid shock, and so young.   I knew Cindy back in the 1990s via haiku email sites, and often missed her presence on the internet in later years.

I am so sorry we've lost someone very special.

Alan

The Rooster Moans Poetry Cooperative provides MFA-caliber online poetry workshops. We promote, foster and inspire the reading and writing of poetry by (a) facilitating a cross-cultural network of information-sharing on the art of poetry, (b) providing an asynchronous education setting in which our teaching artists and student artists exchange ideas and information at the convenience of their own schedules, from their own homes, reducing their impact on the environment, (c) encouraging peer-to-peer feedback amongst members, and (d) helping develop the voices of underserved poets by offering several workshops each year that are free.


Haiku and Tanka: Amazement & Intensity
http://www.poetrycoop.com/poetry-workshops/haiku-and-tanka-amazement-intensity

What makes a haiku? With ongoing debate amongst poets and scholars, especially those working in English, there's more to haiku (amazement of the ordinary) than you might imagine for such a short form poem.  In this course we'll look at the roots of haiku in Japan and its founding fathers and mothers, negotiate the simplicity of subject and language that marks haiku, and find equivalence in writers such as Ernest Hemingway and Raymond Carver.

Using excerpts and handouts from the highly respected classic The Haiku Handbook, we'll find Japanese haiku in translation, and follow the evolution of English language haiku through its modern journey.  For gendai-style haiku we will use text from my forthcoming book Does Fish-God Know and contemporary Western and Japanese writers.

As writers, our exercises and work will have us exploring English at its most pared down, fanning out into the two currently recognised variations on haiku: shasei ("sketching from nature" literally real experience from direct observation); gendai ("contemporary" social realism, or imagined/fantastic); as well as a third closely related sister form to haiku: senryu (the human experience relating to fallibility).

Finally, we'll turn our attention to tanka (lyric intensity), a short five line poem with over 1,300 years of history behind it, and still popular today. Tanka are well-grounded in concrete images yet infused with lyricism, with an intimacy from direct expression of emotions tempered with implication, suggestion, and nuance.

Teaching artist Alan Summers resides in Bradford on Avon and is a Japan Times award-winning writer with a Masters Degree in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. He has studied and written haiku and other Japanese form poetry for twenty years. Alan has won awards, been published internationally and translated into 15 languages. He helped his American team win Japan Times Best Renga of 2002. He's a co-editor of five haiku anthologies: Parade of Life: Poems inspired by Japanese Prints; The Poetic Image - Haiku and Photography; Fifty-Seven Damn Good Haiku, Press Here; Four Virtual Haiku Poets; and c.2.2. Themes of Loss of Identity and/or Name. He has been General Secretary of the British Haiku Society and a Foundation Member of the Australian Haiku Society. Alan is currently editor with gendai haiku magazine Bones, and is working on The Kigo Lab, a project to use the potential of Western haiku seasons for eco-critical writing. He has a haiku pamphlet collection called The In-Between Season (2012), and a gendai haiku book called Does Fish-God Know, due out in autumn 2012. More at: http://area17.blogspot.com

Thanks for posting these links!

Alan

Quote from: Chase Fire on September 29, 2012, 10:16:21 PM
Part one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SJbJ8CG5o8&feature=relmfu
Part two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzeunzRiBAA&feature=relmfu

I found these two videos on youtube. It was very interesting, so i thought i would share them. I posted the links above.

Dear Gabi,

The post isn't about kigo, or kigo as cliché but the craft of writing where cliché do not occur in the writing.

A kigo is a commonality which is made powerful by an entire race understanding it immediately and adding layers of meaning which are not needed to be explained in conversation or text.


Three of the modifiers which have been overused and not incorporated enough into fresh and challenging approaches are:

•  still
•  shadow
•  old

To my knowledge these are not kigo.

Cliché is referencing the lack of originality of writing around something well-known and respected.

Alan

p.s.

Please see my first post for links to cherry blossom.

I have clearly set out that I am delighted about two cherry blossom projects for haiku.  Also my Kigo Lab project shows my traditional side of things, please read this article A fold in the paper, Kire and kigo in haiku: http://www.multiversesjournal.com/the-thin-white-expanse.html

p.p.s.

Also I have a cherry blossom haiku published in two new books: The Humours of Haiku ed. David Cobb (Iron Press); and Does Fish-God Know (YTBN Press) which contains gendai haiku with and without kigo.

edit reason: adding p.s. and p.p.s.

Quote from: Gabi Greve on September 29, 2012, 11:51:36 PM
You could say all of the kigo are "cliche" because they have been used so many times over the years ...
I prefere not to see them as cliche

but as a common heritage to the haiku poets (of Japan)
and some of them shared worldwide.

The Japanese saijiki does not feel like a collection of cliche haiku to me,
does it to any of you?
.
Sitting in the rain tempted to write a haiku about the cliche

typhoon

But that is more of a real threat just now ...
>:(

Gabi
.