How it's done in Japan (one man's adventure) "Haiku Circles"

[Don Baird]

Your "sincere wish" has been fulfilled.  This is a very enjoyable read.  You paced it well ... the haiku are wonderful ... and the stories are clearly memorable for you - for the rest of your life.  More than a haibun, this is your life ... and clearly a very precious aspect of it to celebrate.  Your experience is envious.

all the best,

Don

[chibi575]

I have spell checked and did a grammar rule check (there are still some grammar green underlines that I just can't figure why their flagged by Microsoft grammar check).  But the spelling of "guidian" angel is a play on "guardian" angel.

So the last edit is pretty close to final, unless another set of eyes find some corrective edits they care to share.

As part of my first trip to Japan to attend the convention in Yuba Town, after the first kukai with Akegarasu sensei and Kusanohana, I was invited by the niece's husband to tour parts of Chichibu (a mountainous region near Tokyo), and try (with his assurance against my shyness) an old onsen in the region.  I may continue further haibun if I can recall enough from my memories. 

There were three more meetings with Kusanohana, several ginko walks, making a ceramic plaque, Chichibu summer festival and river boat tour, Nikko tour, Kamakura visit and special lunch, Tokyo formal Tea Ceremony, Chichibu winter festival, the visit to Gokurakuan, Harry Potter Bertie Botts Beans Surprize, 8th Mainichi International Haiku Competition, Akegarasu sensei's gift books, the 10th Kusanohana Anniversary, Smoky Mountain caven tours during Hurricane Fred (niece and her daughter visit to USA),Tea Bowls and Dragon Plates, and Kendo at Hanno City dojo.

All these "adventures" are in large part activities around the Kusanohana haiku circle meetings.  It would be a secret pleasure to put this all in installments to eventually be a complete haibun, perhaps, "chibi hosomichi"?  Although, I wonder if THF is the place to develop such?

Ciao... chibi

[Don Baird]

My greatest concern, chibi, is that this forum is an open forum - to the public.  This is not a private forum and therefore, all of your work could be considered (by some publishers) as published.  Also, some folks are offering slight edit suggestions... possibly you would want to move this to the Share Poetry or Mentoring section which are private forums ... and folks would be even more comfortable in offering edits and suggestions - the very essence of those particular forums.

You have some fine haiku here (and a haibun worth publishing, one day) that might be excluded from a publishing opportunity because of being posted on a public, open forum.

It's possible, the Mentoring or Share Haiku forums might be the better choices for you to continue with this adventure.

just pondering out loud here, chibi,

best,

Don

[Lorin]

Don has a very good point, Dennis. By posting your 'haiku memoirs' here, you are publishing it. You might want to publish it in print or on a website later, or even submit it in installments to a journal, and to complete it here would be to put your prospects of having it published elsewhere under threat.

There is quite a long tradition of publishing in installments. Dickens did that, for most if not all of his novels.
(My father-in-law did too...a work titled, 'How To Rob A Bank With A Ballpoint Pen', back in the late 60's   ::) but that's another story entirely. )

- Lorin

[chibi575]

Don and Lorin,

Thank you both for your thoughtful reply.

I see the point, but, I am undecided as to which direction, if any, I should go.

I enjoy relating the memories.  If, or when, I go further, perhaps I will consider the traditional "publishing" path.  I would also try to pick a publisher that would not be too concerned about material exposed "online".  I am most happy to think that accessability the key focus of anything I write.

I am truly touched and grateful for your replies.

Yours in poetry.

PS... I hope Don, doesn't mind my plagerism of my reply to his private message.  Ain't the "copy-paste" function, great!  Sorry, Don... I wrestle with my technical laziness, daily.  :-\