Poet Profile

Frank Williams

I discovered haiku via a small book, entitled The Haiku Hundred (Iron Press 1992/94&96) and joined ‘The British Haiku Society in 1996. Ever since then, I have been fascinated by these small poems.
I believe that haiku are small windows on the Universe; vignettes that reveal themselves through an emotional and intuitive response to the heart. It’s always fascinate me that a poem that is so short can encompass the universe or what is on the head of a pin. I’m currently the Membership Secretary for The British Haiku Society; and an active member of The London Haiku Group.

Awards and Other Honors:

Focus poet – Presence) Issue 22(2004); Commended: Haiku Presence Awards (2005); 2nd place: Haiku Presence Awards (2006); Shortlisted With Words Haiku Competition (2009).

Books Published:

Bumping along (Hub Editions – 2001); Triptych - (Hub Editions – 2005); Rush Hour Over - (Hub Editions – 2008); Relocation Day – 2009; Faraway Hills – 2010; Timeless – 2012; Small Bursts of Colour – 2013; A New World Mirrored – 2015; Uncomplicated – 2016 & A Million Sundrops - 2017 & Yesterday's Ghosts - 2019. Each book represents a milestone on my haiku journey.
Books edited: for The British Haiku Society: Air – BHS Members’ Anthology 2012; Edge - BHS Members’ Anthology 2015; Soft Thunder – BHS Tanka Awards 2014/15; for the ‘London Haiku Group’ members: Journeys – Ram Publications 2004; A Trollyful of Pumpkins – Ram Publications 2005; From the Bridge – 2014 & A Haze of Infinity – 2017
Work anthologised: The New Haiku – edited by Martin Lucas & John Barlow – 2002; Time Haiku Anthology – Edited by Erica Facey – 2004; Stepping Stones – edited by Martin Lucas – 2007; Wing Beats – Edited by John Barlow & Matthew Paul; Barbed Wire Blossoms – The Museum of Haiku Literature Award Anthology – Edited by Graham High – 2012 & the wind that blows through us – Edited by Colin Blundell – 2015.

sunday sadness . . .
              today I can’t see
the wallpaper’s faces

song of the lark . . .
on the grass footpath
a snail’s mute world

heavy downpour
the umbrella vendor
smiling from ear to ear

atop the high wall
an intertwining of
barbed wire & roses

in deep shade . . .
the black rubbish bag
stretches into a cat

open-air café 
after the diners have left
the birds arrive

Credits:

“sunday sadness” – Presence issue 6 (1998); “song of the lark” – Presence Issue 43 (2011); “heavy downpour” – Time Haiku No. 47 (2018); “atop the high wall” – Time Haiku No.41 (2015); “in deep shade” – Blithe Spirit Vol. 27.1 (2017); “open-air café” – Frogpond Vol. 29.2 (2006).