Into Our WordsMichael Dylan Welch and Grant D. Savage, editors. Peter Vernon Quenter, artwork. Press Here, Sammamish, Washington, 2009, 40 pages, 90 poets (one poem each), ISBN 978-1-878798-30-5.
The 2009 Haiku North America conference took place at the National Library of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario (equivalent to the Library of Congress in the United States). This was the second time that the conference had been in Canada, and was also the tenth conference in the biennial series (started in 1991). Some words from the introduction: “No one was ever more in his element at Haiku North America conferences than William J. Higginson. Always the quintessential haiku poet, scholar, enthusiast, advocate, translator, and critic, Bill found such a stimulating and inspiring outlet for his passions and talents at this conference that he surely wished Haiku North America happened multiple times every year instead of just once every two years. He was, too, the only person who had been to all nine conferences since it began in 1991. When he passed away in October of 2008, Bill left a gaping void not just in Haiku North America, but in the entire haiku community worldwide. It is therefore fitting that we dedicate this tenth HNA anthology, Into Our Words, to William J. Higginson.” You can also read the entire introduction. Here are thirty-four sample poems from the anthology, including one translation and several bilingual versions.
mise en abîme mes seuls cheveux blancs dans tous les miroirs
my hair white reflected infinitely between the mirrors
André Duhaime Gatineau, Québec
first snowman— a toddler’s breath on the windowpane
Carmen Sterba University Place, Washington
Milky Way his reluctance to hold my hand
Carolyn Hall San Francisco, California
sunflower field all the windmills face the same way
Charles Trumbull Santa Fe, New Mexico
in this gentle rain aquilegia pinking the garden
Claudia Coutu Radmore Carleton Place, Ontario
words unspoken— smoke hovers round the mouth of the volcano
David Burleigh Tokyo, Japan
matilija poppies the appliance repairman comes the wrong day
Deborah P Kolodji Temple City, California
御仏の御鼻の先へつらら哉 mihotoke no mihana no saki e tsurara kana
Issa
Buddha on the moor, At the tip of his nose Hangs an icicle.
Dennis Maloney, translation Lake View, New York
heat wave— the cow’s udder hangs in the pond
DeVar Dahl Magrath, Alberta
mid-meeting the pressure released from a soda can
Eve Luckring Los Angeles, California
hillside peas did I ever wish to be a man?
Fay Aoyagi San Francisco, California
trees growing out of rock I give in to him
Francine Banwarth Dubuque, Iowa
The merry-go-round turns a few more times as they walk away
Garry Gay Windsor, California
setting sun— the mountain’s shadow creeps into our words
Gary Hotham Scaggsville, Maryland
moonlit pool from the silence a waterfall
Grant D. Savage Ottawa, Ontario
fresh asparagus up from the urinal farmer’s market
Guy Simser Kanata, Ontario
biodôme devant la toilette des dames querelle d’oiseaux
biodome outside the ladies’ washroom two birds fighting
Jessica Tremblay Burnaby, British Columbia
those of money and those of rags their sandals in a single pile
John Brandi El Rito, New Mexico
summer solstice a note beyond the singer’s range
John Stevenson Nassau, New York
no path goes there wild orchid
Karen Sohne Toronto, Ontario
on paper the tree hugger’s agenda
LeRoy Gorman Napanee, Ontario
the boat at the very end of the wharf— and two moons
Luce Pelletier St-Basile-le-Grand, Québec
second honeymoon taking pictures of each other
Marco Fraticelli Pointe Claire, Québec
my voice begins further down in my throat visiting home
Marilyn Hazelton Allentown, Pennsylvania
Valentine’s Day— a few clicks of the swans’ beaks
Michael Dylan Welch Sammamish, Washington
news of Hubble— slicing a pear for its stars
Michele Root-Bernstein East Lansing, Michigan
pluie chaude d’été nous ralentissons le pas vers la maison
hot summer rain we slow down our walk home
Micheline Beaudry Boucherville, Québec
a prism in my eyelash morning snowfall
Mike Rehling Livonia, Michigan
into the darkness the whisper of silver grass
Patricia Donegan Evanston, Illinois
one of the road crew resting his eyes spring meadow
paul m. Bristol, Rhode Island
last light the wing-whistle of mourning doves
Paul MacNeil Ocala, Florida
train whistle— I remember the warmth of your hand
Penny Harter Mays Landing, New Jersey
rising mercury our jogging circuit all uphill
Scott Mason Chappaqua, New York
Canada Day heat wave the dancer takes off her earrings
Terry Ann Carter Ottawa, Ontario
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