Per Diem Haiku
In May of 2012 I served
as editor for the Haiku Foundation’s monthly “Per Diem” daily haiku feature,
which presents a different haiku on the foundation’s website every day. My
theme for the month was haiku exploring nature themes and voices of the Pacific
Northwest (Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon). Here are the
thirty-one haiku I featured, which you can also read on the Haiku Foundation site, and they are also slated to appear on the foundation’s iPhone haikuapp. foghorns . . . we lower a kayak into the sound Christopher Herold Port Townsend, Washington riveredge old growth: a towering window of stars Ruth M. Yarrow Seattle, Washington summer’s end again the river red with salmon Nika Victoria, British Columbia fog inside and out Seattle ferry Marian Olson Santa Fe, New Mexico sudden sun snow peaks brighten for the long drive home Margaret D. McGee Port Townsend, Washington the first chip in our windshield northern star Susan Constable Nanoose Bay, British Columbia fogged in— sea mist fills the foxglove bells Michael Feinstein Vashon, Washington misty spring light— every bare branch glows moss green John Garrett Saanichton, British Columbia releasing him . . . the bull trout’s back scarred by talons Harriot West Eugene, Oregon space needle the news helicopter’s sun flash Carmen Sterba University Place, Washington windfall apple I relish the wormless side Billie Dee San Diego, California Juneau icefield cocky tourist looking for skate rentals Patricia M. Benedict Calgary, Alberta slate gray glacial water the guide talks of blueberries Richard Tice Kent, Washington salmon run— the bridge clogged with people Tanya McDonald Woodinville, Washington Mount St. Helens how humble and delicate the footpath lily Pavel Soukenik Bellevue, Washington moss hangs down dripping with rain my mother’s voice Kerry S. Campbell Kirkland, Washington patchy fog in the bay when it lifts, will the islands still be there? Naomi Beth Wakan Gabriola, British Columbia Village island a row of totems buried in moss Nika Victoria, British Columbia minus tide my hairline receding Michael Feinstein Vashon, Washington a pod of orcas how blue the sky they touch with light Angela Terry Lake Forest Park, Washington one deep breath for a moment the pine is part of me Harriot West Eugene, Oregon that whale I could have touched surfaces again in my mind Billie Wilson Juneau, Alaska Rainier behind clouds I take a picture where it might be Munira Judith Avinger Seattle, Washington and Lac Brome, Québec sound of the first float plane dividing the rain Angelika Kolompar Nanaimo, British Columbia leaving— ponderosas comb a low tone from the wind Ruth M. Yarrow Seattle, Washington end of summer the soft touchdown of a seaplane Carmen Sterba University Place, Washington wind in the cedars . . . sometimes I shudder with happiness Billie Dee San Diego, California top of the Space Needle how it feels to spot a whale Tanya McDonald Woodinville, Washington the trail narrows— every shadow a possible bear Billie Wilson Juneau, Alaska a leaf underfoot gathers rainwater enough to show open sky Jill B. Andrews Vashon Island, Washington morning fog . . . climbing the shell of an old lighthouse Richard Tice Kent, Washington |