From Haiku Society of America Anthologies

I first proposed, inspired by the tradition in Haiku Canada, that the Haiku Society of America publish an annual membership anthology. Consequently, in 1993, I introduced and did the layout and design for the first HSA anthology. Since then, I’ve been an advisor to many editors of subsequent anthologies, and wrote an extensive HSA Publications Guide that I often shared with each editor. For many years, HSA members were charged extra for the anthology, but later the publication was added as a free benefit for all members. The following are all of my poems from these anthologies, most recent first, including the year and title of each anthology (no anthology was published in 2012, though I list the poem that had been accepted), with a cover image when available. At the end are notes about a few of the poems. See also “Lull in the Wind,” a trifold of all of these poems (until 2018), celebrating the Haiku Society of America’s 50th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of these annual membership anthologies. See the Haiku Society of America anthologies page.

2026 — Lost and Found

first snow—

an unfinished meal

in the firehouse kitchen

2025 — Ginkgo Gold

spring cleaning—

a little sand

escapes from the conch

2024 — Hauling the Tide

beauty is truth

the beached whale

sinking into sand

2023 — Fractured by Cattails

sleet in the air . . .

my son adds a Hershey bar

to Dad’s coffin

2022 — Dawn Returns

custody hearing—

the whites of her eyes

when she looks away

2021 — Visiting the Wind

a red mark

on her test paper . . .

Indian summer

2020 — Bundled Wildflowers

funeral’s end—

a whisper passed

from ear to ear

2019 — A Moment’s Longing

first rose—

my toddler’s breath

parting the petals +

2018 — Four Hundred and Two Snails

deepening debt—

snow along the rim

of the clay flower pot

2017 — On Down the Road

late for the bus

petals swirl

in a hearse’s wake +

2016 — Full of Moonlight

first flurries . . .

a skateboard

broken in two

2015 — A Splash of Water

tide rip—

the slant of light

through the islands

2014 — Take-out Window

yard sale—

a row of empty jars

tinged slightly red

2013 — This World

on the merry-go-round

with my daughter

a few fallen leaves

2012 — Sensation

blank page—

the words I’m supposed to write

at your passing

[publication of the 2012 anthology was cancelled, but this poem had been accepted for it]

2011 — In Pine Shade

morning light—

the seedpod rattles

in the baby’s hand

+

2010 — Sharing the Sun

Darwin’s barberry

the place where

the skid marks stop

2009 — A Travel-Worn Satchel

sharp Winnipeg wind . . .

walking backwards

to the bus

2008 — Dandelion Clocks

lazy day . . .

I give her wind chime

a stir

2007 — Flower of Another Country

into the lake,

our skipping stones’

intermingling rings

2006 — Fish in Love

a lull in the wind—

the tips of pines

clearer in the fog

2005 — Loose Change

morning sickness—

the patter of spring rain

on our new roof

2004 — Walking the Same Path

dust storm—

a fence post unweathered

below the soil line

2003 — Haiku Society of America Members’ Anthology 2003

gliding hawk—

the glint of sun

from a fish’s eye

2002 — Bits of Itself

night flight—

a little girl turns her doll

to face me

(after J. D. Salinger)

2001 — Voices and Echoes

commuter train—

that girl again

reading another romance

2000 — Crinkled Sunshine

so taken by the doodle

on your bookmark

I lose your place

1999 — Intersections

muddy lakeshore—

paw print

on the monarch’s wing

1998 — Light and Shadow

together

we take the old dog’s route

summer rain

1997 — From a Kind Neighbor

roar of the missed bus—

the stone I kicked

falls into a storm drain

1996 — A Solitary Leaf

home for Christmas:

my childhood desk drawer

empty + + +

1995 — One Breath

dust settles

after the passing car

. . . the slow windmill

1994 — Dreams Wander

a crying ghost—

halloween loot bag

burst on the sidewalk

1993 — When Butterflies Come

after-dinner mints

passed around the table

. . . slow-falling snow +

Notes

2023: This poem originally appeared with “Hershey’s bar” (technically the brand name) but I think it’s better with just “Hershey Bar.”

2017: This poem was published with a typo, without the “l” in the first line. “ate for the bus”? This poem also marks the third “bus” poem I’ve had in HSA anthologies.

2012: The HSA anthology was never published this year, hence the gap.

2009: This was a very old poem of mine (and feels weaker to me), but I submitted it because the anthology theme was place names and specific locations. I wanted to represent Winnipeg, because I used to live there.

1998: I did the layout and design for this anthology.

1997: The first line was incorrectly printed as “roar of a missed bus” (“a” should have been “the”).

1995: Unfortunately, this poem does not actually appear in the anthology. Although formally accepted for publication, the poem was accidentally omitted from the book due to editor error, but was acknowledged with an errata sheet.

1993: I wrote the introduction for this first HSA anthology, and also did the layout and design, as a result of my proposing this new publication series.