Finding the Way

Haiku collection featuring 56 poems and four field notes, with an introduction by the author. Winner of First Place in the 2003 Merit Book Awards from the Haiku Society of America (for books published in 2002).

the shelter of a tree

neither of us knows

the other’s name

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2002, saddle-stitched with square-bound wrapper, 52 pages, 4 x 5½ inches, ISBN 1-878798-25-1

• See PDF version of the book.

• Read a review by Tom Clausen.

• "A serenity of quiet confidence marks these poems, a serenity borne of having found the haiku way." —Michael Dylan Welch (on the back cover)

• “A haiku is a fragrance in the wind. It is time captured, emotion quietly caught. . . . Of all poetry, haiku seems to most closely examine the light that connects us with the seemingly disparate, the intimate details of our lives and surroundings, the echo of one thing upon another.” —from the introduction by the author

• “In an insightful introduction Paul notes that haiku ‘of all poetry seems to most closely examine the light that connects us with the seemingly disparate, the intimate details of our lives and surroundings, the echo of one thing upon another.’ . . . I feel that what gives this collection a distinguished signature is its use of this ‘echo.’ Throughout this beautifully produced book are haiku that demonstrate how a reverberation between two images with one working against (or with) another enhances both. For example,

falling leaves
the rusty wheelbarrow
heavy with stones

that chipmunk again
river sunlight skipping
leaf to leaf

There is much to delight in this collection as you discover how finely and carefully Paul presents the ‘coming to’—a clear intuition of what it is that speaks to us in a haiku way. There is a strength to the evenness and consistency in the tone of these haiku. There are keen perceptions and thoughtful relationships that unfold slowly in the consciousness at just the right speed.” —from a review by Tom Clausen in Modern Haiku 34:1, Spring 2003

• “Finding the Way is a collection of 56 haiku that invite the reader on a journey of the author’s observations and musings. paul m’s haiku resound long after the initial reading, and make a return visit to his poems most rewarding. The subtle play of images and juxtaposition makes the haiku in this collection a pleasure to ponder. The beauty of this book extends beyond the poetry. Its modest size, beautiful cover art and eloquently written narrative between sections contribute to a unified whole, sure to please.” —Michael Ketchek and Tom Painting, judges, 2003 Merit Book Awards for the Haiku Society of America (first place winner)

paul m. (Paul Miller) holds a BA in cognitive psychology from the University of California, San Diego, and an MA in creative writing from San Francisco State University. A California native, he has lived and worked in San Francisco since 1990. He is an award-winning poet who has been writing haiku since 1988, and his work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. He is married and has a dog, and highly advocates both.

See an updated bio and the Global Haiku Traditions profile and reader response essay.