EDITOR'S WELCOME
Readers are now more accustomed to the six different categories of haiku which are featured in WHR's haiku selections. Of course, a haiku poet is a single person and cannot be dissected neatly and conveniently into categories. All emotions, thoughts and feelings which are working inside a poet will interact with what he or she experiences in the world around. Quite in which way such interaction leads the poet to is unpredictable. That is part of the fascination and joy of poetry creation.
However, the end results can be displayed according to some practical and reasonable characteristics, just like there are in the same music jazz, pop songs, country Western or classical music, or within classical music piano sonatas can be separated from symphonies. WHCvanguard haiku dealing with horrendous cruelty or violent sex do not mix well with WHChaikuneoclassical haiku admiring the beauty of Mt. Fuji or depicting loneliness consoled by cricket songs. I don't want to listen to rock 'n' roll and Mozart in the same concert hall, played simultaneouly. I love Dean Martin and Luciano Pavarotti almost in equal measure but I don't listen to them together. WHC's haiku classification means just that.
It is not so much asking poets to write poems according to such categories (which in itself is an important task but...) as asking them to create anything they like but to show anything worth showing in the right showrooms. If at any given time there are no works worth showing in some of these showrooms, then just don't. Equally, poets who have no interest in kigo at all do not need to post anything, or even join, WHChaikuneoclassical any more than those with no interest in progressive and radical end of vers libre haiku should post, or even subscribe, to WHCvanguard.
There have been misunderstandings and confusion about these aims of WHC's haiku classification. Such misunderstandings or confusion must not be allowed to stand in the way of poets' creation. And these are problems of the poets' own creation and therefore problems for themselves to solve.
Readers are welcome and encouraged to submit their original haiku on a on-going basis as well as in response to our call for submission.
Kengin,
Susumu Takiguchi
Editor WHChaiku, WHR
[Introduction]
all the six categories are as follows:
(a) GENERAL CATEGORY: Haiku poems of any type, form, topic, with or without kigo;
(b) THEMED CATEGORY: Haiku poems on the theme of "Solitude" (to be broadly interpreted. No restrictions
regarding form or kigo);
(c) KIGO CATEGORY: "Leaves turn colour";
(d) NEO-CLASSICAL HAIKU: Strictly traditional (see: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WHChaikuneoclassical )
(e) SHINTAI HAIKU: "shintai haiku" (new-style freer haiku) which sits between neo-classical and vanguard.
(f) VANGUARD HAIKU: Most radical and freest haiku (see: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WHCvanguard )
Each category has The Best (First Place), Best Ten and Zatsuei (haiku of merit). From the six The Best poems, The Grand Best (the best from all categories) is chosen as the Editor's Choice of the Issue.
List of Poets Featured
Dave Bacharach, US
Kent Chadwick, US
Cathy Drinkwater Better, US
Lynn Edge
Elizabeth Fanto, US
Michael Flack, Australia
Lorin Ford, Australia
Laryalee Fraser, Canada
Damien Gabriels, France
Denis M. Garrison, US
Victor P. Gendrano, US
Olga Hooper (Origa), US
Elizabeth Howard, US
Kirsty Karkow, US
Bill Kenney, US
Deborah P. Kolodji, US
Carmel Lively, US
Vinodh Marella (Yajushi), India
Tomislav Maretic, HR
Dubravko Marijanovic, HR
Zoran Mimica, Austria
Ruzica Mokos, HR
Polona Oblak, Slovenia
Paul Pfleuger, Jr., Taiwan
Zhanna P. Rader, US
Narayanan Raghunathan, India
Terrie Leigh Relf (semi), US
Bruce Ross, US
Yuri Runov, Russia
Ann K. Schwader, US
Vaughn Seward (tanemaki koishi), Canada
Adelaide B. Shaw, US
Nancy Stewart Smith, US
Marie Summers, US
Tad Wojnicki, US/Taiwan
#########################
THE GRAND BEST (The best from all categories and thus the Editor's Choice)
Joint Winners
red and gold
the hillside threads
into autumn
Laryalee Fraser, Canada
revealing itself
upon a banana leaf,
october wind
Vaughn Seward (tanemaki koishi), Canada
* * *
I have tried in vain to choose one of these as THE GRAND BEST. Both use century-old themes. Both, nevertheless, have newness and originality. Both deal with autumn. (And both are Canadians!) Both are good. Both I like also. In other words I have absolutely no reason why I would choose one in preference to the other and one thing I don't do is to toss a coin. The only solution left for me, therefore, is to make them joint winners.
'threads into autumn' and that the october wind is 'revealing itself upon a banana leaf' are the bits which make each of these haiku special respectively. The former is excellence of wording or expression. 'nishiki wo oru' is a Japanese expression which means to weave or thread cloths of exquisite colours and Fraser's phrase is surprisingly close to it, even if it may be a sheer coincidence. 'threads into' gives a sense of movement and the progression of time, as well as a skilful sketch of the autumn landscape.
Seward's is a case of superior grasp of an ordinary occurrence in an unusual and innovative way. We are accustomed to such expressions as whatever leaf or leaves swaying or trembling. However, to see wind revealing itself because of the certain movement of the banana leaf is new indeed.
Both are extremely good examples that we can still create a new and original haiku using the hackneyed and stereotypical materials.
******************************************************
(a) GENERAL CATEGORY:
THE BEST
deep ocean fog
the ferry passes
a last buoy
Bruce Ross, US
*
BEST TEN (In no particular order but includes THE BEST)
1
first chill
a spider weaves his web
under the neon light
Polona Oblak, Slovenia
2
doctor's waiting room
tropical plants
reach for light
Elizabeth Fanto, US
3
Summer day —
the whole valley is just for me
and the skylarks
Zhanna Rader, US
4
short day —
clouds race across
the prairie sky
Laryalee Fraser, Canada
5
Without distant peaks
the plain looks so dreary
swept by autumn wind
Yuri Runov, Russia
6
Spring again —
how can it be when my son
died last autumn?
Nancy Stewart Smith, US
7
deep ocean fog
the ferry passes
a last buoy
Bruce Ross, US
8
autumn evening
following my shadow
into the shadows
Bill Kenney, US
9
old path
grassed over
spring
Tad Wojnicki, US/Taiwan
10
the old couple
not ready to go in —
autumn evening
Bill Kenney, US
*
ZATSUEI (In no particular order)
widow's walk
a pool of leaves circles
the river birch
Kirsty Karkow, US
*
Hurrican Katrina: Fifteen Haiku
Septembet 2005
New Orleans floodwaters:
the face of the mutt
stranded in a tree
suddenly homeless
a mother holds her babies
too tight
water swirls
around submerged street signs—
rainbows of oil
in water-logged buildings
broken windows gape...
helicopter sound
floating rooftops
flames leap
from the water's surface
nightfall—
gunshots ring out
across the dark water
crowded shelter
the old woman's
tear-streaked face
amid search and resuce
video of looters
with a cart of TVs
manna from heaven—
helicopter-dropped MREs
splash down
sunlit tarmac:
a soldier carries a child
in each arm
rooftop rescue—
beneath the floodwaters
countless dead
sunset:
a journalist in hip waders
begins his report
photo-ops and sound bytes—
exhausted relief workers
hand out water
rifles at the ready
going door to door
in search of life
fetid waters
on his porch a hold-out
smiles and waves at the camera
Cathy Drinkwater Better, US
*
A night walk
with fireflies to the music
of tree frogs
Zhanna Rader, US
*
moonlight fresco
on the snowy slope
pawprints
Laryalee Fraser, Canada
*
early worship
sparrow shadows crisscross
the stained-glass dove
Elizabeth Howard, US
*
sunrise
the night fisherman reels
in his line
Lynn Edge, US
early morning
the heron's double image
glides downriver
Lynn Edge, US
*
Snow on a crow's back —
white on black, on white
Kent Chadwick, US
*
garden spider
a sunray caught
in its web
Marie Summers, US
*
watering —
a lizard laps up the drops
spilt on the pavement
Damien Gabriels, France
*
a rock on the hill
on a petrified shell
lichen grows
Polona Oblak, Slovenia
*
white dawn
a moon crab sinks back
into sand
Lorin Ford, Australia
*
moonlit bridge —
my shadow checks the path
before my steps
Olga Hooper (Origa), US
*
Tedious chit-chat...
light taps of the evening rain
in old apple trees.
Yuri Runov, Russia
*
aeons pass ~
yellow butterfly still
on the red rose
Narayanan Raghunathan, India
*
a sun appears
at midnight ~ the lamp
lights by itself
Narayanan Raghunathan, India
*
island through the haze
quivering with
the clamour of cicadas
Tomislav Maretic, HR
*
dancing with waves
snowflakes and sea foam
winter game
Ruzica Mokos, HR
*
Birds greet the morning. . .
sunlight filtering through the leaves
warm summer rain
Michael Flack, Australia
*
no money
— just the time
left
Zoran Mimica, Austria
*
waiting for a verdict —
the window becomes opaque
with frost
Denis M. Garrison, US
*
(b) THEMED CATEGORY (Solitude):
THE BEST
a stray stork
the sound of planes landing
and taking off
Polona Oblak, Slovenia
*
BEST TEN (In no particular order but includes THE BEST)
1
alone on the beach
the wavelength
of a single thought
Laryalee Fraser, Canada
2
a stray stork
the sound of planes landing
and taking off
Polona Oblak, Slovenia
3
Cutting old hazel —
we grew up together
and aged...
Yuri Runov, Russia
4
a widow watches
the setting sun, unmoved
by the loon's cry
Victor P. Gendrano, US
5
aimless feet
wander
in solitude
Vinodh Marella (Yajushi), India
6
the old couple
silent together sharing
solitudes
Bill Kenney, US
7
grandma's house
dust mites and memories
live in the attic
Carmel Lively, US
8
solitude
only the hum
of a dryer on low
Terrie Leigh Relf (semi), US
9
all alone —
urinating on my
own shadow
Dubravko Marijanovic, HR
10
winter isolation —
only the death visits
remote villages
Tomislav Maretic, HR
*
ZATSUEI
shallow water
a heron and I watch
one small fish
Kirsty Karkow, Maine USA
*
Alone at last —
a scuba tank on my back
and fish around
Zhanna Rader, US
*
late day stillness
a single acorn hits
the back deck
Bruce Ross, US
*
crowded subway —
careful to avoid
all the eyes
Dave Bacharach, US
*
camping alone —
the faces of women
in the fire
Dave Bacharach, US
*
long-distance call
lying alone and cold
in the double bed
Elizabeth Howard, US
*
hidden waterfall
in the redwoods
a lone hiker
Deborah P. Kolodji, US
*
a swift crossed the sky
that moment
she was gone
Denis M. Garrison, US
*
sleepless —
how even the moon
is alone
Ann K. Schwader, US
(c) KIGO CATEGORY: "Leaves turning colour"
THE BEST
red and gold
the hillside threads
into autumn
Laryalee Fraser, Canada
BEST TEN (In no particular order but includes THE BEST)
1
How carelessly
the birch throws away its gold
to the autumn wind
Yuri Runov, Russia
2
all the leaves are brown. . .
my son's ashes and dog
both lost to me
Nancy Stewart Smith, US
3
Leaves turning —
this year the old man watches them
only from his window
Zhanna Rader, US
4
red and gold
the hillside threads
into autumn
Laryalee Fraser, Canada
5
asphalt driveway —
a leaf mosaic
shifts its pattern
Adelaide B. Shaw, US
6
leaves turning color
I ask my hairdresser
to hide the gray
Deborah P. Kolodji, US
7
marching band
red and yellow leaves swirl
with the panoply of flags
Elizabeth Howard, US
8
leaves turning color
last green patches as green
as they will ever be
Bill Kenney, US
9
red leaves!
the tree climbing vine
drops its disguise
Lorin Ford, Australia
10
grey morning
the first yellow birch leaf
behind the wiper
Polona Oblak, Slovenia
*
ZATSUEI (In no particular order)
as leaves turn
a laughing gull
on every rock
Kirsty Karkow, Maine USA
*
Windy day —
red maple waving good-by
to its leaves
Zhanna Rader, US
*
autumn equinox
the two burning bush
brighter red
Bruce Ross, US
*
early September
with the first color changes
how white the birch
Bruce Ross, US
*
mountain trek
a spray of red leaves
hanging from the bluff
Elizabeth Howard, US
*
her last quilt
an abstract pattern
of fall leaves
Carmel Lively, US
*
coming back from work
first yellow leaves
in the path of the garage
Damien Gabriels, France
*
sunny California
only the maple trees wear
golden leaves
Victor P. Gendrano, US
*
Indian summer
footpath paved in gold —
acacia leaves
Polona Oblak, Slovenia
*
yellowing leaves —
she quits cigarettes
again
Lorin Ford, Australia
*
unfolding autumn
with color change, the tree
has shrunk
Olga Hooper (Origa), US
(d) NEO-CLASSICAL HAIKU:
THE BEST
revealing itself
upon a banana leaf,
october wind
Vaughn Seward (tanemaki koishi), Canada
*
BEST TEN
1
nameless flowers
sway in the cool breeze ~
a butterfly names them ~
Narayanan Raghunathan, India
2
end of August
evening advances
shadow by shadow
Bill Kenney, US
3
autumn dusk
grandpa gazes at the bird
flying alone
Victor P. Gendrano, US
4
revealing itself
upon a banana leaf,
october wind
Vaughn Seward (tanemaki koishi), Canada
5
downtown sidewalk
cherry petals
clog the cracks
Tad Wojnicki, US/Taiwan
6
a muskrat
glides in silence,
under the ice
Vaughn Seward (tanemaki koishi), Canada
7
sun-baked earth —
black ants crawling
into a cracked rock
Terrie Leigh Relf (semi), US
8
now fading into dawn
the moon that shone so brightly
in the midnight sky
Bill Kenney, US
9
first snowfall —
here is a christmas card
to be mailed, last year
Vaughn Seward (tanemaki koishi), Canada
10
crisp winter day —
columns of chimney smoke
hold up the sky
Olga Hooper (Origa), US
*
ZATSUEI (In no particular order)
No one in the park —
gusty rain is whipping
the bare tree branches
Zhanna Rader, US
*
coolness
into the Black Sea
lightning
Bruce Ross, US
*
dead reeds
along the Danube River
dragonflies
Bruce Ross, US
*
frosty evening —
the faint thump
of a basketball
Vaughn Seward (tanemaki koishi), Canada
*
(e) SHINTAI HAIKU:
THE BEST
Autumn wind —
her ex's ashes blow
into her face
Zhanna Rader, US
*
BEST TEN (In no particular order)
1
home from the coast
when the door opens
coffee scent and her voice
Denis M. Garrison, US
2
old photograph
my wife's face
before she knew mine
Bill Kenney, US
3
cicada's persistence where the artist was shot in the back
Paul Pfleuger, Jr., Taiwan
4
bricklayer asleep
fountain of flies springing up
every turn and toss
Vinodh Marella (Yajushi), India
5
Autumn wind —
her ex's ashes blow
into her face
Zhanna Rader, US
6
field of greens
and pleasing me most
these dry weeds
Bruce Ross, US
7
birthday cake
left in the oven
late bus
Terrie Leigh Relf (semi), US
8
do I know you —
my young face looks at me
from an old photo
Bill Kenney, US
9
sugar cane bowing promptly before the new moon
Paul Pfleuger, Jr., Taiwan
10
first great grandchild. . .
raindrops chuckling
down the spout
Nancy Stewart Smith, US
*
ZATSUEI (In no particular order)
earthquake news —
grandson's head resting
on my shoulder
Olga Hooper (Origa), US
*
hydrangea bed ~
a dragonfly, a honeybee
in sunlight chats
Narayanan Raghunathan, India
(f) VANGUARD HAIKU:
THE BEST
earthquake stills —
the living huddle
in sullen rain
Nancy Stewart Smith, US
*
BEST TEN
1
WORLD WAR II IN THE PHILIPPINES
by Victor P. Gendrano, US
made to movie
Bataan death march
too real for me
my brother
at fifteen learns
to shoot and kill
my sisters
still in high school
became first-aiders
through jungles
I carry their
provisions
my parents
hide their tears
on lonely nights
bayonets do not
discriminate
they only kill
women brigade
smuggling food
to prisoners
barely fourteen
she suffers silently
in nakedness
against their will
young girls became
comfort women
take your pick
bayonet or malaria
or play dead
wayside graves
no sign nor cross
long way from home
he dies
with the natives he helped -
Japanese soldier
in war
everybody loses
but war itself
Bataan, Corregidor
Capas, Manila
remember them
2
Their three-legged dog
still playing by the road —
cars zooming by
Zhanna P. Rader, US
3
Internet love —
virtual hug spans
the ocean
Olga Hooper (Origa), US
4
visions of Mandalas ~
I reach infinite cosmoses
of unborn beginnings
Narayanan Raghunathan, India
5
power outage the uncomfortable silence
Deborah P. Kolodji, US
6
earthquake stills —
the living huddle
in sullen rain
Nancy Stewart Smith, US
7
Gang rape —
the body
isn’t found
Zhanna P. Rader, US
8
into a pot
feathers and all —
the end of spring
Paul Pfleuger, Jr., Taiwan
9
Chinese New Year --
augury on the beast
inside me
Olga Hooper (Origa), US
10
laughing pumpkins
fly into the spring sky ~
hungry eagles chase
Narayanan Raghunathan, India
*
ZATSUEI (In no particular order)
below the highway's agitato
a drifter asleep
Paul Pfleuger, Jr., Taiwan
*
car accident. . .
a shattered hip and fire ants
in hidden places
Nancy Stewart Smith, US
*
valley fruit
sinking my teeth
I draw blood
Tad Wojnicki, US/Taiwan
*
Sequence "The Haiku Box"
The Haiku Box
haiku in a box
on all six sides
different labels
deciphering labels
twelve greybeard teachers
each eminent somewhere
haiku unread
for twenty-four reasons
the box unopened
brush strokes faded
after forty-eight years
of hot debate
an empty box
a ninety-six degree day
no end of hot wind
NOTES: This sequence deals satirically with haiku
politics.
Denis M. Garrison, US
*
Sequence "Terror War"
Terror War
for half an instant
a monstrous peony blooms
above the bus stop
red-orange in pale blue sky
then the shock wave hits
I missed the bus —
now it flies
back at me
somewhere in the flames
cell phones ring
constantly
black smoke lifts
streams of blood
mix in the gutter
a slim hand holds
a shopping list —
her bent ring
fatal weeds
huge fire-blooms
the flowers of death
blocks from the blast
drivers curse traffic
suddenly sirens
the news turned off
time for comedy
no attacks here
morning paper
front page photo
my son ... my son!
bomber's funeral
mourners' wild eyes when
a bus backfires
NOTES: This haiku sequence, headed by a tanka, is
inspired by the attack in London.
Denis M. Garrison, US
*
smashed windows
an old jazz man
marches the saints in
(image taken from television coverage of looting following hurricane
Katrina in New Orleans -- "saints" refers to jazz/gospel song standard
"When the Saints Go Marching In")
Ann K. Schwader, US
*
a 5 ft jump —
38 years to
touch ground!
(Israel pulled out of the Egypt-Gaza buffer zone known as 'philadelphi corridor' on 13th Sept,05 -
immediately followed by Egyptian boys, men, women and even gun toting militants. Egyptian boys jumped into Gaza (just across the 5' high wall) to play with their Palestinian counterparts after a gap of 38 years!)
Vinodh Marella (Yajushi), India
*
