the archives of f/k/a . . .

It’s been months since I’ve mentioned a great

resource available only here at f/k/a — the

pre-publication version of jim kacian’s haiku primer,

First Thoughts.  Why not pour yourself a glass

of wine and spend time with a poet-editor-publisher

who is a household name among lovers of English-

language haiku.  Here’s the Table of Contents: 

 

part 1:  Introduction 

              Chapter One – What is a Haiku?

              Chapter Two – Form

              Chapter Three – Content

 

part 2:  Chapter Four – Technique

              Chapter Five – Language

              Chapter Six – How to Write Haiku

 

part 3:  Chapter Seven – A (Very) Brief History of Haiku

              Chapter Eight – Related Forms

              Chapter Nine – Performance

              Endnote – Haiku: The World’s Longest Poem

              Glossary 

 

 

 

For an appetizer, let’s share a six-pack

with Jim: 

 

 

 

autumn breeze—
shadows of wheat
in the waving wheat

 

 

 

 

overnight flight—
how slowly light comes
around the world

 

 

 

 

 

hummingbird I stop a moment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the cold night
comes out of the stones
all morning

 

 

 

                                                                                             

 

walking in
the orchard      suddenly
                          its      plan

 

 

 

 

 

passing the jug
the warmth
of many hands

Jim Kacian 

“the cold night” – Presents of Mind (1996)

“walking in” – Six Directions

“passing the jug” -  a second spring

“autumn breeze” & “overnight” & hummingbird” – Simply Haiku (Aug. 2003)