f/k/a archives . . . real opinions & real haiku

Two months ago, I posted let’s all join Haiku Society of America, urging

writers and other lovers of haiku and related forms of poetry to join the

Haiku Society of America.   That’s still a very good idea, for all the

reasons I gave in December, including that:

Along with the regular membership fee of $33 ($30 for students

and senior citizens), come the three annual editions of Frogpond —

HSA’s venerable haiku journal (and source of many f/k/a haiku and

senryu); newsletters; plus much good feeling, camaradie. and occa-

sional familial wrangling. 

In addition, there’s one other major benefit to HSA membership — the oppor-

tunity to appear in the annual HSA Members’ Anthology.  Click here to see

the cover of the 2005 Anthology, Loose Change, which has one haiku or

senryu from more than 220 HSA members (and is available for only $10).   

big thaw overnight —

reflections

on the river

 

         david giacalone, loose change

Every year, members who wish to participate send 5 poems (newbies can send

10) to the editors, who select one to appear in the Anthology.  It’s a great way

to encourage neophyte poets to write and submit haiku, while assuring them

of publication.  And, its a great way for the Association to show the variety and 

quality of its members’ work.

 

 

Here comes the nag for Current HSA Members:  Note that Loose Change has

over 220 poems, but that means that 600 HSA members chose not to participate

in the Anthology for 2005.  Let me get on my soapbox, and say that being part

of the Anthology seems, to old haikuEsq, to be more than a benefit of membership,

it’s also a responsibility — and one that can be easily fulfilled by currently or previ-

ously active haijin, as submitted poems can be either published or unpublished.

 

snow bound —

a hint of gardenia

in the sweater drawer

 

    ellen compton, Loose Change

   Convinced?  Think about it a moment, and then please click

on the Instructions for Participation in the HSA Members’ Antholgy 2006.

Roberta Beary and Ellen Compton are co-editors for this year’s edition.  I’m

sure they would want me to remind you, especially:

the deadline: In the editors’ hands by May 31, 2006 (much sooner

is much better)

 

eligibility: All HSA Members (even brand new ones who join by May 31)

 

the address: Roberta Beary

                   1718 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 201

                   Washington, DC 20009

When my 2006 Anthology arrives in the mail in December, I’d like it to be twice

the size of this year’s — 150 pages, instead of 75.  It would indeed be a great

resource for, and reflection of, HSA’s membership.  Please do your part.

 

 

                                                                                             

“tinyredcheck”  Seventeen of f/k/a‘s Honored Guest Poets appear

in Loose Change, HSA’s Members’ Anthology 2005:

(I guess I need to work on the other nine).  Here, in

alphabetical order, are their contributions, which

say much about the quality of the publication.   

 

 

 

 

harvest moon

the long pull

of farway children

 

    roberta beary

 

 

 

just long enough

to leave an impression

dragonfly

 

    yu chang

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valentine’s Day —

I forget to get

the garbage out

 

    tom clausen

 

 

 

a steady breeze

the last child

leaves home

 

      devar dahl

 

 

 

 

                                       “snowflakeS” “snowflakeS”

 

 

 

 

so suddenly winter

baby teeth at the bottom

of the button jar

 

   carolyn hall

 

 

 

 

without islands in the dead center loneliness

 

      jim kacian

 

 

 

 

spring breeze

the wine of a carpenter’s

saw

 

     david g. lanoue

 

he comes to bed

cleanshaven . . .

winter stars

 

   peggy willis lyles

 

 

migratory ducks

I have never

kept a diary

 

   paul m.

 

 

 

ikebana

a stone turning

in my palm

 

    pamela miller ness

 

 

 

whittling

the changes

in his face

 

    w.f. owen

 

 

 

 

 

deep winter

I search the lease

for a loophole

 

    tom painting

 

winter night

a pulling sensation

under the bandage

 

    john stevenson

 

 

 

Abandoned barn

one bale of hay with twine

unraveling

 

      george swede

 

“snowflakeS”

 

 

 

first visit

seeing the colors

she lives with

 

     hilary tann

 

 

 

morning sickness —

the patter of spring rain

on our new roof

 

    michael dylan welch

 

 

 

 

chilly evening —

the wine full of summer

in a far country

 

    billie wilson

 

 Loose Change, (Haiku Society of America Members’ Anthology 2005,

edited by Pamela Miller Ness & Tom Painting; Stanford M. Forrester, contributing ed, 2006)

 

 

Weekend Bonus:  The newest edition of Roadrunner Haiku Journal

went online yesterday (VI: 1, Feb. 4, 2006).  In addition to several features,

it includes three haiku or senryu from each of 15 haijin — including Aurora

Antonovich, Eric Houck, Jr., and Bruce Ross, along with a number of our

own Honored Guests.  Here are one each by Peggy Willis Lyles and

John Stevenson:

 

a lantern

in the pothole–

moonset

 

     Peggy Lyles

 

 

winter
the interval
between park benches

 

     John Stevenson