HSA President David G. Lanoue and Regional Coordinator Terri L. French at the 2013 HSA SE Ginko Haikufest in Atlanta
photo by Curtis Dunlap
photo by Curtis Dunlap
Thanks to everyone who's been tagging along for the adventure in our WE HAIKU HERE series, featuring speakers from our recent Haiku Society of America (HSA) Southeast Region's"ginko haikufest" in Atlanta. Today I'm thrilled to introduce Terri L. French, our hard-working, organized, and oh-so-talented regional coordinator.
Shortly after I stumbled into the HSA, and started looking around for a tribe in my area, magical emails appeared from this go-getter poet in Alabama. Terri had volunteered to take the reins in this part of the country with a history of terrific poets. She coordinated a regional meeting/weekend retreat in the Alabama mountains in 2012 (I couldn't make that one), and another this year in Atlanta (I did make this one!). What a special treat to meet people in person whom I'd only known by their bylines in journals, and a few by email. We are all grateful for Terri's vision and follow-through!
First, let's meet Terri:
Terri L. French referred to herself as a Massage Therapist who writes, but she has come to realize that she is truly a Writer who does massage therapy. Terri’s degree in journalism helps her to appreciate the short, concise elements in haiku and other haikai forms.
Her work has appeared in various journals, such as Frogpond, Modern Haiku, Daily Haiku, Contemporary Haibun Online, A Hundred Gourds and Moonbathing. She serves as the Southeast Coordinator of the Haiku Society of America and is editor of the online senryu and kyoka journal, Prune Juice. Terri and her husband, Ray, have four grown children and reside in Huntsville, Alabama.
Now, please enjoy some of Terri's poetry:
waiting room—
a fly climbs the stairs
on an Escher print
3rd Prize 2012 HSA Gerald C. Brady Memorial Contest
first freeze—
brushing frost
from the pansies' faces
Feb. 18, 2011 DailyHaiku
evening meditation
on the tao of the next wave
everything rests
haiga online, Issue 12-2, 2011
he brings flowers
the same shade—
bruises
Frogpond 34:3 and
2011 The Haiku Foundation Touchstone Award
distant thunder
the sound of an ellipsis
commendation The Haiku Foundation HaikuNow! Contest, 2013
smothered in face cream
grandmother reads
A Wrinkle in Time
A Hundred Gourds, 2:4, September, 2013
catching tadpoles
this summer he wades
d
e
e
p
e
r
from Terri's book, A Ladybug on My Words, available on Amazon. [Bought and recommended by yours truly!]
All poems ©Terri L. French. All rights reserved.
Finally, I asked Terri, "Why haiku?"
I tend to be a planner and often find my thoughts centered on the future. Haiku, much like my yoga practice, or performing massage, helps me to stay focused and to pay attention to what is happening in my current environment.
Thank you, Terri, for joining us today, and for all you do to promote haikai arts. And thank you for sharing your fine work here this week!
For more wonderful poetry, visit the wonderful Buffy at Buffy's Blog for this week's Roundup.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! Next week I'll be sharing my special treasures received, poetic and otherwise, during the Winter Poem Swap.