Dave Russo speaks at the 2013 HSA SE Ginko Haikufest in Atlanta
photo by Raymond French
photo by Raymond French
Happy Thanksgiving weekend! I hope you're settling into some time for reflection after the big day - or at least moments of noticing between all the Black Friday sales.
In our WE HAIKU HERE series, speakers from our recent HSA (Haiku Society of America) Southeast Regional “Ginko Haikufest” in Atlanta have graced my blog. We've gotten to know poets Curtis Dunlap, Tom Painting and Laurence Stacey.
Today's guest hails from North Carolina, and if you've enjoyed the great resources on The Haiku Foundation website, you have him to thank.
At our weekend gathering, Dave and Bob Moyer led a fun and lively interactive session on "Haiku from Scratch."
Dave Russo’s haiku have appeared in Frogpond, Modern Haiku, Acorn, and other journals. He is included in the New Resonance 5 anthology from Red
Moon Press. Dave organizes events for the North Carolina Haiku Society and is the web administrator for the NCHS and The Haiku Foundation.
Now, I know you saved some room for haiku. Please enjoy these examples of Dave's poetry. (Those haiku poets among you might appreciate the progression from the "5-7-5" structure of his earliest published poems to the shorter, more condensed recent works.)
All through the meeting,
your calm face by the window.
Bright, darkening trees
Frogpond, xx:2 1997
It's late, the office
almost empty. Your bare feet
whisper by my door
Modern Haiku, xxvii:3, 1997
ice melting the shape of the branch it fell from
The Heron’s Nest, June 2013
olive blossoms . . .
the sound of a hive
in the abbey wall
Snapshot Press Haiku Calendar for 2013, Runner Up for August
All poems ©Dave Russo. All rights reserved.
In response to the question, "Why haiku?" - Dave's words are likewise concise and meaningful:
"Because haiku can express a depth of feeling with an economy of means that is not often found elsewhere."
Amen! Many thanks, Dave, for joining us today and sharing your work.
Next week the Poetry Friday Round Up is HERE with poet, author, Issa scholar and Haiku Society of America president David Lanoue.
For today's poetic feast, please take your plate over to Carol's Corner.
[AND (blatant commercial warning): should you want to do any Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday shopping between poetry stops, feel free to use Coupon Code PFPEEPS13 in my artsyletters Etsy shop for 15 percent off now through Monday! Poet Gift Packs, notecards, altered vintage books, typewriter key jewelry, bookmarks, and more!] :0)