Thanks Kerry - I really appreciate the support. And thankyou SO MUCH for becoming our first paid subscriber - it means the world to me. I'll be in contact soon over email to get some info so we can send you a book or two :-)
how can I be the first?? I really appreciate everything you share and especially the haiku lessons. I love writing haiku and enjoy learning more about the history and the other near forms.
Haha - well, I haven't really pushed the subscriptions yet, or promoted anything. But have some plans for that coming up, so fingers crossed. So wonderful to hear how much you enjoy the haiku content - gotta get back to doing haiku thursdays! Have some things planned which should be good. :-) It's such a wonderful form and history, and has so much to offer poetics. Yay for haiku!
Laurence & Dick, I love seeing the joy and satisfaction this project has generated in both of you! I’m especially interested to listen for the conversation that happens between your words. And, of course, being obsessed with the microseasons, I will enjoy your take on the continual unfolding of the subtle cycles of nature.
Awww thanks Ann - that means a lot. It is so lovely to know that joy comes through :-) Yeah - with your interest in microseasonality I think there will be some nice moments of connection with the poems - and with haiku in general I imagine. The unfolding of seasons, whether consciously or unconsciously, is so important to the patterns developed in haiku writing, at least from our perspective (a lot of Western haiku has semi-abandoned seasonality, which I think has had an effect on the form overall, in English especially). Really looking forward to hearing more about what you think after reading! 💜
Linking the practice of Japanese poetry to the 72 microseasons makes sense. I feel that the two go hand-in-hand, naturally, since it takes a great deal of patience and restraint to see the world in that subtle way. When the poet invites the reader into the haiku to help shape it (in the way that the reader’s mind and soul want/need to do) there’s a modesty—much like the modest things of nature. I was looking at a Cranefly Orchid leaf on my walk tonight, and wondering why the beautiful purple side stays hidden on the underneath. ***Who is it for?***
Just for Beauty’s sake, I suppose. The mysterious wheel of the seasons turns gently.
Absolutely :-) That was one of the reasons I subscribed to your newsletter - I hadn't heard of "microseasons" before, but when I saw your writing on it, I was like, oh wow - this is what haiku asks you to observe. :-) The first major collection of standalone haiku was made by Masaoka Shiki in the 1890s - it's 12 volumes long, and contains over 100,000 verses, organised by season and topic - I am sure there must be an amazing view of microseasonality within. I own a copy but can't read it haha. I still hold out hope that I might one day meet someone who knows Japanese well, and we can collaborate on a translation hehe.
Oh yeah, I love the way you put that - the collaborative modesty of haikai is akin to the collaborative modesty of the seasons. They grow, and contribute to the growing of other verses. Love your description of the Cranefly Orchid as well. Puts me in mind of a haiku, maybe something like:
"The first major collection of standalone haiku was made by Masaoka Shiki in the 1890s - it's 12 volumes long, and contains over 100,000 verses, organised by season and topic - I am sure there must be an amazing view of microseasonality within."
Oh the endless possibilities in this way of seeing...
I look forward to receiving and reading this collaboration between you and Laurence, Dick. Thanks for including the link in this post. Best Wishes to you both and may Before the Earth! meet with great success!
Aw cheers Paul :-) Really appreciate it. Yours and everyone else's kind words have made the experience a success already for me! And for that I thank you. Best wishes to you and yours too.
Aw thanks Fotini - means a lot 💛 That's the best kind of Christmas, an early one that keeps on going hehe! I am really happy you will have a copy, and hope you enjoy it. Super curious what you end up thinking of it!
Wow! I am very excited for you to read it :-) Thanks so much for the support - means heaps. Hope convening with trees and the world outside the computer is going well 💛💛💛
Ahhhhh lovely. Love that moistness of the earth, the feeling and smell. Yeah I have no idea what delivery times from Amazon to Greece are like - it always takes a while to get things here in NZ even though they only have to come from Australia.
Haha - yeah, I mean I mostly cover American poetry in the Forgotten Poems section, because that is where some of the best poetry was being written, and more importantly, published in the early-1900s, so I can see how it might seem like I was from America. Yeah same, yay for southern hemisphere poets :-)
I'm really excited for people to read and enjoy our book!
Saaaaaame! <3 Forgot you had a profile on here - have added you as a guest writer on the post :-)
Congratulations! I appreciate all your work bringing all these poems to light, and making the obscure/out of print poets/poems accessible.
Thanks Kerry - I really appreciate the support. And thankyou SO MUCH for becoming our first paid subscriber - it means the world to me. I'll be in contact soon over email to get some info so we can send you a book or two :-)
how can I be the first?? I really appreciate everything you share and especially the haiku lessons. I love writing haiku and enjoy learning more about the history and the other near forms.
Haha - well, I haven't really pushed the subscriptions yet, or promoted anything. But have some plans for that coming up, so fingers crossed. So wonderful to hear how much you enjoy the haiku content - gotta get back to doing haiku thursdays! Have some things planned which should be good. :-) It's such a wonderful form and history, and has so much to offer poetics. Yay for haiku!
It is clear how much you both have put into this, and it is inspiring to see!
Congratulations.
I've reserved a spot on my shelf for this one.
Aw cheers Hasse! Means a lot. I saw yr order come through - so much thanks, and really hope you enjoy it. :-)
Laurence & Dick, I love seeing the joy and satisfaction this project has generated in both of you! I’m especially interested to listen for the conversation that happens between your words. And, of course, being obsessed with the microseasons, I will enjoy your take on the continual unfolding of the subtle cycles of nature.
I cannot wait to dig in!!!
Awww thanks Ann - that means a lot. It is so lovely to know that joy comes through :-) Yeah - with your interest in microseasonality I think there will be some nice moments of connection with the poems - and with haiku in general I imagine. The unfolding of seasons, whether consciously or unconsciously, is so important to the patterns developed in haiku writing, at least from our perspective (a lot of Western haiku has semi-abandoned seasonality, which I think has had an effect on the form overall, in English especially). Really looking forward to hearing more about what you think after reading! 💜
Linking the practice of Japanese poetry to the 72 microseasons makes sense. I feel that the two go hand-in-hand, naturally, since it takes a great deal of patience and restraint to see the world in that subtle way. When the poet invites the reader into the haiku to help shape it (in the way that the reader’s mind and soul want/need to do) there’s a modesty—much like the modest things of nature. I was looking at a Cranefly Orchid leaf on my walk tonight, and wondering why the beautiful purple side stays hidden on the underneath. ***Who is it for?***
Just for Beauty’s sake, I suppose. The mysterious wheel of the seasons turns gently.
Absolutely :-) That was one of the reasons I subscribed to your newsletter - I hadn't heard of "microseasons" before, but when I saw your writing on it, I was like, oh wow - this is what haiku asks you to observe. :-) The first major collection of standalone haiku was made by Masaoka Shiki in the 1890s - it's 12 volumes long, and contains over 100,000 verses, organised by season and topic - I am sure there must be an amazing view of microseasonality within. I own a copy but can't read it haha. I still hold out hope that I might one day meet someone who knows Japanese well, and we can collaborate on a translation hehe.
Oh yeah, I love the way you put that - the collaborative modesty of haikai is akin to the collaborative modesty of the seasons. They grow, and contribute to the growing of other verses. Love your description of the Cranefly Orchid as well. Puts me in mind of a haiku, maybe something like:
.
cranefly orchid,
some bruises cannot
be seen
.
Or perhaps:
.
cranefly orchid,
some colours you keep
to yourself
.
And the wheel turns . . .
"The first major collection of standalone haiku was made by Masaoka Shiki in the 1890s - it's 12 volumes long, and contains over 100,000 verses, organised by season and topic - I am sure there must be an amazing view of microseasonality within."
Oh the endless possibilities in this way of seeing...
And I like your poems. Here's a couple for you :)
cranefly orchid
summer kept
in a single leaf
cranefly orchid
hidden vibrance
in winter’s sleep
Lovely :-)
Many congratulations! What an achievement. Enjoy the book release 💙
Thanks so much Caroline, I really appreciate it 💜 it’s been such a great time doing it and everyone has been so supportive and lovely. Warms my heart!
I’m buying my copy today!
Aw wow - super touched LeeAnn and appreciate it so much!!! Hope you enjoy it! Really looking forward to hearing what ya think of it :-)
I look forward to receiving and reading this collaboration between you and Laurence, Dick. Thanks for including the link in this post. Best Wishes to you both and may Before the Earth! meet with great success!
Aw cheers Paul :-) Really appreciate it. Yours and everyone else's kind words have made the experience a success already for me! And for that I thank you. Best wishes to you and yours too.
I know what I am getting for Christmas... too soon, but a girl can't wait :)
Congratulations, Dick. 💛
Aw thanks Fotini - means a lot 💛 That's the best kind of Christmas, an early one that keeps on going hehe! I am really happy you will have a copy, and hope you enjoy it. Super curious what you end up thinking of it!
I just placed the order! I hope there will be many more like me and your book will travel around the world :) Can’t wait!
Wow! I am very excited for you to read it :-) Thanks so much for the support - means heaps. Hope convening with trees and the world outside the computer is going well 💛💛💛
Had a wonderful day at the park, everything moist from the morning rain. I came home muddy but cleansed :)
I look forward to your book, it might take some time though before it arrives.
Ahhhhh lovely. Love that moistness of the earth, the feeling and smell. Yeah I have no idea what delivery times from Amazon to Greece are like - it always takes a while to get things here in NZ even though they only have to come from Australia.
Patience is the key :)
Congratulations to you both!
Cheers Mark - really appreciate it!
This is such awesome news!
Congratulations both! And I had no idea you were just across the ditch in NZ Dick 🙌.
Aw thanks so much Amanda!! Yeah haha - we're Oceanic buddies :-)
For some reason I thought you were in the US. I love knowing I have an Oceanic buddy 🙌
Haha - yeah, I mean I mostly cover American poetry in the Forgotten Poems section, because that is where some of the best poetry was being written, and more importantly, published in the early-1900s, so I can see how it might seem like I was from America. Yeah same, yay for southern hemisphere poets :-)
Congratulations! This will be fun to read.
Aw cheers Kim - I really appreciate it. I hope it's fun! :-)