triveni spotlight
A FEATURE EVERY ALTERNATE DAY!
hosts: Teji Sethi and Kala Ramesh
guest editor: Billie Dee
Theme: Close Observation
Michael McClintock Clovis, California, USA
Modern Haiku 34.1, 2003.
I am pleased to submit the following selected poems from my personal "favorite haiku" list, one I've developed over the last 30 years or so. All have been approved by the authors; all include publication credits (except one from Patricia Machmiller which is unpublished); all are from the U.S. Pacific coastal rim (my region). I have chosen "close observation" as my theme, a guiding principle in my own writing, and a core element IMO for developing a Haiku Mind.
Peace,
Billie Dee
p.s. Under-lined book titles have embedded links where a reader can go to purchase the book.
Loved this ku from the time I first read it, when I had just begun my haiku journey. So strongly visual! Great poem to end your month, Billie Dee
A poppy. . .
a field of poppies!
the hills blowing with poppies!
---Michael McClintock
kigo=California golden poppy, spring
Ah, yes---"the hills blowing with poppies!"
I wanted to end this series with fireworks. I consider this the pinnacle of haikai literature, and treasure this particular poem along with the best of Issa.
In fact, if I had to choose only one contemporary haiku from the several hundred I've collected over the last 30 years in my "fav-ku" list, it would be this gloriously cinematic piece. It encapsulates everything I love in the wild coastline beauty of my home, California.
Thank you all for your generous commentary and insights this last month, and for indulging me the pleasure of this share.
Ah, what a sight this is... Beautifully captured!
A beautiful ku Billie from one of my favourite haiku and tanka poets! Thank you so much for sharing 🙏
Love Michael Sir's work. I hope he is well!