"Holy crapadoodle!"

I had heard of Ben Gaa from his poetry and heard him on Patricia's Poetry Pea podcast, which incidentally is my first haiku school. The one I very clearly remember is this one Pea TV Uncut Workshop: Ben Gaa – Haiku without me

When Reid Hepworth, my gifted haijin friend forwarded me the YouTube link where Ben Gaa spoke about my poem from the recent Acorn issue, I was stunned. It was one of the flattering reviews I have received and also one of the most humbling. 

My poem did have me in the haiku while at the same I was addressing a very universal issue. But his review of my haiku was brilliant, how he got nuances that I had never thought would come to light and also he, as a reader had his own world that he took my poem to, I was so touched. Bring out the hanky!

Here's one by Ben that I loved from his book One Breath. I remember smiling so wide at hearing this one. Thinking of all the weeds in my backyard but they were all identified. And then my mind travelled to the societal backyard as a whole. 

backyard weeds everyone has a name

-Ben Gaa

Thank you Ben for reviewing my haiku, and doing so, ever so kindly.

Haiku enthusiasts, do check out his channel, Haiku Talk I loved it, you will too!

Haiku Talk Episode 29