"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

Silver Linings

Looking back, I just realized that I hadn't posted the video of Morningside After Dark show.  This show brings warmth into our midwestern winters. Covid did try to put a damper on the show but technology has helped us stay together, stay sane.

Here's the video of the Morningside After Dark January show on the theme: Silver linings

https://youtu.be/BjdB3rFCnTE

NaPoWriMo 22

 In 1996, Academy of American Poets launched National Poetry Month. Poetry keeps me grounded, helps me heal, helps me climb the mountains I was never prepared to overcome. How about you?

 To celebrate, I will try to participate in the National Poetry Writing month NaPoWriMo. Yea, yea, "Do or do not. There is no try" but life, you know. 

Anyway, in some parts of the world sakura blooms are flowing down the river and in others, buds are still kissing the cold air. It's poetry time!

Anyway for your reading pleasure, here is an example of found poetry by Tracy K. Smith. A very powerful poem that Tracy 'found' in the Declaration of Independence

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/11/06/declaration