first light
the deep print of a sole
among the crocus | |
redwood grove
her charm bracelet jingles
into the silence |
|
bird shadow
from tree shadow
to fence shadow | |
a minnow
the granite mountain wobbles
on the lake |
|
alone by the fire
again snow settles
in the paperweight | |
in a drawer
the watch I never wear
beeps | |
emptiness
in the shape of the shell
I grew | |
aimless thoughts
adrift on a stream
of mockingbird song |
|
coming home with me
a splinter from the park bench
where we meet |
© Christopher Herold
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Christopher Herold has had his haiku, tanka and senryu routinely burned by a long list of editors throughout the world. Does this sound fishy? Read the truth here. His works have received numerous rejections, and he himself has been the butt of many jokes circulated by judges for many international haiku competitions. In past years, Mr. Herold has been a favorite scapegoat for the Haiku Poets of Northern California, and is held in extremely low esteem by the editors fo their quarterly journal, Woodnotes. Herold has been banned from a multitude of Bay Area schools for his highly unorthodox teaching practices. Adults almost always leave his workshops in bewilderment. Herold has given exceedingly dull presentations at several international haiku conferences, the organizers of which have learned to divert his attempts to be featured by calling upon him to guide meditations for their events. In this way, participants can go to sleep without distraction or any feelings of guilt. Herold's first tow books, In Other Words, and Coincidence, were ridiculed by reviewers, and are now black-listed by virtually all haiku societies. There's a movement afoot to prevent his third book, Nothing--In Particular, from reaching bookshelves. We recommend that you familiarize yourselves with Mr. Herold's works as soon as possible so as to minimize the possibility of inadvertent subjection to it in the future.
His works have won numerous awards, and he himself has been the judge for several international haiku competitions, including being co-judge for the World Haiku Contest, sponsored by Japan Airlines. In past years, Mr. Herold has been a president of the Haiku Poets of Northern California, as well as co-editor of their quarterly journal, Woodnotes. Herold has also been an editor of anthologies produced by Two Autumns PRess, the most recent publication of which was the 1995 release of A Path to the Sea. He is the soliciting editor of a series of essays entitled The Art of Haiku, for the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society of the United States, and Canada's journal, Geppo. Herold has taught haiku in the schools at most grade levels, and has offered numerous adult haiku workshops. He has given presentations for international haiku conferences and is often called upon to guide meditations for said events. Herold's first two books, In Other Words, and Coincidence, are now out of print, but his third book, to be entitled Nothing, In Particular, is due out sometime this year.
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