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Haiku Canada: 25 Years Young Dina Cox, Ontario, CA

The weekend of May 17^th through 19^th 2002 saw between forty and fifty haiku poets gather at Glendon College in Toronto, Ontario for Haiku Canada’s annual weekend retreat and AGM. This year’s conference marked the twenty-fifth anniversary celebration of the inception of Haiku Canada. Enthusiasm remained at a high level throughout the weekend and it occurs to me that it must be a rare thing for such a gathering to be so democratic. Attendees included beginners, experienced poets, and poets who have won many awards. They came from Canada, the United States, and Japan. The Canadian delegates alone covered the country coast to coast…. from British Columbia to Newfoundland, and all points in between. We were all there to learn more about understanding and appreciating haiku, to hone our skills, and to honour the tradition of writing and sharing our small poems. It was as they say, a grand event.

When I was asked to write this report, my just-back-from-the-conference excitement was brought down a touch as I realized that for the first time in my four years of attending Haiku Canada conferences, I had not made any notes. Not one. I ask you therefore, to forgive me if I overlook some details… and to connect instead with my own enthusiasm, and to consider joining us in 2003 in Ottawa, for our next conference… where you will discover first hand, why this is a not-to-miss happening.

I almost don’t know where to begin… so I will simply start at the beginning. The conference opened with greetings from our President Nick Avis, after which the haiku poets present introduced themselves, each reading one of his or her own haiku. This was followed by the reading of the 2002 Haiku Canada Member’s Anthology, “beyond spring rain” edited by LeRoy Gorman, each poem read by a poet other than its creator. As would be expected, it is a fine anthology, exhibiting the best work from members of Haiku Canada around the world. Represented in the anthology are haiku poets from Canada, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Wales, Greece and India. If I have left your country out, and you are reading this, please know that your haiku was respectfully and well read before the attending poets. Tom Clausen, one of the attendees from New York state, said afterwards that “this makes for a very memorable impression of all the voices in Haiku Canada”. A chorus of voices reading poetry. I like that.

The first evening of the conference included a delightful and sensitive performance by Claudia Coutu and Terry Ann Carter, titled “white on white: a tribute to basho”. Based on a haiku sequence “Narcissus Unfolding” by Claudia Coutu, and incorporating a haiku of Bashô’s….

narcissus and screen
one lights the other
white on white

...this was an intimate and sensitively presented interpretation of the essence of narcissus bulbs in a bowl. It incorporated music (including a doumbeki hand drum, flute, and Tibetan Singing Bowls), painting (created during the performance), and the simultaneous reading of the “Narcissus Unfolding” sequence. Being a musician as well as a poet myself, I was transfixed by this performance. The true test of a moving performance lies in that second of silence after the last note or sound dies away, and before the applause begins. This, the silent “Ah!” of appreciation, was the haiku equivalent of a standing ovation.

Claudia and Terry’s presentation was followed by a rousing group renga led by Marshall Hryciuk, and thus ended the first day of celebrations...though not all the poets present were able to last until the renga was completed...some of us actually found it necessary to steal some shut-eye!

Nick Avis (L) and Bruce Ross (R)

Nick Avis and Bruce Ross started off the second day of the conference by conducting a very popular “anonymous workshop” which was followed by Haiku Canada’s AGM, after which we were all treated to a lovely catered lunch.

After lunch, Ann Goldring gave an appreciation in memory of Ruby Spriggs, a well known and very accomplished Canadian haiku poet who died July 6, 2001. This was followed by inspiring readings by Dorothy Howard, the editor of RawNervz, and George Swede, this year’s judge of the Betty Drevniok Award. George’s haibun of bullfighting in Mexico proved beyond a doubt that haiku/haibun have universal applications!  Marco Fraticelli, editor of the Hexagram Series, then gave a thoughtful explication on the timelessness of Eric Amann’s “The Wordless Poem”. The last speaker before our Ginko Walk was Jim Kacian, the respected editor of Frogpond, the Haiku Society of America’s journal. The title of Jim’s talk was “25 years on a parallel path”; Jim highlighted the paths of Haiku Canada, and the Haiku Society of America, since their inceptions. Not only was his presentation very interesting, but I think it was especially significant this year, as we think of the parallels also, in our two countries, side by side, and marching forward.

Emiko Mayashita

Saturday night gifted us all with a wonderful smorgasbord of culinary delight, catered to please every palate and desire. Refreshed, we returned for the evening program, and were entertained first by a fascinating haibun reading by Jim Kacian, detailing a trip to Japan accompanied by Dee Evetts, and then by a reading from our special guest from Japan, Emiko Miyashita (whose readings, here, were sponsored by the Japan Foundation). Emiko should be no stranger to many reading this review...what can I possibly say to adequately describe her contribution to our twenty-fifth anniversary celebration? Emiko writes haiku in both English and Japanese. She is an accomplished translator, but she is more than that. We were all delighted by her reading, and equally so by her presence. A fine dénouement to the second day of our conference… leaving us, as all excellent presentations should, wanting more.

Actually I lie. There was more. Emiko’s reading was followed by an open reading by many of the poets present. The day then ended with another rousing group renga led again, by the very capable, indomitable and unyielding Marshall Hryciuk. This one combined the usual (1 line, 2 line, 3 line) challenges with a kind of mental acrobatics which should be given only to Olympic Athletes! Sorry Marshall... it was great fun, really!

The final day of Haiku Canada’s twenty-fifth anniversary conference and celebration began for those of us who were able to get to the cafeteria -- before it closed -- to grab a cup of coffee and head to another popular, anonymous workshop. This time, Emiko Miyashita assisted Nick Avis in leading the workshop. Following the workshop came the time for the announcement of the Betty Drevniok Award for 2001. The contest, in memory of founding member Betty Drevniok, is held at the end of the previous year, with the awards being announced at the annual Haiku Canada conference. Before the announcement, Dorothy Howard gave a remembrance of Betty, and her contribution to Haiku Canada.

George Swede

The judge for the Betty Drevniok Award this time was George Swede, co-founder of Haiku Canada along with Betty Drevniok and Eric Amann. First prize was awarded to Michael Dylan Welch; second prize to Kathy Lippard Cobb; third prize to Francine Banwarth. Honourable Mentions went to Terry Ann Carter, Jim Kacian, Timothy Russell, Sandra Fuhringer, Francine Banwarth, D.Claire Gallagher, Michael Dylan Welch, and kirsty karkow. A reminder to all of you reading this, that submissions for the 2002 Betty Drevniok Award must be postmarked by November 30, 2002.

The Ginko Walk awards were also made on the final day, with first prize going to Bruce Ross of Alberta, Canada as I write this, and Bangor, Maine, in the near future. Our guest Emiko Miyashita placed second, and Karen Sohne, from Toronto, Ontario placed third. Nick Avis, President of Haiku Canada, gave an impressive reading this final day, as did Marshall Hryciuk. One thing we enjoyed lots of during the weekend, was reading and hearing haiku!

One of the highlights of the final day was a reading by Emiko Miyashita, who presented in a traditional kimono, and read translations from the works of three Japanese masters. She read from the following works: “Einstein’s Century” by Akito Arima, “Tsuru” by Yoshiko Yoshino, and from “Love Haiku: Masajo Suzuki’s Lifetime of Love”, which Emiko had translated in collaboration with Lee Gurga. It would be no exaggeration to say that those present were enthralled with Emiko’s presentation. In particular, we enjoyed the reading from, and learning the story behind “Love Haiku”. Emiko’s graciousness and her sense of humour, as well as her deep love of haiku were appreciated by all.

The Editor's Panel
L-R: LeRoy Gorman, Nick Avis (standing), Jim Kacian,
Dorothy Howard, Marco Fraticelli

Packed with presentations right to the end of the afternoon, there was no winding down for this Haiku Canada conference. After lunch we were honoured with a reading from the work of members of the Ottawa group, Kado, a new and very enthusiastic regional haiku group. This was followed with a tribute to Rod Willmott by Nick Avis, and this in turn was followed by a ‘Meet the Editors’ panel. An open panel discussion was held, and questions from the audience were encouraged. You can imagine this was very lively. Panel members were Marco Fraticelli editor of the Hexagram Series, LeRoy Gorman editor of the Haiku Canada Newsletter and the Member’s Anthology, Dorothy Howard editor of RawNervz, and Jim Kacian, editor of Frogpond. They fielded a wide range of questions. It was interesting to get input from these editors. Marco noted that often for the haiku he likes the most, he finds it very difficult to explain why. Jim added that for him, good haiku have an ineffable quality. In an odd way, this was reassuring to many of us, who are still low on the learning curve of defining, recognizing, and writing haiku.

The editor’s panel was followed by readings from LeRoy Gorman and Marco Fraticelli. Then suddenly, the weekend was at an end. George Swede concluded the conference with a presentation he called “Peregrinations” in which he outlined the history of Haiku Canada over the twenty-five years since its foundation (by himself, Eric Amann, and Betty Drevniok), and the changes and developments in haiku in English over that same time. It was a fitting and fascinating closure to yet another great Haiku Canada Weekend, but no ordinary one this time, for it was also a celebration of who we are, and whom we have become, over a quarter of a century.

Nick Avis made the closing remarks, and our thanks must go to Nick, and to Ann Goldring, both of whom were instrumental in the organization and successful fruition of the conference.

If I have left anything or anyone out, my apologies. My purpose has been mainly to give an overview and whet the appetites of others, to join us in 2003 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. For more information, please check our website at:

http://www.atreide.net/rendezvous/haikucanada.htm

 It is currently undergoing revision, and when completed, the new URL will be:

 http://www.haikucanada.ca

What did we take home from the Haiku Canada Weekend? Number one would be the memories of friendships, new and renewed, and the sharing of our love of this very special poetry; and new ways of looking at poems and people. Our special guest Emiko gifted us with souvenirs specially prepared in Japan, and which she brought all the way to Canada, to share with all of us, as if her poetic contributions were not enough.

L- R: Emiko Miyashita, Muriel Ford, DeVar Dahl

Unsubstantiated rumours about the weekend included sake, locked bathrooms, tulips saved, and at least one near-mishap on the highways home (DeVar?), more sake, and the making of many cherished memories. Marco Fraticelli said it best when he noted that from this annual gathering, friendships have grown, and barriers broken down. He recalled the title of a movie many of you may have seen: Same Time Next Year.

Haiku Deer Park attendees (Toronto area haiku group)

L-R Front Row: Ann Goldring, friend, Emiko Miyashita,
Frances Mary Bishop, elehna de sousa, Dina E. Cox
L-R Back Row: Hans S. Jongman, Karen Sohne, Marshall Hryciuk, Arch Haslett

It seems more than fitting in concluding, to raise a glass of sake, if only figuratively, and join him in a toast:

To all of you: Same Time Next Year!

Respectfully submitted, Dina E. Cox, a member of Haiku Canada.

 

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