14/06/02
Triumph of Poetic Sincerity, Joint Learning, Civility and Friendship
Dear Kuyu (haiku friend),
Ferris, THANK YOU!
Please don't ask, "For what?", as it
would mean that I would be writing my reasons for the next 24 hours or longer in
at least 5000 words.
Judging from the increasing number of postings
on this topic, other members seem to me to be feeling the same. We
should, then, express our heartfelt gratitude to you, as poets, in the way we
know best. Let us create two sets of poems.
One, let us post our celebration poems in
honour of Ferris to commemorate the spectacularly successful completion of the
Hibiscus School which, I'm sure, will become legendary. This will mark the
triumph of the poetic sincerity, of learning together in a civil and helpful
manner, of spontaneous friendship which ensued, of the high standards and
quality the School has achieve, of proving that teaching and learning can be
achieved without acrimony, harsh words, raised voices or show of arrogance, and
also without deteriorating into a mild, comfortable and polite society of no
substance or literary merit, which some mistake a well-run and civilised
gathering for.
Two, let us create such haiku as would reflect
what we have learnt from Ferris' teachings for the last year in the Hibiscus
Kukai, which has already been proposed. The details of the Kukai will be ironed
out as soon as possible and members' suggestions and help are most welcome.
Ferris has kindly accepted her new appointment
as Director of Schools of the World Haiku Club. Congratulations! Ferris never
stops. She will move on with new projects to help others as well as writing her
own poems. Members of WHCschools have been so fortunate to have Ferris. I think
what she has taught for the last fourteen months or so there should be shared
with ten times or a hundred times larger and wider number of poets across the
world.
The greatest secret of Ferris' success at the
Hibiscus is that she remained a "learner", a beautiful contradiction
which every member of WHCschools had come to realise and understand. Those
humble enough must have learnt so much from Ferris which is over and above the
knowledge and skills of haiku.
Without being carried away, I would go so far
as to say that Ferris has proved at Hibiscus that she and her work represent one
of the finest examples of what has developed in the haiku literature outside
Japan (or perhaps Japan included). This gives hope and inspiration to others.
She also represents the best of the West, and the best of America. There are of
course people like her but it is very encouraging for anyone to witness such
excellence being displayed in a very specific way and in the way in which fellow
poets can benefit from it.
Ferris, may you benefit others as you have
benefited us, and again, THANK YOU.
seeding itself
across many oceans
hibiscus in bloom
With best wishes,
Susumu Takiguchi
WHC Chairman
Managing Editor, World Haiku Review |
|
Namaste, Ferris
does the dreaming butterfly
know she is me
as I hold up one
rose
and smile
with respect, laughter and thanks....
Dove
Aurora, Colorado, US |
sunlit--
a hibiscus
in its isness
Mary Lee McClure
Kokomo, Indiana, US |
happy
day
hibiscus blossoms
in my hair
Kirsty Karkow
Waldoboro, Maine, US |
fireworks
display -
a peach hibiscus bush
in full bloom
John Wisdom
Sarasota, Florida, US |
lush
morning--
I wander from bloom to bloom
with the bee
Gratefully,
Billie Wilson
Juneau, Alaska, US |
spring
river...
the flow of the current
so hypnotic
Marjorie Buettner
Minneapolis, Minnesota, US |
fondue
pot . . .
haiku moments shared
with a friend
an'ya
Prinville, Oregon, US |
summer
vacation --
hibiscus petals dusty
with pollen
Luv,
Debra Woolard Bender (Debi)
Orlando, Florida, US |
hibiscus
of many colors
now in full bloom
In thanks and appreciation,
Victor P. Gendrano (Vic)
Carson, California, US |
spring
rain
the different seeds
start to sprout
Victor P. Gendrano (Vic)
Carson, California, US |
almost
home --
our straw baskets brimming
with hibiscus
hortensia anderson
New York City, New York, US |
the biggest hibiscus
blooms for this day...
closes this night
thank you for many lessons
chibi (Dennis Holmes)
Rome, Georgia USA |
afternoon dusk
the low sound of the owl
missing
namaste, Ferris...
Joyce Maxner
Pennsylvania, USA |
sunrise . . .
in each hibiscus bloom
a droplet of water
We will miss you!
Maria Steyn
Johannesburg, South Africa |
hibiscus gardens
blooms spreading wings
to my heart
Deborah Russell
kuku 04-2002
Baltimore, Maryland, US |
elegant dance
a crimson hibiscus
behind her ear
semi (aka Terrie Relf)
San Diego, California, US |
hibiscus bow
spilling yesterday's rain -
spring breeze
Carol Raisfeld
Atlantic Beach, New York, US |
a petal unfolds
in hibiscus tea -
rereading a lesson
Anna Tambour
Nowra, New South Wales, AU |
ferris wheel
the hibiscus blooms
far below
Thanks,
Jeanne Marie Booth
Dillard, Georgia, US |
the hedge
ornate now
hibiscus in bloom
Gillena Cox
St James, Trinidad |
re-reading
a summer kasen renku
hibiscus in bloom
ito (Juanito Escareal)
California, US |
blooming -
from one bulb
many flowers
Thank you!
Louise Linville
Florida, USA |
dawn lingers
among the cockscomb
we are not alone
paul m. (Miller)
San Francisco, California, US |
hibiscus petals
reflected in the pond -
she turns the page
Darrell Byrd
El Centro, California, USA |
sunrise
hibiscus blossom
floats out on the tide
lynne (Steel)
Hillsboro Beach, Florida, US |
|
puppy playing -
he stops to learn
hibiscus flower
Ron Moss
Tasmania, AU |
two steps right
then stop and take a bow
for the wind
through the daisies
I thank you all
You, too, Ferris!
Cindy (Tebo)
Catawissa, Missouri, USA |
dusty country road
a barefoot boy's thoughts
aloft with the hawk
soji (Gary Barnes)
Fredericksburg, Virginia, US |
summer storm
hibiscus petals fall
with the rain
kathi rudawsky
Florida, US |
|
final words
with a climbing rose I planted
moving day
Carmen Sterba
Kanagawa-ken, Japan |
hibiscus seeds
across the earth
the sower rests
Thank you.
Celia Crook
Oxford, England, UK |
flaming hibiscus
trumpets its pistil beyond...
stone sentry lions
Art Griesel
Berkeley, California, US |
Gloomy November,
a potted hibiscus opens
in all its redness
Florence Vilen
Stockholm, Sweden |
|
a wall of hibiscus
i pick
fallen petals
Terry Ishii
Washington, US |
north facing alcove~
hibiscus flowering
this winter day
Benita Kape
East Coast, New Zealand |
bowed
fence
the cow stretches her tongue
toward the hibiscus
(It had to be a cow poem - just for you,
Ferris!)
Chris Baltzley
Safety Harbor, Florida, US |
..summer
solstice...we focus
on the neighbors'...pink hibiscus
Johnye Strickland
North Little Rock, Arkansas, US |
hibiscus
in bloom...
the very center catches
my eye
fondest aloha, Ferris!
Gail Goto
Honolulu, Hawai'i, US |
scent
of wildflowers
in this town which shares her name
Elbert Pruitt
Texas, US |
