Alida Duff • Country Summer Haiku

stumbling through sunbeams by Alida Duff Throughout the year, I have often found myself reflecting on what is most important in my life- from love and romance to family and country life. I searched for what I thought would bring me the most happiness, the most insight into life. Rather than reaching a conclusion on what is most important in my life, I found a new appreciation for all that is around me by delving into the art of haiku. I grew as a person and as a writer.

Stumbling Through Sunbeams is my first collection of original haiku poetry created during a semester of Global Haiku Traditions at Millikin University. The title emerged from one of my personal favorite haiku from this semester: stumbling through sunbeams the foal's first steps I chose the phrase "stumbling through sunbeams" because it accurately captures the essence of my first attempts at haiku. When I began writing haiku, I knew little about the process, much like a newborn foal knows little about walking. My initial works were somewhat shaky, knocking like the knees of the foal, but similarly I believe I caught on quickly. This collection documents my journeys and attempts to jump into the art of writing haiku. Though my steps are still weak, I one day hope to run with surefooted reassurance. Alida Duff Reader's Introduction Alida's haiku struck me as the best narrated from our class--regardless of whether or not these were her first attempts at writing them.  I know many of us did not have enough command over the style to write something so minimal yet so expressive during our time enrolled in this class.  Alida uses the same dictionary as everyone else, but she seems to find the most impacting and loaded words to use in her haiku.   Instead of skimming over a memory, Alida digs in deep to think about why she chooses each word and what feeling it will evoke from her audience.   One of my favorite haiku authored by Alida is the following: backyard homerun rounding the bases third to first I like this one the best because immediately it establishes a setting with the ambience, temperature, and sensory images all in the first line.  In two words we know that the feeling is leisurely, warm, and familiar.   Also, this haiku communicates the season to the audience without coming right out and using the obvious or clich é words.  The audience gets a hint that this is a father just beginning to teach his child the game of baseball when the scenario is quickly interrupted by excitement as the youngster takes off running with pride in the wrong direction. It has been an honor and a privilege sitting next to and learning right beside this author. Thanks for sharing your memories, Alida! Abe Millikin, Global Haiku Traditions, Spring 2004