Thunderstorms Kasen-no-renga

Car Windows Open Selected Haiku by Ann Anderson I feel as though these selected haiku represent my newly refined knowledge of the form. From studying contemporary writers such as George Swede or Peggy Lyles to traditional masters like Matsuo Basho, I've learned and attempted to take my haiku to a new level. One may not think that it is possible to capture the entirety of one singular moment into a form that is as constricted as haiku. This statement is not only inaccurate, but it completely undermines the sentiment and driving force behind haiku. It is not meant to be constricting, but to be a platform for expansive, uncountable responses. There is much that can be included in a haiku without being written down. Setting, mood, sensory input, etc., can all be implied, and I feel as though a haiku should embody all these things and still leave the audience's imagination open for interpretation. I've tried to spread my wings with these haiku, which include some senryu, imagery, emotions, and nature . . . and I hope they are as enjoyable to read as they were to write. Have fun.           —Ann Anderson

One has only to read a few of Ann Anderson's haiku to know that she has a deep understanding of how to interpet life's unique moments. Whether she is addressing the subjects of love, nature or beauty, or juxaposing them them together, she approaches her haiku with a creative eye. In this way, she avoids writing haiku that are bland or trite. In the following haiku, she lends her vision to evoking a sense of hunger or what in some cases may turn out to be disgust, at the sight of raw steak on butcher paper steaks glisten raw on white paper She places the reader in the moment and gives them a reason to be there, often touching on experiences that may not seem important, but she makes them seem to with her skills. She helps you to imagine the sunset, feel the rain of a thunderstorm against your skin, inhale the smoke of a bonfire, and sense the many wonders of the universe that surround us. A new voice in the world of haiku, Scheck has just begun her journey. With a great instinct and taste for originality, her travels will surely taker her far.           —Katherin B. Steimann