Katie Steimann • Essay Bob Bolman's Haiku

Awakening the Wonder haiku by Katie Steimann Sometimes we forget the importance of the outside world. We go through life so consumed with thought and self-analysis that we forget the beauty that surrounds us every day. Every moment we experience, every emotion, is in some way inspired by our senses. Haiku is my link between these worlds. It transcends the soul and connects our very being to things that are more tangible. It evokes a complete setting and emotion in very few words. In this way, haiku are able to resonate with many people. The writer should strive to make the experience universal; yet, still special and unique to each individual. My goal as a writer of haiku is to evoke the moment so that each person who reads it will be able to envision the essence of that moment for themselves. I hope you will connect with that spark, that essence in my haiku. Learn to awaken to the wonder that is all around us, embracing us as we journey through life. —Katie

The title of Katie Steimann's collection, "Awakening the Wonder," wholly captures the essence of her haiku. She has mastered the ability to transform simple, every-day experiences into moments of awe-inspiring beauty. As I read the collection, Katie's haiku seem to come alive before my very eyes, creating wonderful images and scenes I never would have thought to glance at for more than a moment. She weaves feelings, people, and nature together seamlessly, truly awakening readers to the wonder of the world around them. What immediately impresses the reader is Katie's beautiful sense of word choice. In an art where brevity is valued over verbosity, each word must count, must contribute a piece to the whole. She has found the perfect word necessary to bring to life each situation she expresses in her haiku, words capable of evoking any number of memories and feelings for readers. Whether dealing with romantic love, the importance of family, or a celebration of the hidden beauty of nature, each of Katie's haiku allow the reader to slowly sink into the moment. Read them once, read them hundreds of times; whatever you do, let yourself be awakened to the wonder of Katie Steimann's haiku collection. —Maureen Ritter