Diane Reasoner • Diane's Haiku •

I would like to say that I knew this author when I chose him. But, if I told you that I would not be telling you the truth. When Dr. Brooks offered books of authors in our second class, I chose Edward Reilly when I found out he was originally from the rural midwest. That alone made me think that he was someone whose haiku would be rooted in an area of the United States that I was familiar with. I certainly was not disappointed. Born the son of dairy farmers in Wisconsin, Edward J. Reilly went on to earn a BA, a maters, and a PHD in midwestern colleges. He has attributed his childhood and young adult life on the farm for making him the person he is today. He is a celebrated author of “articles, book reviews, short stories, poetry, a literature text, and a baseball dictionary” according to the Waterboro Library at www.waterborolibrary.org. Although Dr. Reilly’s roots lie in the midwest, he has enjoyed life with his family on the east coast since 1978. His book entitled Anniversary Haiku (1997) was written for his wife for their silver wedding anniversary. Reading this, one can tell Mr. Reilly is a man who treasures not only his wife but all of the memories they have made together. Following is some of the haiku that touched me the most. loaf of bread and red wine on the altar- the new touch of your hand Edward Reilly, AH.1 This haiku, the first in the book dedicated to his wife, makes me think that he is taking himself back to the day they were married. Perhaps after taking their vows, the first time they touched after being united as husband and wife. It may have described the sensation he felt when they touched and he realized she was now his wife. What a wonderful thought that the moment was that meaningful and the memory so joyous that he could place himself back on the altar with her on that day. our two children red-faced, snow-covered, freeze for the camera Edward Reilly, AH.5 Reilly has expressed the joy he feels he feels as a parent by bringing this winter haiku to life. Through their years together, he and his wife must have memories that are too numerous to mention in this short book. This one is a treasured memory that he and his wife can share as they read it and recall the moment together. my golden ring- after twenty-five years the inscription still legible Edward Reilly, AH.21 This haiku expresses the love the author has for the woman he married twenty-five years earlier. It brings to mind the image of a man removing his ring only to read the inscription. As he reads, recalling the memory of the day, he smiles. Recalling the memories they have made throughout the years, he smiles again. Edward Reilly is a man who beautifully conveys his emotions in words. His wife must have been honored to feel that she was still the object of his affection after twenty-five years of marriage. This small book, Anniversary Haiku (1997), contains twenty-five heartfelt haiku. Just as heartfelt are those memories of his upbringing in Wisconsin. Abandoned Farmhouse and other haiku (2000) includes many haiku related to the family home where he and his siblings grew up. Reilly said that this book “was joyous at heart” (200). He did not want anyone to think that there was sadness in recalling his memories in the home that is no longer a part of their family. Reilly must have known ahead of time that readers would sense loss in the haiku related to the farm that are included in Abandoned Farmhouse and other haiku (2000). There is other haiku in this book as well. Most of it is rooted in the years Edward Reilly spent on the dairy farm. It was difficult to limit my selections to a few from this book. I hope you enjoy the meager sampling that follows as much as I did. abandoned farmhouse: my autograph in cracked concrete Edward Reilly, AF.2 This particular haiku reaches back into the memories of when the house was once occupied by a growing family. Just as everyone knows, words you set into concrete remain until they are covered or the concrete is torn out. It is very easy to believe that you want the record of your being there to always exist. Although there must have been great joy in the memories as Mr. Reilly viewed his signature, I cannot help but wonder what he thought as he realized he was probably viewing it for the last time. abandoned farmhouse: the wallpaper peeling back to my childhood Edward Reilly, AF.3 No matter the age of the reader, this haiku is quite touching. It is easy to feel cherished memories of the past when I envision myself in a room as Reilly describes here. I can also envision a man, staring at the walls, recalling his childhood antics and the safety he felt in the home of his parents. abandoned farmhouse: cricket sounds filling the room where father slept Edward Reilly, AF.4 This haiku brings to my mind special memories that are shared with a father. Reilly must have felt a sense of letting go as he thought of his father once filling this room with the sound of his voice. In a room that was once filled with life, it had now become the same as the farmhouse, abandoned. The memories of his father’s life remained. abandoned farmhouse: a yellowed grocery list taped to the counter Edward Reilly, AF.5 This is a very vivid reminder that lives were lived within the walls of this now empty house. I think if this were me discovering this on the counter, I would feel a bit sad that there is no longer any life in this house to make it a home. It is hard to believe that Edward Reilly did not feel sadness when the farm was relinquished to new owners. In this book, Abandoned Farmhouse and other haiku (2000), recalling his boyhood on the dairy farm in Wisconsin must have brought him great pleasure. Pleasure that the family would no longer be holding on to the farm that had become merely a piece of property. And pleasure in all of the memories that would stay with him forever. Edward Reilly is an author who can bring a reader to the place he is speaking of with no trouble at all. I have not even touched the tip of the iceberg in this brief paper. Mr. Reilly left the Midwest to enjoy and further his career in literature as a writer and lover of all types. He became a professor of English and chaired the English department of St. Joseph’s College. While he has had many literary successes, I can only hope that he will continue to share the memories of his life by continuing to write haiku.   References Reilly, E. (2000). Abandoned farmhouse and other haiku. Foster City, CA, Press Here. Reilly, E. (1997). Anniversary haiku. Decatur, IL, Brooks Books Waterboro Library, Maine writers. Retrieved June 30, 2005 at www.waterborolibrary.org