Willa Heath

Global Haiku PACE January 2005
Millikin University - Mattoon, Illinois

Willa Heath

Weightless by Willa Heath

Willa Heath is enrolled in the PACE program at Millikin University. She became interested in the art of haiku after enrolling in the Global Haiku Traditions course taught by Dr. Randy Brooks. While studying both traditional Japanese as well as contemporary English writers, she found that these short, and sometimes powerful, poems touched her deeply.

The haiku in this collection are the ones that she considers her best work. The rengay are the result of collaborations with her husband, Doug, and fellow haiku student, Jenifer Hagen.

sunset empty outrigger on the beach they begin a journey
	I stare at the canvas paintbrush in hand nothing
Seasons early spring much anticipated arrival little girl with grandmother’s eye promise of wonders yet to come enless daisies little pink gloves a summer garden days grow shorter memories tucked away like leaves falling grandmother’s eyes glowing brightly a young girl’s dreams each unique snowflakes on her glove Jenifer Hagen & Willa Heath
	standing on a chair she pretends to cut grandfather's hair
weightless floating beneath the waves I breathe
	Whales we board the boat waves gently slap the sides gulls cry she swallows the pill fearing sickness in the distance a plume of steam the mighty fish breathes seas churn the whale breaches fear forgotten we are in awe the giant flies flukes sink in the water sea empty again Doug & Willa Heath
fat berries heavy with morning dew my knees hurt
	the graveyard tent flutters in the icy wind the piper walks slowly away