Amy Soderberg • Marlene Mountain: Naturally Visual Political Haiku

Selected Haiku by Amy Soderberg When I first learned haiku, I was taught the restricted way where the writer has to make sure they follow a certain syllable count per line. Upon my first opportunity to be a part of a haiku class, I was afraid that the limits would confine my creativity and I didn't join. When I was given another chance, I took the class just to see what it was like. The following poems in this little collection are the ones that I created during my first experience in the haiku world. Although to some they might not seem like much, these haiku mean a lot to me, and I am happy to have been able to create them. When I write haiku I try to use clear images of experiences I have had as well as imagined ones. I chose the ones in this book because I feel they represent me the best.

Reader's Introduction Sometimes you read a little poem and the words take you to places you had forgotten visiting and remind you of people you once knew. If haiku is written to provide small details that translate into vivid images for the reader, then Amy has accomplished this. ink spilt cat prints down the hall I especially like "ink spilt." I imagined a kitten getting into all sorts of trouble and dragging it throughout a big Victorian house, putting little inky kitten prints all over everything. Walking across piano keys, jumping onto white doilies! innocent face under high school raccoon eyes Another one I like is "innocent face." I immediately saw a high school girl, with all her ups and downs, boyfriends and break-ups, laughter to tears and sad to tears. Too much emotion, too little control, too much make-up, big eyes, always with the racoon eyes, little girl, big dreams, almost grown up. —Jeannie Soderberg