Matt Whitsett • Tom Clausen's Intuitive Zen Approach to Haiku

Still I Try Selected Haiku by Matthew Whitsett Many haiku writers believe there must be a certain element involved in haiku writing, whether it is Zen, nature, or something else the author feels is a necessity. For me, I don't feel an author needs any specific element to write meaningful haiku. All different types have appealed to me and this is reflected in my approach to writing haiku. We have all realized that haiku can be written many different ways with many different approaches. I realized that the majority of my haiku come directly from my personal experiences. My past seems to come up early and often. The past, including my childhood days all the way through my college days, has seen many tough times that I've had to deal with.

Although I have had many hard times, I have overcome these troubles and succeeded as a person. Many of my haiku seem to have a sad tone, but I want the reader to read them and to understand that if you try your hardest at everything you do in life, you're going to be a successful person. Reader's Introduction Matthew Daniel James Whitsett's haiku have touched my heart and my refrigerator. As the proud owner of a magnet with one of Whitsett's inspirational haiku inscribed on it stuck to my refrigerator, I have reassurance to hang on during life's frustrating times. uphill battle hardly moving still I try Knowing Whitsett personally, I can see his past and present emotions poured into his haiku. His use of raw emotion makes his haiku come alive and gives me a real insight into his mind. Through his haiku, Whitsett paints a picture of his emotional being for the reader that is worth a thousand words. Dad's departure like a candle in the wind While Whitsett hasn't been writing haiku very long, his creative and compelling works of art appear as though they have been written by a master. the long journey never too long to see her smile He exposes his inner thoughts and feelings bravely to his audience, and as a result many of his haiku have touched me deeply. —Melissa Bergas • Reddick, Illinois