Upstate Dim Sum 2004/II

Upstate Dim Sum - A Biannual Anthology of Haiku and Senryu

Guest Poet: William J. Higginson

Our last issue was the tenth of this series. We passed that marker without comment. But we don't intend to let the occurrence of something quite new in the production of this, our eleventh issue, pass without mention. On February 11th, for the first time, our guest poet actually sat down with us at Tai Pan, presented his own poems, shared a meal with us, and engaged in the discussion of his and our new work. This is something we wish could happen more often. It was inspriring and thought provoking, creating ripples of energy within our group that will be felt well into the future.

Bill Higginson is probably the most influential living theorist and critic of English-language haiku and the related area of renku, a multiple poet form of linked verse from which haiku originated. His books and articles on these subjects, including The Haiku Handbook (1985, with Penny Harter), Haiku World (1996), and The Haiku Seasons (1996), are important sources for anyone interested in writing haiku and renku in English. He is a charter member of the Haiku Society of America and leads a multi-faceted life as a poet, translator, writer, speaker, teacher of writing, administrator, and literary press and Internet author and editor.

We were all at least a little nervous about having someone of Bill Higginson's stature among us. But we quickly found him to be a warm companion and a practical collaborator, who gave and took suggestions with equal grace. We remember our time with him fondly and he will always be welome at our table.

my father's birthday

only the poppies

and I

Bill Higginson

John Stevenson

Sample poems from this issue

first snow...

settling into

old feelings

December 21

trying to regain

my equilibrium

first game

doing her best

to avoid the ball

midnight snack

I have been good

all day