JOHN OLSON ON THE HAY(NA)KU

So, John Olson, who's written many fabulous books including BACKSCATTER, a Selected you should check out (though ECHO REGIME remains my personal favorite and I recommend it, too), read The Hay(na)ku Anthology, Vol. II and had this to say!!!!!

...
The hay(na)ku is fun to read and fun to write. I like beginning with one word. It puts everything into focus almost immediately. It's an extreme condensation that feels more natural in English (or Tagalog or French) than as an imitation of the Japanese model, if that makes sense. It's hard to write haiku without wind chimes and seasonal changes. The tradition is so infused with those things. It's nice having a new form that accomplishes the same goals but more directness, more dexterity.

why
is bread
making so loud?

open
book on
fire with flax

Roberta is making bread. Her bread making gizmo is very noisy.

John

That's kewl, bread and all! "Roberta" here is the equally fine poet Roberta Olson whose poems also provide delicious bread for the eyes!