Southern California Haiku Study Group
share our love of haiku
bone white winter moon breath of a snow hare ~ Joan C. Fingon Whiptail Journal 2023 Issue 6
JUST A REMINDER
the deadline for submitting poems
to the Hueston Woods haiku walk
(for Haiku North America) is coming up soon.
It’s February 15th
2023 Haiku North America Conference
WHEN: February 11, 2023 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm WHERE: Descanso Gardens 1418 Descanso Dr La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 USA COST: Free with admission, no advance registration required. CONTACT: Descanso Gardens (818) 949-4200 EVENT: Led by haiku poet Debbie Kolodji, this workshop will include time to walk in the garden and be inspired by the camellias and instruction on writing the traditional Japanese three-line poem. The Camellia Connection: Our Rebirth of Wonder Celebrate camellias and poetry throughout the month of February at Descanso Gardens. Camellias can bloom in our coldest and darkest winter season. These brilliant flowers, native to Asia, contain stories of resilience, hope, loss and ingenuity. Descanso supports one of the largest collections of camellias in North America, with more than 3,500 known and recorded plants, representing over 600 varieties. In collaboration with accomplished poets Amy Uyematsu and Peter Levitt, Descanso is pleased to offer a series of programs that invite exploration, reflection, and participation.
September 17, 2022 Zoom Workshop
On September 17, 2022, Roberta Beary will be joining us from Ireland to talk about “Haiku (the personal in haiku – when to leave it in, why to take it out)”
Because Roberta will be joining us from Ireland, where it will be 10 pm at 2 pm, we are going to start with Roberta’s program and have the read around at the end. Please gather and log in 15 minutes early, so that Roberta can start promptly at 2 pm (10 pm!).
Topic: SCHSG Monthly Workshop
August 20, 2022 Zoom Workshop
On August 20th, 21 poets met via Zoom for the monthly SCHSG workshop: Mimi Ahern, Lynn Allgood, Cynthia Anderson, Kathryn Bold, Marcyn Del Clements, Janice Doppler, Denise Dumars, Joan Fingon, Lee Hudspeth, Deborah P Kolodji, Yvette Nicole Kolodji, Peter Larsen, Patricia Machmiller, Seretta Martin, Wakako Rollinger, Bona M. Santos, Patricia Wakimoto,Michael Dylan Welch, Sharon Williams, Kathabela Wilson, and Sharon Yee.
After a read-around of haiku, moderator Deborah P Kolodji introduced the guest speaker, Patricia Machmiller, who gave a presentation on “What We Can Learn From the Haiku of Jerry Ball.” Jerry Ball was the founder of the Southern California Haiku Study group in 1997.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Patricia talked about Jerry’s early influencers and favorite haiku. She then asked participants to share their haiku stories, who first influenced and which haiku provided early inspiration. She then explored Jarry’s evolution as a haiku poet, from his early 5-7-5 haiku to the haiku he wrote as he matured as a haiku poet. Coincidentally, this presentation was scheduled around the 3 year anniversary of Jerry’s passing. After the presentation, the group watched the memorial video which was prepared for the 2021 virtual Haiku North America.
August 27, 2022 Lighthouse Ginko
On Saturday, August 27th, the Southern California Haiku Study Group held its first live event since the pandemic with a ginko at the San Vicente Lighthouse in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. We met at 11:00 am on a very hot day, but where cooled by the ocean breezes on the bluff. Wakako Rollinger, who is a docent at Topanga State Park, led the ginko, and talked about native plants along our trail. She also brought samples of native plants, including various sages, for people to pass around and smell. After the walk, we picnicked in a grassy area which included great ocean and lighthouse views. Fifteen poets attended this event.
Present were: Lynn Allgood, Sean Carlton, Marcyn Del Clements, D’Ellen, Denise Dumars, Lee Hudspeth, Deborah P Kolodji, Gregory Longenecker, Janis Lukstein, Bona M. Santos, Susan Rogers, Wakako Rollinger, Jie Tian, Patricia Wakimoto, and Sharon Yee.