July 15, 2006 - Workshop and Kukai

Point Fermin, July 15, 2006
Kraig Keeler, Nardin Gottfried, Linda Galloway, Wendy Wright, and Victor Ortiz

The Southern California Haiku Study Group met in a pergola next to the historic Point Fermin Lighthouse, overlooking the ocean in what turned out to be one of the hottest days in Los Angeles. Comfortably cooled by the ocean breezes, we discussed the season's kigo:

The Season: summer, 100 degree heat, intense heat, too hot to go out, long day, dog days, wildfire season

Sky and Heavens: dog star, milky way, river of stars, Tanabana

Flowers and Plants: jasmine, century plant stalks, hydrangea, plums, apricots, geraniums, grapes, white peaches, hybiscus, clover blossom, lavendar, grapefruit, basil, rosemary, sage, parsley, roses, herbs, African daisies, Shasta daisies, Marguerite daisies

Birds and Animals: hummingbirds, baby raccoons, seagulls, butterflies, young gulls, woodpecker, jellyfish, dolphins, wasps, brown pelicans

Mountains and Fields: yellow, smog hidden mountains, dried up creeks, summer surf, kelp forest

Human Affairs: ice cream vendor, 4th of July, fireworks, picnics, beach outings, beach house, kite surfers, wind surfers, air conditioning, sunscreen

Sample haiku from the kukai:

body surfing dolphins--
he reaches for
the remote

-- Linda Galloway

midsummer day
the sound of the waves
behind me

--Deborah P Kolodji

Victor Ortiz, Nardin Gottfried, Linda Galloway, Wendy Wright, Kraig Keeler, and Debbie Kolodji were in attendance. The next meeting and kukai will be on August 6, 2006 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden on the California State University, Long Beach campus.