September 15, 2007 - Workshop and Kukai

Water Lilies, Pacific Asia Museum Courtyard

There was another wedding at the Pacific Asia Museum and members of the Southern California Haiku Study Group met in the Volunteer Room. Present were Peggy Hehman-Smith, Phyllis Collins, Lindy Hill, Pauli Dutton, Dick Dutton, Kathy Wilson, Debbie Kolodji, Violet, Wendy Wright, and Janis.

We discussed the season, lamenting summer's end with cooler nights, but enjoying blooming morning glory vines and the sound of crickets.

Some sample haiku from the kukai:

is it the same cricket
in the rafters tonight?
old friend

- Lindy Hill


dying morning glory vine
slowly releases
the garden gate

- Peggy Hehman-Smith


alone in the gallery
where we sang --
distant drums

- Kath Abela Wilson

August 18, 2007 - Workshop and Kukai

Photo courtesy of Debbie Kolodji

Eight haiku poets attended the August 18th Southern California Haiku Study Group workshop and kukai at the charming and inspiring Pacific Asia Museum: Phyllis Collins, Tom Conroy, Anne Jones, Debbie Kolodji, Elva Lauter, Janis Lukstein, Naia, and Wendy Wright.

After several rounds of sharing recent haiku written by attendees, we discussed using all the senses to perceive our surroundings. Members offered their insights and discussed writing good haiku, and draft haiku were workshopped. Janis shared some photos from a recent haiku excursion.

The group reviewed kigo words and phrases indicative of our region during this time of year. Two haiku that were highlighted during our meeting were:


morning fog
covers the garden...
then red hibiscus

-Elva Lauter


end of summer --
his old fisherman's cap
on a chair

-Wendy Wright

The next workshop and kukai will be on Saturday, October 20th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.