above the tree line, SCHSG 2008 Anthology Reading

On August 24, 2008 the Southern California Haiku Study Group (SCHSG) and the Pacific Asia Museum co-hosted a Haiku Reading & Book Signing event for above the tree line, the newly released 2008 SCHSG anthology.
Nearly 40 poets and members of the public entered the museum's Japanese Gallery to the enchanted and meditative musical preludes by Rick and Kathabela Wilson -- Rick playing a variety of modern and historical Asian flutes and Kathabela accompanying him on various percussion instruments. Rick and Kathabela also played an interlude and postlude.

After welcoming remarks from Tai Ling Wong, museum coordinator of the "Authors on Asia" programs, SCHSG moderator Deborah P. Kolodji introduced above the tree line, and Naia, editor of this year's anthology, introduced haiku poets reading their anthology poems.

Among the poems read, G. Murray Thomas shared:

voices from the garden
discuss expensive tea--
my lukewarm cup

and Margaret Hehman-Smith shared:

September moon
the shift in the color
of his eyes

The 2008 anthology drew its title from a haiku written and submitted by Wendy Wright, which was among those she read during the event:

Perseid dawn
stars fade one by one
above the tree line

Says Tai Ling Wong on behalf of the Pacific Asia Museum, "Congratulations to all the members of the Southern California Haiku Study Group on the publication of your new anthology above the tree line and thank you for holding another of your special events here at the museum."

L to R: Janis Lukstein, Naia, Deborah P. Kolodji, Victor P. Gendrano, Billie Dee, Wendy Wright

Link to Anthology Description/Ordering Information

August 16, 2008 - Workshop and Kukai

(top, l to r): Lindy Hill, Phyllis Collins, Naia, Janis Lukstein, Deborah P Kolodji, Peggy Castro
(bottom, l to r): Linda Galloway, Miyoko Nakamura (photo by Vic Gendrano)

The air was much cooler in the Blue Room than it was outside as members of the Southern California Haiku Study Group met for their monthly workshop and kukai. During the kigo discussion, "summer olympics," "hot wave," "hating summer," "crepe myrtle blossoms," "cabbage whites," and "blooming hibiscus" were among the suggested season words for the writing session.

Top scorers from the kukai include:

something naive
about that hibiscus
in all its yellow glory

- Peggy Castro

bruised fruit hangs
from the plum tree -
summer's end

- Lindy Hill

cheap hot dogs
and sand in my shoes -
hating summer

- Linda Galloway

the ink-stained koi
wiggles its tail,
writes its own haiku

- Phyllis Collins

The above the tree line anthology reading will take place next week on Sunday, August 24th, starting at 2:00 p.m. It will be in the Japanese Gallery.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, September 20th. It will start an hour earlier, at 1:00 p.m., because Mariko Kitakubo will be visiting from Japan and will read tanka from her newest book, Cicada Forest.