Tuesday Poem: Haiku “splitting pine” by Nick Williamson
splitting pine
I smell
the whole forest
.
(c) Nick Williamson
.
Published in The Whole Forest, Sudden Valley Press, 2001
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Haiku are an enormously popular contemporary poetry form, so much so that the NZ Poetry Society has a separate HaikuNZ page on its website, the only poetry form in NZ to receive such distinctive treatment. Perhaps, of the many poetic forms, it is the only one that has its own thriving organisational world–which haiku (and the related forms of tanka, haibun etc) definitely does.
But amidst the huge numbers of haiku being penned in NZ today, every now and then you read one that really stands out from the crowd and encapsulates the art: spare, without resorting to (the forbidden) imagery, simile or metaphor; “concrete”, i.e. grounded in the reality of “the moment, now”; and leaping, from encapsulation of the small—that moment of splitting pine for firewood—to the “whole forest.” Haiku, the way the form is meant to be (imho) …
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About Nick Williamson: Nick is a Christchurch-based poet who had a sabbatical from poetry following publication of The Whole Forest in 2001. He has recently completed the creative writing programme at The Hagley Writers’ Institute and was a guest poet at last year’s Canterbury Poets’ Collective Autumn Reading Series, appearing with Michele Leggott and Helen Lowe (that’s me, ok 😉 ). Nick was Commended in the 2010 NZ Poetry Society International Poetry Comptition and Highly Commended in the Bravado Poetry Competition 2009. His work has appeared in a range of literary journals and anthologies.
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Perfect, Nick. Thank you, Helen.
Glad you like, Claire.
Hi Helen. I hope your OK! I just saw the images of the earthquake.
Am also v. concerned about you, dear Helen – hope you’re alright.
Sending you much love and best thoughts for your safety – Claire
Waiting anxiously for news of you and Andrew, Helen- please post an update if you have a chance. All our thoughts with you at this time.
If you need to get out of Chch, there’s a bed here.
You only need to worry about volcanoes up here!
Hope you’re ok Helen.
Hi Helen, hope you and Andrew are ok. There’s a bed here if you need it, or just feel the need to get out of town for a while.
Hugs
Jo
I’m also looking forward to hearing you’re ok Helen. Perhaps if anyone hears from her they could post a comment?
Helen and Andrew are ok.
Thanks Mary! Very pleased to hear that.
Whew was so glad to hear on the blog that you both are ok… extended family? talk to you soon lots of love
splitting earth
I smell
humanity