First national anthology of haiku from Ireland

Some of my haiku have been published in Bamboo Dreams, a new collection launched in Dublin recently by Arts Minister, Jimmy Deenehan TD.

While mainly comprising the work of contemporary haijin (haiku poets) the collection also features several poems from mainstream writers, including a haiku by Seamus Heaney from a 1991 collection and a short poem by Patrick Kavanagh published after his death and now recognised as a haiku of merit.

I was surprised, but naturally delighted, when Anatoly Kudryavitsky, editor of the anthology, asked for some of my work for this anthology. I tavelled to the launch in Dublin a couple of weeks ago and it was great to meet up with other haiku poets that I’d only ever communicated with on online writing forums.

At the launch of Bamboo Dreams, Anatoly said, “This collection features the work of seventy-seven authors who have contributed to the development of haiku on the Emerald Isle.” When reflecting on the recent rise of the popularity of this poetry form in Ireland, he said that Bamboo Dreams did not offer a compilation of poems ‘about’ Ireland, but rather “the most evocative haiku written by poets born or residing here.”

I feel honoured to be a part of it! 🙂

http://www.doghousebooks.ie/doghouse/publications/publication.php?publication=bamboodreams