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In this, the Golden Age of Google, it's not hard to find plenty of information about a prominent and well-regarded poet like Lee Gurga. For example, a search in Google Images swiftly turns up this photo of the poet laughing and showing off his charming smile:
http://www.brooksbookshaiku.com/graphics/leegurga.jpeg (Hi Lee!) A little bit of digging elsewhere turns up book reviews, interviews, critical articles, you name it. Lee's publisher, Brooks Books, posts a "Poet's CV" detailing a lifetime of extraordinary achievement, including more than fifteen books and chapbooks published as author, translator and editor, a stint as editor-in-chief of Modern Haiku, the world's oldest English-language haiku journal, and a list of awards, publications and anthology appearances as long as your arm. He's there on Amazon.com, where his Haiku: A Poet's Guide is racking up 5-star reviews . . . including one from none other than William J. Higginson, ground-breaking author of The Haiku Handbook, who sadly passed away just last weekend. And he has the unusual distinction of being the only person in the world (to date!) who turns up in a Google search for "Haiku Halfwit"! (Don't believe me? Click on it and see!) Well, needless to say our Distinguished Guest this month is no "halfwit" . . . though the self-deprecating humour is a characteristic touch. People who have been reading Lee's comments on our Master Class thread nearby already know just what a perceptive reader and critic he really is. But to read Lee's prose is to get only a part of what this gifted poet and teacher has to offer to everyone who loves haiku--and indeed, poetry in general. A poet lives, first and foremost, through his or her poetry, and Lee Gurga is no exception. He has created a body of work that leaves no doubt that the haiku is a mature and richly evocative form of English poetry, capable of expressing the widest variety of moods and ideas memorably . . . and movingly. Alas for the frustrating realities of small-press poetry publication. Far too much of Lee's work is out of print and unavailable for purchase. Fortunately for us though, we have the Internet and its many resources. Listed at the bottom of this post are three archive sites which together offer a generous sampling of Lee's poems. I encourage everyone visiting here to look into them and absorb what they have to offer. Our Distinguished Guest has much to teach us through his patient critiques and explanations--but he has as much again and more to teach through the quiet, thoughtful voice of his poems. Just for a taster, three personal favourites: fresh scent — the labrador's muzzle deeper into snow trying the old pump a mouse pours out postal chess — he moves me from his cell Each of these strikes me as exemplifying the possibilities of the haiku form in its own richly satisfying way, but of the three, I think I like that image of the dog in the snow best. Perhaps it's just the experience of this last week here on Eratosphere, in which I've had the pleasure of watching fellow poets and friends catch the scent of the elusive and magical quarry called haiku for the first time. There you all are, friends, heads in the snow and rumps in the air, tails wagging like mad--it's been a sight, let me tell you! With Lee's poems here, you've found the scent of some footprints well worth following. Dig deeper. • Vintage Haiku by Lee Gurga • A selection of Lee's poetry at the World Haiku Review. • Long Walk Alone • An online chapbook from Brooks Books, featuring poems by Lee Gurga and photography by Gretchen Batz. To navigate, click on the picture thumbnails, or use the arrows to go through the collection in sequence. • Lee Gurga at Terebess Asia Online • A generous selection of Lee's work from the haiku archives of Terebess Asia. * p.s. So Lee, I gotta ask: what's up with "Haiku Halfwit" anyway? |
Steve C. - what a treat! I was just reading some of Lee's haiku last night HERE. This one gave me a laugh -
class reunion— with my old girlfriend her girlfriend |
I just have to add a bit to that one mary lol--
he looks too young to think old class reunion— my old girlfriend and her girlfriend with hers hey! I love the pictures in Long Walk Alone stunning-- and this one speaks volumes. wedding picture: each face finds a different camera [This message has been edited by Henrietta kelly (edited October 16, 2008).] |
Pssst. Hey Folks!
While Lee is busy reading our poems on the Master Class thread, don't neglect to read his poems here. As I said in my introductory post up above, Lee's poetry has as much to teach us about haiku as his prose. So click on the links above . . . and enjoy. Steve C. |
Last night, I read Long Walk Alone, straight through, and it was beautiful, poignant, and moving.
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Hi Folks,
Well, we're down to the last few hours of Lee's visit with us this year. Of course, he's always welcome to stay longer or drop in again--any time--but it's probably best that he set some limits and take a rest for now. Otherwise, we might take over his life completely! Anyway, it's been a great ride. For anyone who's sorry they're not going to have Lee around to pepper with questions anymore--and for anyone who's just looking in, and sorry they missed the fun--I'm going to take this opportunity once more to shamelessly plug Lee's book. Haiku: A Poet's Guide by Lee Gurga Please note that Lee has never asked me to mention the book in any way, nor was promoting it a condition of his participation here. But having read the book myself, and watched Lee answering questions with us, I must say I do admire his restraint. There must have been dozens of times in this last week when a personal of normally human patience might have burst out in exasperation, "Look, I explained all this in my book! Why don't you go read it?" But Lee, it seems, is more than humanly patient. Anyway, having been prodded by my hints on the Master Class thread, he finally broke down and offered us all a discount if we order direct: Quote:
Lee, thanks again for a great week on Distinguished Guest. And congratulations on that second print run. Here's to number three! Steve C. |
And now it's time to say good-bye . . .
http://ppqsda.bay.livefilestore.com/...c/pear%20a.JPG the distinguished guest windfall pears surround the tree sweet, with grit like stone shoukyaku ya / fuki-otosareshi / nashi amashi |
Steve C., that is absolutely gorgeous! I love it.
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All,
I have Lee's book, Haiku: A Poets Guide and can say that it is well written, chock full of examples (not nuts!) and will help you come to grips with the enormous tradition known as Haiku. Thanks to you Steve and to you Lee for a wonderful time. Peace be with you, Fr. RP |
That is seriously beautiful, Steve. Worth a serious bid! Do you draw them, scan them, then upload the image? I wish, I wish I could draw this one, and show it to you, too!
the distinguished guest a spider’s shed skin on the window sill all eyes Eternal thanks, Lee Gurga. I do not over-state when I say, you have helped me change my life. Cally |
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