Atwood, Ann - Translates all of Gunther Klinge, Germany, for the magazines. Writer and photographer. Made films with Lyceum Productions.
Avila, Kat - Continues to publish in The Geppo.
Ave Jeanne - Editor of the Black Bear Review, a literary with social protest overtones. Also writes poetry .
Barton, Geri - song-writer, but also become known for the renga she has written with Lorraine Elllis Harr.
Blumberg, Shirley J - Planning commissioner in Mammoth Lakes, CA and secretary for attorney husband. Writes fiction articles and other poetry, goes backpacking. " living in a place of such beauty that it is like living in a haiku. "On an early summer hike when I suddenly realized that I was experiencing every moment as a heightened haiku moment, and by doing that, I was able to feel a part of the wilderness far more than my companions. At a rest stop, I scribbled down some of the haiku, and when I got home, I wrote several more. However, I realized that I didn't have to record them to live them. I am 63, white haired, active, interested and involved in everything around me: my community, family friends, my surroundings. I also enjoy solitude -- indeed I require it."
Canaway, Ruth - I enjoy drawing and painting, writing a book on archetypes, does illustrations for others' work. To inspire my haiku I have studied Zen, Nicheren Shoshu, Buddhism, yoga, meditation, Sumi, Jungian, Freudian and Gestalt psychology, behaviorism, acting, dance, music, karate, and poetry. "I will never forget the feeling of satisfaction that I had after completing my best Haiku, on realizing that nature had given it more depth than I could control. I am a Christian, a wife, an artist, and a parent; also a writer."
Calkins, Jean (Rima Golden) - I first wrote a haiku "for a contest with Poet's Tape Exchange in about '65 and I won first place. I have loosened it up somewhat" but am still traditional though not so strict with syllable count. I find humor in the seriousness of nature.
Cooperstein, Claire - Went to a meeting of the North Carolina Haiku Society because friends of mine in the NC Poetry Society were going--and because I was curious. Wrote my first haiku there. It was two years before I stopped writing 3-line poems and wrote my first haiku. "I had been struggling to write haiku for months without success. Walking on the beach, I bumped into a friend whose haiku had been published. She sat down with me and went over all my so called haiku, showing me what was needed. It was like a revelation. I began publishing after that." (later in a letter she writes, "Of course I know Nina Wicker--she is "the lady at the beach" who showed me the difference between a 3-line poem and a haiku!"
Currier, Joyce Walker - "At a Haiku Festival in Toronto Canada when Cor van den Heuvel asked to tell him about a haiku of mine that I liked and I could not think of any! I was caught off guard, not expecting anyone to know that I wrote haiku."
Davidson, L.A. - "A fellow poet, Elizabeth Lamb, gave me a copy of Harold G. Henderson's Haiku in English and urged me to start writing haiku. I wrote my first haiku on a car ride from NYC to Indiana, Easter time, 1966. It was published in Haiku Highlights, Vol. 5, No. 3, 1969. I since have written children's stories, poetry, articles for small literary magazines. Born on a ranch near Roy, Montana, graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota in Journalism. Married, two daughters, a life of traveling around the world with her husband. Now living in NYC which is the source of many of her haiku.
Eastlund, Madelyn - poet, free lance writer for over thirty years, Instructor in creative writing and poetry, workshops "I learned of haiku while browsing my copy of Woods's Complete Rhyming Dictionary...came across the "form" of haiku. Of course all he gave was the syllable count so my first haiku were not haiku. But evidently many of those who published during those early years didn't know it -- they published me."
Egermeier, Virginia -" I wrote my first haiku on a hot day beginning with "In icy water...", just to see if I could. I sent it to "Piedmont Literary Review" because Barbara McCoy had sent me a note much earlier about my first NON-haiku"
Eulberg, Sister Mary Thomas - I am a nun, a teacher. I learned of haiku in 1976, in Dubuque, Iowa, under the coaching of Father Raymond Roseliep, Loras College professor emeritus, August 11, 1917-December 6, 1983.
Heinrich, Peggy - I am also writing regular poetry, non-fiction, am writing a book on commission, articles, short stories."
Guentherman, Cindy -"I also write other forms of poetry but prefer haiku because it lets one see the ordinary things in ever new ways which enriches one's life."
Grell, Terri Lee - I woke up in the middle of the night and could not go back to sleep until I wrote my first haiku down. I was in a motel in Oregon and wrote it for a seagull who was waking up the morning"
Harr, Lorraine Ellis - " I wrote my first haiku in order to enter the Japan Air Lines Haiku Contest in 1964. Won an honorable mention. I soon replaced my writing of poetry with the exploration and enjoyment of haiku. I have changed from syllable count to short-long-short lines. I have tried every form for writing haiku but feel this one works best. I am editor of Dragonfly, founder of Western World Haiku Society, 1972, writes articles, short stories, children's stories."
Harter, Penny - "I teach writing and literature. Write poetry and publishes with my husband, William J. Higginson."
Heitmeyer, Doris - "In the '60's had read books by Henderson, Blyth, Yasuda and tried my hand at it. It was not until the 80's that I was serious enough about it to seek out a group to learn more." Now Secretary to HSA and publish The HSA Newsletter. For thirty-five years I have been a secretary; last 20 years a medical secretary at Cornell University Medical College in the Department of Pathology."
Hirshman, Rose (Loke Hilikimani) died April, 1984 Since her death there has been created by the Rockland County Haiku Society, the Loke HiLiKiMaNi Haiku contest which was first held in 1987, judged by Robert Spiess. Winners were: (1) Elizabeth Searle Lamb - the brown-robed priest/focusing on Indian dancers, /sunflash off his Leica/, (3) Helen Dalton - the gnarled finger/of the deaf old man/tuned to his cat/
Engle, Margarita Mondrus -"I believe in simplification and streamlining; I often write several versions, set them aside and wait to see which one becomes the most comfortable and natural form. Waiting is essential. I avoid simile, metaphor and intellectuallizing."
Kenny, Adele - Teaches creative writing at the College of New Rochelle, teaches at Rahway Public Schools, Rahway, New Jersey, edited small press literary journals and anthologies. Do readings and workshops on a regular basis.Born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, grew up in Rahway spent part of most summers at her family's Adirondack retreat in Stratford, NY. Received her B.A. from Kean College in 1870 and her M.S. from the College of New Rochelle in 1982. Awarded a fellowship in poetry by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for 1981-1982 and 1986-1987.
Lamb, Elizabeth Seale - "I saw a note about a new magazine, American Haiku, in early 1963, subscribed and began reading, studying, writing with encouragement from the editors, especially Clement Hoyt. First haiku published were two in American Haiku, No.# 2, 1963. I also do free-lance writing and poetry. HSA charter member, former president. Editor of Frogpond from 1984 - 1990.
Lambert, Jane K - does pen and ink sketches with her haiku. Teaches writing in schools.
Lifshitz, Leatrice - "Once a week Rose Hirshman (Loke Hilikimani) and I met in her primarily to discuss the books we were reading and the poems we were writing. After Rose attended the Bergen NJ Poets' Workshop, she became interested in haiku. I was soon also hooked. That was about 10 years ago" - "haiku is a window on the world and I would be unhappy without that window. I have organized the Rockland County Haiku Society and the Loke Hilikimani Contest. The Rockland County Haiku Society meets every six weeks.
Little, Geraldine C. - Singer with a group that performs and records with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Does solo work. Has sung in a performance of "Haiku" by composer Vincent Persichetti of James Hackett's haiku. Vice President of the Poetry Society of America. Publishes far more regular poetry than haiku. Former president of Haiku Society of America, Vice Pres. of the Poetry Society of America, NY chapter.
Lyles, Peggy Willis - "I believe haiku should be precise, fresh, open-ended and evocative brevity and compression. read Japanese masters to refresh my thinking. I teach, do editing, writing and painting. Held a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship at Tulane from which she received an M.A. degree, and has taught at the high school and college levels. Presently is poetry editor for Georgia Journal. Married for 23 years ('82) daughter and son. "
Marucci, Linda - "I like to use haiku as an 'up' experience to share with others. I remember once going to show Nick Virgilio my work in a church in Camden -I got lost and had to take a cab."
Mayhew, Lenore - Writes and translates other poetry from Japanese and Chinese, has translated all the major haijin of Japan. Travels to the East. Born in 1924 in Ogden, Utah, married to Frank Mayhew, 4 children, B.A., Mills College [CA], Majored in Music History; Minor: English and Dramatic Arts. Team-taught seminars in translation with Oberlin College faculty and is an Affiliate Scholar at Oberlin. Four books of translation of Chinese, Japanese and Russian poets. Her translations of these poets have appeared in ten anthologies. Her own original poems and haiku have appeared in many magazines. "I feel it is important that writers and readers 'see the center' of haiku. Feel that more and more are and hope it continues."
Margaret G. Molarsky - "I hold a haiku in my head all day while I work on it. In the evening, usually, I write it down. Brush painting, poetry about native American with whom I have done family case work. I keep a book of haiku written by others which I admire the most. This is a great joy."
Mountain, Marlene M - is an artist, writer of fiction and non-fiction; has printed cards, produced books and written plays with haiku incorporated. She is a very active feminist. slow awareness that potential of haiku form and content not realized/acknowledged by editors, translators, originators, "philosophers". That existing rules/dogma denied rather than embraced expression of full human experience"- "8/1977, creation of unaloud (visual) haiku: labium. First awareness of women's haiku; of focusing on woman's experience" Inspired by visual haiku, I began to paint images of femininity. I paint, write, rant and rave, and manage to stay relatively sane in the mountains of Upper East Tennessee. Occasionally I show painting on my land in a little shed called "The Great Goddess Gallery" and in other places near-by. Writings in various books and magazines."
McCoy, Barbara - Haiku Editor for Piedmont Literary Review; writes poetry and haibun. "First began to write haiku in 1975 when I attended a writers' workshop at a local university. First published in Dragonfly and I was greatly encouraged by Lorraine Ellis Harr."
Procsal, Gloria H. - "My early haiku were strict 5-7-5; no exceptions. Now I cut any padding, which produces smoother work." "Write it, let it rest! then tighten, eliminate excess articles and adjectives. Adding a gerund enhances immediacy. Be sure 2nd and 3rd lines are in the most effective order. An interesting experience was having a haiku rejected five times, which went on to be an award winner in Kansas. Raised in El Centro. She is an international award winning poet, She has written radio interviews, TV commercials, articles, essays, short fiction and two novels. She supports youth poetry programs and has been honored on the state level for her contributions to the Arts. She and her husband, George, divide their time between homes in El Centro and Boulevard. They have four children.
Purviance, Edna G. - Taught haiku in schools and small groups. Formed the Haiku Appreciation Club and published a magazine for it for three years. Publisher of Betty Drevniok's book, Aware.
Reynolds, Helen - "We settled in Marysville, CA, after a year and a half in Japan in 1952-54. I had acquired six books by R.H Blythe and had "thought haiku" for some time. The I met Ethel Dunlop, a haiku writer and began recording observations. My first attempt was not accepted for publication but shortly afterwards,
Over a stone wall
acacia heavy with spring
guild a
tombstone
which was accepted and printed in Modern Haiku. I am a serigrapher and painter who likes all kinds of people ranging from Nelly the Cat Woman (one of our street people) to haiku professors, but especially people with a sense of humor. I enjoy all arts but feel proficient in only one."
Rotella, Alexis K.- Writes longer poems, nothing scholastic. Editor of Brussels Sprout, freelance writer, associated with a public relations agency and Interfaith Minister who does spiritual counseling and healing; poetry therapy in nursing homes. Rotella was a former President of Haiku Society of America in 1983 as well as Editor of Frogpond that same year.
Rust, Rebecca - is founder of the North Carolina Haiku Society and currently editor/publisher of the North Carolina Haiku Society Press. "I feel haiku magazine editors need to distinguish between haiku and good brief poetry. And they should have more tolerance for the different schools of haiku writing"
Sagan, Miriam - is a hotline counselor, a masseuse and Polarity therapist. She is a writer of books, poetry and newspaper articles and reviews. She is also one of the editors of Zephyr Press. Her specialty is giving poetry readings. Born in NYC, B.A. from Radcliff/Harvard, M.A. from Boston University. Artist-in-residence program in NM. Lives with Zen husband in Santa Fe.
Shelley, Pat - "Writing poetry, reading it, being involved in the poetry community are my main activities. I am a widow, my two sons are grown and married, my companions, a Lhasa Apso and a pair of Zebra Finches."[Pat died December 28th, 1997.]
Sherry, Helen J. - Began writing and publishing in 1983 after finding haiku while searching for short verses to incorporate in note paper she was designing. She majored in art at Mercyhurst College, Erie PA and the Columbus College of Art and Design, OH. Many exhibits and awards in Ohio, Washington, DC and California. Designed the stained glass windows for two Ohio churches. Former state president of National League of American Pen Women. Mother of six children, grandmother.
Simmonds, Jean - In addition to haiku, Jean Simmonds has also published children's stories, non-fiction articles and other poetry.
Stewart, Roberta. (Deceased 1991.) "I wrote my first haiku with Kay Mormino, founder and editor of Modern Haiku in 1970 at Dana Point, CA. We were writing tanka and were members of the TANKA chapter of the California Federation of Chaparral Poets. Kay Mormino got interested in haiku after winning a prize in the Japan Airlines Haiku Contest. Once I saw a haiku almost identical to one I had published and thought the person had plagiarized mine but later found out that the other had been written two years before I wrote mine.""
Tanzer, Lilli,R.D. - painted the sumie painting on the cover of "Frogpond" VII:1 Lilli was Secretary of Haiku Society of America and editor of Frogpond from 1978 - 1981.
Vance, Lequita - Artist, graphic designer, designs haiku books and interior decorator. "My goal is that haiku be taken seriously and incorporated into the mainstream of American poetry."
weiss, ruth - "I spent time with Jack Kerouac and wrote and talked haiku with him in SF in the early 50's and read them in The Cellar in SF and published then. Later, 1980, had a dream for a watercolor exhibit with haiku and did that and became re-involved in writing haiku. i keep myself as light as possible working my way through the dark" "January 4, 1982 --- Inverness, California --- a few months out of San Francisco --- in the eye of the storm --- 12 inches of rain in 24 hours --- houses sliding into the bay --- our home & life & work in the path of a stream turned river --- wheelbarrow & tools swept away --- Paul creating a trench with a colander that appeared out of nowhere --- ruth bailing bailing bailing inside --- a batter-operated radio from landlady & her children huddled upstairs announces another storm & continuing rain --- out comes his haiku between each squeeze --- 5// five is like changes/after a visit from hell/with day break clear day//on the morning of January 5th the rain stopped, the sun came & stayed for 17 days --- the mud still seeped in, but the house, the lives & the work were saved --- this was the start of the book of haiku, All Numbers Work In Time -- and therefore the number & not consecutive.
Wicker, Nina A. - "When the North Carolina Poetry Society, Inc. added this category to their annual contest. A niece gave some sixth grade rules about the 5-7-5, nature, haiku. It was a challenge!"
Yarrow, Ruth - "I wrote my first couple haiku when teaching a course for environmental science students at Stockton State College (southern NJ.) on how cultures around the world perceive nature. Then I read a good deal to learn about haiku and asked my students to try writing a few, When I tried them, I was hooked. Teacher. Ecolgist and environmental educator. Leads workshops on environmental education and haiku. Organized the Tompkins Co. Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign.I would like to see a more democratic discussion-stimulating editorial format to some of the ;journals as Lilli Tanzer had in the early issues of Frogpond."
Young, Virginia Brady -"If a haiku delights or inspires me, I think it is good. I like it if it has a season word and internal comparision, but I break the rules when I choose."Virginia Brady Young also writes"western poetry", short stories, non-fiction articles, articles about haiku.
Aikins, Suezan - "I am a full time water color painter and Japanese technique woodblock printer. I use my haiku increasingly as part of all communications to a wide circle of professionals, friends and family don't live in my tiny fishing village! I am curious, energetic, demanding in standards, esthetics."
Baker, Winona - "Why would you want to meet me? I can be hospitable, fun, but if I am caught up in writing, I may not be. I used to let anyone ask me to do things and I'd put aside my own work. It took a serious illness to make me realize the if I really wanted to write, I should do it. I am involved with human kind still: still have my original husband, four now-grown children, modest house, no furs or expensive jewelry. Want to think of myself as a Renaissance woman but still have a bourgeoisie streak. I say I am busy, yet I can spend whole days just diddling. Looks? normal, like someone's wife, sister, mother...
Bennett, Betty Kendell - "I am outgoing with a sense of humour and a bit of playfulness. My husband, a rural man, saying he felt upon entering a roomful of persons that instead of a room it was a forest; instead of trees, people. Thus," rural man/slowly entering a forest/of people"
Bluger, Marianne - "Describing oneself is difficult. Yes. Difficult. However, in the winter of 1975, writing in isolation a long lyric, I discarded all of it as being wordy and unclear except for a linked image which was in rough haiku form and struck me as the pivot of the objective and emotional experience I had intended to convey."
Buckaway, Catherine M. - "I would say that I have a vast knowledge of poetry. Also a vast knowledge as to how to get poetry published. To date (winter 1986) I have 2,628 published poems. Also how to get them preserved forever; I have 4,000 poems in the University of Saskatchewan Archives." [Catherine died in 1997.]
Coney, Denise - "I am a vivacious 30 year old red-headed woman who has just embarked upon her second career - that of a Social Worker. I enjoy reading and writing, movies, dining out, cross-country skiing, hiking, walking and badminton."
Drevniok, Betty (died in March, 1997) - she wrote about herself in 1985 - "A bit shy, but not too much. Generally happy and optimistic -easy going -average intelligence -artistic -persistent - terrible housekeeper - gray hair - brown eyes - pleasingly plump -big feet, size 8 - like only haiku and limericks, no other poetry. Into psychic stuff (Findhorn and channeling) - love to travel - love living in the country - love visiting the city."
Ford, Muriel - "I approached a man in a store and wanting to show that remembered a haiku he had written, I took his hand and quoted the haiku. I had the haiku correct, but not the man. The stranger was dumbfounded and I was too embarrassed to explain and left hastily."
Harris, Claire K. - "I am a West Indian of African descent who has chosen to live, teach and write in Canada. I write as a means of bringing my rather curious intelligence to bear on the world, on on women in the world. Even though my poetry is often about terror in one form or another, it is written out of hope. My work is often wildly experimental; thus a kind critic has described it as being 'bravely extreme'. This is why I need haiku for the relief of form, for peace; and for its essential elegance."
Howard, Dorothy - "Busy co-parent of six children, aged from 8 -18, I believe in the importance of family, both nuclear and extended, and of society at all levels. I do not have answers; questions come to me very easily. I am attempting to set questions aside and participate more actively in the creation of a network of writers, I am president of Haiku Canada, I am a contract employee of Revenue Canada, Customs and Excise where I teach and do text revision. I enjoy life and wish there were more than 24 hours in a day. I hope to live long." [Currently editor of Raw NerVZ.]
Jankola, Beth - "I never recall calling them "haiku" . I write these small poems because this is what I seem to best at. I am a poet who publishes books and illustrates books."
Jorgenson, Jean - "Retired from nursing, I now devote my time to writing poems and stories, haiku and renga. In the few years I have been writing, my work has won several awards."
mckay, anne, "Married 20 years, with three children, to a cinematographer, now divorced and drifting..."
Nishimura, Tomi - "During the Evacuation [of Japanese into concentration camps in World War II] to Grand Forks, British Columbia, I was working as a farmer and began writing haiku. I would describe myself as petite, alert, articulate, young-looking, interested in life, voracious reader, artistic."
Pratt, Claire - Wrote my first haiku in 1965 while recovering from a violent and critical illness. I chose the medium to capture some hospital experiences until such time as I was physically well enough to express them in my art [i.e., woodcuts]."
Rose, Mildred A. - "I discovered haiku in some beautifully illustrated books for kindergarten children in 1969. In 1970 I went to Japan with my husband where I continued my study of haiku and tanka. Mrs. C.M. Buckaway and Lorraine Ellis Harr were helpful to me in getting my work published. Now I am white-haired, absent-minded, wrinkled but with open arms to children, especially grandchildren."
Saunders, Margaret - "I live in Hamilton, Ontario, and edit the quarterly magazine "Wee Giant". I am a member of Haiku Canada, and on the literary committee at Hamilton Place. My longer poems as well as the haiku and senryu have been widely published."
Schuck, L.Pearl - . L. Pearl (Ford) Schuck was born and lives in Regina. Her poetry and haiku have won important awards throughout Canada.
Smith, Dorothy Cameron - "I have a sense of humor, a sense of the beautiful in life. I tried to hang on to the traditional, but I also have to keep up with the modern. I have a 5 day a week radio program, I write for children, do public speaking, short stories, sells verses to greeting card companies in USA. I have a small business at home, The Cameo Studio, where people can come with their work for editing."
Spriggs, Ruby - "I was born in England, came to Canada in 1957, finally living in Montreal, Toronto and in Ottawa where I enjoy painting, writing poetry and gardening. For three years editor of the Haiku Canada Newsletter."
Vakar, Anna - "Three months after being introduced to haiku, I was lying in bed with a sprained back and wrote my first published haiku. I enjoy the challenge of language and of perception; a pleasant source of contact with friends; something one can turn to for relief when life appears difficult; it is pleasant to be published"
Villeneuve, Jocelyne -. "I am trying to avoid the traditional format and compress the images in one short concise yet precise expression. I must be moved by it.. freedom should be the basis of any haiku."
Whitter, Gail - "After the publication of my book, Insular Position, I became even more active in women's publishing."
Wong, Maureen
"Words take form
Paint strokes play across paper
Nearing forty"
J. van Aelst-Versteden, (Silva Ley) - A teacher. As poet was publishing in 1968 - recent work --about women in the Bible.
van den Berg, Adri - "I was born on June 11, 1943 in Eindhoven, NOW working as a 'reader' for an institution which provides information about recently published books for public libraries. write stories."
Bleijenbergh, Gaby (died September, 1997) - I write, short stories, tanka. "I am fond of several "things of beauty": I read a lot, love to go to a concert, theater, exhibitions...Every day I try to go out for a walk...looking for plants, trees, and little animals, "painter's skies", and if possible, a bit of silence. Mostly I walk alone which can be dangerous these days! If they are nice and sensitive, I like people around me. I hate dominating persons, disc-jockeys, pop-music, TV shows; too much noise, too many claims. I love to drink a glass of wine. Come and join me?"
Blumenthal, Hermy, H. - Besides being a housewife
and mother of 3 sons, I love everything that has to do with
puzzles. Not only jigsaw and cryptograms, but also chinese
pictographies, haiku (a puzzle with words), games (tangram)
and organizing things. I can not do without going to the
theaters, ballets and concerts. I am interested in people,
their appearances and doings, I also love to be alone for a
couple of days. I would say, " Live and let
live."
ten Broeke, Johanna (Jenny) - "I am woman of 59 years with many interests. Nature and its functions play an important role in my etchings and other work. I want everyone to love nature because we are all a small part of the universe. It is important to know our world and care for it."
Dirkse-Bresters, His - I am 71 years old - studied law in Leyden - married and raised a family - did translations - was active in women's organizations (leadership training, help to migrating women, publication) - during 12 years a member of the executive of an international women's NGo: the World YWCA - after that for 10 years university lecturer in the fields of public law and international relations."
Yka Frijlink - "I am , age 80, widow, mother of 3 and grandmother of 4 children. I live on my own and am interested in reading. painting and writing haiku."
Hell, Johanna W. P. - "I was born in 1931."
Hey-de Herder, Elsa - "If some wants to meet me she [he] should know that I am like the mother-earth; warm inside and much cooler on the outside!"
Hoedemaliers, Jeanine - "I'm a very sensitive type, but also kind of powerful. Once I was a dreamer, but now I am a very realistic person with virtuous meanings."
Huizinge, Nannake - "I try to live in harmony with myself and my surrounding and to see the relativity of things, hoping to grow into a wise old lady! I love my work. To me solitude and silence are of vital interest; I am scared of crowds. I believe I am a spontaneous person, critical, practical and bossy with a quick temper and a warm heart and sense of humor."
Groenendal, Loeke - "Works as admissions secretary for a hospital, has a passion for reading, enjoys being out of doors. Not so glamorous to see, but always curious to know."
van Gulick, Gusta - "I want to be here and now, so I keep changing, always on the move."
Lievaart, Inge - "At first a human being, in the second place a poet, a woman 74 years old."
de Jonghe, Mieke - "teacher of history and foreign languages but am now the curator for a museum in Damme [near Bruges]. Am very active in church and lead a group of young people who welcomes and guides tourists through churches in Bruges. Also engage in photography and painting."
Nadia Nadia Radovici - "born in Bucharest Rumania, emigrated to Holland with her family, has a degree in Physics and Chemistry, is a scientific editor and much interested in literature."
Oostenbroek, Dr. Lucette M. - "I am a teacher of classical philosophy at an "open university. Did a translation of Catullus' poetry and am working on the works of Tibullus. I'm a difficult person for fellow haiku writers/poets, as I remain very critical and tend to a certain aloofness to other people's endeavors, because my standards of writing for myself and others are so high. However, when anyone would seriously want my opinion (without becoming angry) or give my work intelligent criticism or could speak comprehensively on the subject , I would greatly enjoy the dialogue."
Pels, Nelly - "Was born in Rotterdam in 1927. I am writing since 15 years; it is a way of life for me. "
Rijnink-Jonckers, Hermina - "I am a widow of 72 years old, mother and grandmother of five."
Reumer, Wanda - "Former Editor of Vuursteen and co-author with Piet Zandboer of Growing Old Together."
van Schuylenbergh, Heidi - "Enjoys classical poetry recitation, drawing and painting, meditation, observing nature, and examining real life."
Regensburg-Burck, Pauline - "I am interested in poetry and literature. I used to live in Indonesia until 1948, after which I lived in Holland with my family. I taught French and Russian but am now retired and working on another tanka collection."
Soutendijk, Truus - "Look out for a little slightly built middle aged woman with fair hair, blue eyes and casually dressed."
van Thor-Braun, Jette - "born Nov. 26, 1922 in Maastricht, is married, had four children and 3 grandchildren."
Timmermans, Clara - "Painting, works as a tourist guide, lectures. She enjoyz observing nature on trips to the country."
de Vries-van Heerde, Lutha - "I am a married woman and mother of two grown-up children, a girl and a boy. I like classical music, visiting museums, oil painting, glass engraving, knitting and crocheting."
Witteveen, Thea - "I'm here with all my incompleteness. I'm interested in culture, art in literature, in nature, in human beings; as matter of fact, in life."
Wolthers, Helena - "I am now 78 years old. Sixty of those years I have spent writing poetry and now I am totally taken by haiku! I have published very little, partly because I did not make the effort and partly because my life has been very changeable and I have had many duties. Even yet today I am very involved and seem to have too little time for myself. In spite of that, I am a very happy person and am happy to carry on the haiku tradition."
Zegerman, Caroline -"I like literature, art and theater. Music as well. I had a full time job while raising my two daughters and was an active member of feminist and lesbian groups, but now I seek to be alone. I protest against the oppression of people and the fact that we are destroying our world and poisoning each other. I live happily together with a woman. We love our pets and friends. I was born in 1936."
Akao, Kei (Akao, Haruko - "I have been living with music about 35 years. I graduated from music college in 1946. After that, I gave concerts and taught music to private pupils. Married to Toushi Akao, a famous haiku poet who died in 1981. I then became the president for the Coterie Uzu. We try to continue his work. My music influences my haiku very much. Because I belong to the Modern Haiku Association, I write my work both with concreteness and feelings for images. I try not to depend on words. I feel the substance is more important than words, in contrast to many other writers of haiku who depend upon clichés."
Arima Kazuko - "My husband died in 1945 and I became a widow. I work at Tokyo University for the Dean of Science in addition to my haiku work. I look at nature with love, and feel my own poem soul when I write haiku. I am hoping for world peace through haiku."
Itami, Kimiko - "I write haiku and other poetry. I became a student of Itami Mikihiko in 1946 and a member of Seigen in 1949. In 1960 I changed my style to one using colloquial language. Most of my writing is about daily life and my foreign travels."
Koko Kato - "Ko is the name of my haiku magazines as well as the name of my haiku group. Koo means plowing and cultivation and is taken from my name." She writes, "Koko Kato loves haiku poetry as well as the natural world around here. For her, writing haiku and essays are the most happy kinds of work. She has published two kinds of haiku magazines [in Japanese and in English] and endeavors to improve haiku literature. She was born in the historical city of Kyoto in 1931. She spent most of her school days in Nagoya and then studied at Doshinsha University in Kyoto, graduating in 1955. For eighteen years she was school teacher. Her family consists of a husband, a daughter and a son and a dog. Her husband is a medical doctor and chief professor of Medical University. Her son is a medical student. Her daughter writes poems. Her dog is a pure Japanese kind. She takes walks with this dog. We may say her dog is her haiku friend."
Iijima, Hasuko - Karuko Iijima is the chief of staff of the haiku group Taka. She was born in Kyoto, Jan. 9th, 1921.
Kohiyama, Shigeko - "In 1955 while I was under medical treatment at a tuberculosis sanitarium, I was deeply impressed by Shuson Katoo's work. I began writing haiku in earnest. Later I became his pupil. I am rather a hard working type for haiku. I hold regular meetings with a small group."
Matsumoto, Sumie - "In 1940 I wrote a haiku for the first time at Keishu. In September, 1941, I won a prize in the haiku magazine Hototogisu. After that I won prizes there many times. I became a haiku poet. I bring 45 years of haiku experience and my personality to become the leader of the magazine "Kaze no Michi [Road of Wind]. I want to hand down haiku's spirit to the 21st Century."
Kawasaki Niyoko (Hideko Nakajima) - "I am an ordinary housewife who loves haiku."
Kuuno Toyoko (Kuuno, Takijiyo) - I am very interested in making the public aware of the place of women's work in haiku and of bringing a woman's sensitivity to the genre."
Ooba Miyoko -
Taligi, Haruko - "I learned haiku from my father, Takahama Kyoshi, one of Japan's most famous haiku poets. He died in 1959, then I continued to learn from my sister, Takahama Hoshino. In 1946 I began to teach at haiku meeting. When my sister became disabled from a stroke in 1970, I became director and selector for Rili-nu Gyokuso [Decorations of the King's Crown]. When my sister recovered in 1984, I returned her position to her and began another magazine, Harukyo [House of Haruko]. I was born in 1915 in Kamakura, graduated from Yokohama Gerris Girls School. In 1934 I married Takagi Ryichi. I worked in the Bank of Japan and became manager of Japan's Trade Import-Export Bank."
Shibuya, Michi - "Born November 1st in Kyoto. Now a pediatrician."
Shimomura, Umeko - "Born in Fukuika in 1921, lived in Shanghai, Tokyo, Nanking, and Formosa, then returned home. Active in various haiku groups and selector for the "Fresh Shoots Column" of Katsuragi."
Hinoki, Kiyo - "Believe it or not, I think that I am reticent and shy. Although cautious and hesitant, I have a keen sense of responsibility and patience once I commit myself to any work. Rather conservative and unfashionable, I cherish a strong sense of duty and social courtesy. Married with two children (both boys), but now that they have left home to go into the world, I am free from the duty of being a mother. I would like to devote myself to the composition of haiku and to make many people appreciate the pleasure of reading and writing haiku."
Inoue, Yuki - "I am caretaker of Shinshu Buddhist Temple named Kotoku-ji. I workd hard at being a writer of books which I have done for 20 years."
Yamada, Mizue - Leader of the group Makugo [words spoken by trees - to commune with trees and hear their words]. "Haiku poet. Ex-pupil of Hakyo Ishida. Awards: Kadokawa Haiku Poem Award, Haiku Poets' League Award. Born in Sendai, Japan, and studied Japanese literature at Nippon Women's University. Father was a scholar in Japanese language and its grammar. All of my three brothers are scholars and my siter is a tanka poet. My family comes from Hokuriku, the snowy district of Japan."
Tsuda, Kiyoko - "I first wrote haiku in 1948 at the home of Hashimoto Takako in Nara when I became his pupil. In 1951 I won the Tendroo [Sky Wolf] prize and in 1955 I joined the coterei. In 1971, I became leader of Shara. In 1986 started the Kei no Kai.
Watanabe, Chieko - "Presently the librarian of St. Joseph International School. I was born in Tokyo in 1925. Had I been born five years earlier, I would undoubtedly have become a "good wife and wise mother". If I had been born five years later, I would most probably have become a student of Japanese literature or a pianist. In either case, I would have been able to make my wish come true. My youth, unfortunately, arrived in the midst of a war. Thus the major proposition at the beginning of life was not "how to live my life", but "how to die". The man I was supposed to have married had to fight for his country to the utmost of his power and died soon after the war. My haiku are elegies of my fruitless youth and songs of prayers for the many war dead of my time."
Suzuki, Masajo - "Born in 1906 as the 3rd daughter of the owner of a hotel established in around 1600 at Kamogawa, Chiba, a sea-side resort. Married and got a daughter who is now an actress of Bungaku-za Company. Later I divorced. I succeeded in the hotel business, taking over after the death of my elder sister, and was remarried to her bereaved husband, who had been my brother-in-law. Started learning haiku under the guidence of Master Hakusuirou Ooba in 1936. Entered the association of Shuntow and had been guided by Master Mantarou Kubota until his untimely death in 1963. Resigned as hotel owner and eloped. Opened a tiny pub Unami [April Waves] in Ginza, Tokyo, in 1957."
"I, eighty years old now, have been composing haiku these 50 years as an independent woman. My haiku are momentary records, while leading a busy daily life, on what comes and goes in my life and on what springs the flow in my mind and body. Therefore, when I have in mind when I compose is just to observe what is being before and / or within myself, and merely to be honest to myself, listening to myself. I am getting along very well in Ginza with many customers of my pub, friends, and coteries of the association. I believe my haiku works depend on this life."
"In order to compose a haiku, it is important to have a discerning eye for sketching things around yourself and to have a warm heart to commune with other people and Nature. I am teaching haiku to the members of the Churchill Society, which is an amateur painting club formed by the top-notch businessmen, actresses and representative men of letters."
"Such acquaintances might have enriched my eye to discern fine things. The late Master Mantorou Kubota was an able man of letters and headed Shuntou. He was awarded an Order of Cultural Merits for his contribution to Japanese culture as novelist, playwright, drama producer for the plays depicting the subtleties of human nature, and also as chairman of the Association of Haiku Poets. I had such a nice master, and the theatrical world has been very near to me, apart from my daughter being an actress. I am sure that the influences of such arts and artists on me have been not small, but what has most influenced my haiku so far? I have been in love at all times. Love! It has been the source of my artistic activities, I guess."
"Where I live is the native ground of my haiku and haiku is everything in my life. On cold mornings I go to the fish market to purchase fresh material for the frequenters of my pub restaurant. In the afternoon I prepare various foods for the evening business. During the busy hours at night, my small and slender body has no time and seat to rest on and works like a beaver serving the customers. Late at midnight, after work, at home, where I live by myself, I take up the pen for myself. That is the only time that I can spend solely for myself during weekdays. On Saturdays and Sundays I attend haiku gatherings and on some holidays I make short or long trips for composing haiku. As you may understand, youth in mind and body is needed for composing haiku. When someone says that I am very young for my age, I as a woman, feel very happy - as if I were refreshed by the bright sunlight and sea winds at my hometown open to the Pacific."
Yoshino, Yoshiko - "My father was scholar of language and good friend with Shiki Masaoka. My brother was also a haiku writer, so I was interested in the form from an early age. Matsuyama city is a Mecca for Haiku because it has been the home to Shiki Masaoka, Kyoshi Takahama, Hekigotou Katou and others."
Page Copyright © Jane Reichhold 1986.
Quoted
material Copyright © Author 1986.
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