Poetic Diversion

Before coming to Oakridge, I learned that the largest Asian festival north of San Francisco would begin today in Eugene, the nearest large town, just 40 miles drive.  I also met Ce Rosenow by email, through Ritchie Albert of local fame in Pasadena.  She is president of the Haiku Society of America and lives in Eugene.  I could not pass up the opportunity to pose for a day as Haiku writer, visiting from afar.  Something about a visiting poet perks up ears and draws out pencils.  Surely I could pull this off, and receive no more rejection than at the Moose Lodge last night.






Ritchie told me there is a good homey place to eat in Eugene, the Glenwood Café, one block from the University on Alder Street, so I went there.  Now you have two recommendations if you’re up this way, http://www.glenwoodrestaurants.com/

Am I that fierce?  A rattlesnake, a wolf?  Reader of haiku, not even plagiarized.  Intruder on unearned turf.

I read these among more:

pale daylight moon

darts among the trees

pool of aging snow

predawn

gibbous moon

a lamp to tired feet

snowy woods of Santa Fe

return as Oakridge nears

feathers from heaven

came down last night

filled a pillow

curl of chimney smoke

slick of icy dew

perfect pasture walk

ancient water

new and icy clear

diamonds on the grass

crusted snow

a deer falls through

wolves do not

Perhaps someone muttered while I read,

come from california

three lines in a row

unearned turf

Gregory Nokes wrote a book about murders of Chinese gold workers in Hell’s Canyon, Oregon in 1887.  He’s an interesting fellow, but not a logger.  His efforts at promotion have paid off, and his book has sold well.