Between the Tides

This collection of one thousand haiku entitled Between Tides was inspired by experiences gathered within what I refer to as the Bowl, that geographical region in the Pacific Northwest located between Mount Baker and Mount Rainier and the Cascade Mountains and the Olympic Peninsula. They are poems of mountain, air, forest, and sea. Some are written in the seventeen-syllable Japanese haiku tradition (5-7-5), but most follow a less structured or Americanized version of the form, which isnt uncommon among English translations of Japanese haiku. Haiku is the worlds shortest poem. One might say they are the worlds shortest story. Haiku captures either physical nature or human nature. They live in the moment. I liken the discovery of a haiku to finding sand dollars on a beach. I find haiku an excellent way to clarify and preserve experience. These poems have been influenced by studies in Zen Buddhism and Native American tradition. They are a celebration of the unique seasons and great wonders of the Pacific Northwest.