Haikumonk• Show poetry

To -kaleidoscope- and Group:

Thank you very much for honoring me. Your column featuring me for the month of February is more than stunning. You have indeed brought cheer to me and have given a heartfelt tribute that I deeply appreciate.

http://allpoetry.com/column/2340609


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A recent column written about Don:

A Haijin's Words

by

Chrissy Koeth

Poetry has become one of the many deep facets in Don Baird's life, a natural movement that he stepped into when he was a boy. "I used to write poems on scraps of paper when I was about 8," Baird said. "My parents never knew: no one did".

But it wasn't until five years ago that his curiosity took him on a haijin's journey - the path of a Japanese poet. "Poetry is a way of developing clear minds; you need an open mind to see something simple in life and what message it can bring." "This is particularly true in regards to haiku."

Baird has published poetry in printed as well as internet magazines. He has written several books of which his most recent is entitled "A Field of Daisies". It's a book of haiku and tanka mixed. From lightheartedness to rich love: to deep loss and to silliness, Baird weaves the reader through wonderful experiences of imagery and pondering.

In 2004 and 2005, Baird took 3rd place, respectively, in the Japanese Kusamakura Haiku Championships, a World Haiku Championship. His winning haiku were later published in a Japanese magazine.

cherry blossoms flurry
in the morning wind
landing here and there
two butterflies
celebrate such love

"Tanka's are often love poems shared between lovers", noted Baird. The flurry of cherry blossoms is the fluttering of the lovers' hearts, even when they aren't together. The butterflies are separated by great distances but they still celebrate their love.

afternoon shadow
a frog jumps over
himself

"Haiku attempt to trap the reader's mind in a moment in time, in such a way that there's a revelation or 'ahaa' moment," explained Baird. Here the question is how a frog can jump over himself. One image the reader might conjure is the frog jumping over his shadow - allowing him to jump over himself.

oh snail
you were there
yesterday!

The imagery, itself, is funny, but this is also a statement of mankind the propensity to continually put off dreams and goals. Here, "The mentor sees his student and is surprised," said Baird. "The student hasn't accomplished of anything since the mentor saw him last."

on the bed
a sleeping dog
runs

"How can a sleeping dog run?" asked Baird. "The key word is bed." Sleeping on a bed and running - the silly dog is dreaming.

meet me my dearest
somewhere in the past
our future
to share once again
a perfect love

One of Don's favorite tanka, the meaning is subtle and complex. The poet is asking his love to return to the past where at one point, was their future. He's asking her to go back and share their future again, a perfect love that they have always had.

snowflakes flourish
in the winter wind
tiny angels

"There are layers in haiku - readers sit and meditate on what they read, focusing on the image in their mind and what it means," he explains. "There's always something else hidden - subtle meanings." "But they should always say what they say too - right on the surface!"

a meadow
of purple lilac
your essence
drifts upon
a subtle breeze

Here an image is created of a meadow and the purple lilac reminds the poet of his lover's perfume or beauty. And then her essence drifts to him. She's suddenly there with him, her touch brushing against his skin with a breeze and a feeling in his heart.

ah! such pleasure
mystery and romance
entwined
in the night
of a cloudy moon

"Not all tanka were written by "married' lovers." Baird smiled, a mischievious twinkle in his eyes. "For this man the pleasure was entwined in the mystery of who the woman was, and also the romance." And of course, cloudy nights are the prefect time for 'hidden' meanings.

on his nose
a koi balances
the moon

How can a koi balance the moon on his noes? Perhaps it is a reflection in the pond. And who is seeing this, a casual observer or the moon?

Baird's poetry touches the minds and hearts of his readers. It causes thought and often deep self reflection.

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3rd Place 2005
Kusamakura International Haiku Championship

Kyoto sunset-
an orange koi
nibbles the moon

3rd Place 2004
Kusamakura International Haiku Championship

frozen pond
the moon sees
an old face

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To listen to Clarinet Music:

http://www.clarinetpro.com

http://cdbaby.com/cd/donbaird2


For viewing photography:

http://flickr.com/photos/donbaird


To see Kung Fu Homepage:

http://kungfukarate.com


Visit the Peaceful Mind Kung Fu Association:

http://peacefulmindkungfu.com

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For info on haiku, click here:

http://allpoetry.com/column/show/423262

http://allpoetry.com/column/2339486

http://allpoetry.com/column/show/2340439


I am currently teaching one classe at Allpoetry School of Poetry and Writing.

For those interested please click the following link:


ADVANCED HAIKU STUDY: (click below)
http://allpoetry.com/class/show/Advanced%20Study%20of%20Haiku


I hope you join in the fun and share the world of haiku writing with me.

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Visit this website: http://www.christianchildrensfund.org/

We are sponsoring Do Thi Trinh of Vietnam. She is ten and a half and lives in a small hut on a rice plantation. Her family is obviously very poor. The small donation we give would be close to what they make in an entire year. Fun stuff!



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Thanks for visiting my author page. It's always a pleasure to meet new and wonderful people at Allpoetry.

Take care and many blessings to you!!!

Don

Allpoetry Teacher - Haiku
Former Allpoetry Site Supervisor
Past Allpoetry Dean of Education