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<\/a> .. P<\/em><\/strong>oet-editor-publisher Denis M. Garrison has recently produced his first batch of Ambrosia<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0 Ambrosia comes in many<\/a> forms<\/a>, but Denis’ version won’t make you immortal, or give you hay fever; and, it’s not that green squiggly stuff your Aunt Tootsie brought for dessert at Thanksgiving.<\/p>\nIt is, however, “something with an especially delicious flavor or fragrance.”\u00a0 To be more precise, and in Denis’ own words:<\/p>\n
“Ambrosia holds that a haiku in English, to be fine, must have the traditional shape and duration of haiku, its metre and music, and exhibit aspects of traditional Japanese poetic aesthetics. We prefer haiku written in a natural, modern, English idiom with great care for the sound of the verse when spoken. Ambrosia\u2019s haiku touch the reader powerfully.”<\/p>\n The new, quarterly Ambrosia<\/em> haiku journal is published by Modern English Tanka Press<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 It comes in print form (as a 4.25″ x 6.87″ paperback pocket book) and as a PDF ebook (a steal at $4.95), both of which can be ordered from Ambrosia<\/em>‘s Lulu.com webpage<\/a>.\u00a0 You can subscribe to the print edition here<\/a>.\u00a0 However, we are most pleased to tell fellow lovers of genuine haiku that Ambrosia<\/em> is also available for free as a digital online magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n lightning storm — …. by Laryalee Fraser – Ambrosia<\/em><\/a> (Issue 1 – Autumn 2008)<\/p>\n In his Editor’s Note<\/a>, Denis tells us: “Ambrosia<\/em> considers the traditional poetic aesthetics of Japan as necessary, not in order to pay homage to the tradition, but because without their understanding and skillful use, writing haiku worth reading is difficult, if not impossible<\/em>.” At a time when some editors seem to mistake artifice for originality, unusual for unique, contrived for creative, and juvenile for rejuvenating, the f\/k\/a<\/em> Gang applauds Denis Garrison for reminding us that the haiku genre does indeed have a recognizable shape and scent, and for insisting on standards of quality.<\/p>\n Or, as our crankily frank Prof. Yabut might say: They may be one breath long, but every brain fart is not a publishable haiku!<\/em><\/p>\n T<\/em>hanks to Laryalee Fraser for sending me over to Ambrosia, and for penning these haiku, which can found in Ambrosia<\/em><\/a> (Issue 1 – Autumn 2008).<\/p>\n dragonfly — frayed sunlight cornflowers — a rainbow drowsy morning… …. by Laryalee Fraser<\/a> – Ambrosia<\/em><\/a> (Issue 1 – Autumn 2008)<\/p>\n \n<\/a> “This premiere issue of Ambrosia: Journal of Fine Haiku<\/em> includes 100 top drawer haiku from twenty-eight leading poets from around the world. All these poets, while writing in English, respect the formal values of traditional Japanese haiku.<\/p>\n<\/a> I<\/em>n addition to numerous poems by our Honored Guest poet Laryalee Fraser (you’ll find them below), this first issue of Ambrosia<\/em> features several poems from each of these poets: Hortensia Anderson, Susan Constable, Bill Kenney, Michael McClintoch, Jo McInerney, Kirsty Karkow, and Raffael de Gruttola, plus offerings from twenty other haijin.<\/p>\n
\nbiting into the blackness
\nof licorice<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nskirting the edge
\nof a heron’s stillness<\/p>\n
\nbetween the pilings —
\nsummer’s end<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nbetween the clouds
\na handful of sky<\/p>\n
\nover autumn maples…
\nthe laundry forgotten<\/p>\n
\nthe bird that belongs
\nto the song<\/p>\n<\/a> p.s. I<\/em><\/strong>f you prefer quirky commentary to quirky poetry, we remind you to get a virtual shot of hot caffeine at the BabyBarista<\/em><\/a> weblog (see our prior post<\/a>), which was selected this week for the 2008 ABA Journal <\/em>Blawg 100<\/a>.\u00a0 It’s a daily soap opera about the “reality” of life as a junior barrister at the English Bar — with characters to love and loathe, and plenty of ethical and anthropological issues to ponder over a cup of java.\u00a0 If you enjoy BabyBarista<\/em>, like we do, please consider voting for it in the “Beauty Pageant<\/a>” going on from now until Jan. 2, 2009, at the ABA Journal<\/em> website, by heading over to the\u00a0Quirky category<\/a>.<\/p>\n