![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/09\/225px-palin1-200x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nB<\/strong><\/em>ut, we understand the confusion.\u00a0 Our choice is a haiku rock star:<\/p>\n \n summer’s end– Known for family values, she’s s a champion vote-getter<\/a> and contest-winner<\/a>:<\/p>\n winter wind\u2014 summer evening\u2014 searcher’s call summer day\u2013 . . . who hangs out with international leaders<\/a> howling wolves– . . . feels strongly about war:<\/p>\n letter from the war zone\u2014 more war dead\u2014 . . . and knows a thing or two about hunting (and wolves<\/a>):<\/p>\n mud-spattered pickup\u2014 overdue hunters– from deep in the forest Our romantic Alaska Lady is #1 with a lot of men (and women, too):<\/p>\n Valentine\u2019s Day\u2014 express line checkout- for years to come more gray in my hair\u2014 freezing wind\u2013 in my dreams last night an open book the snow deepens\u2014 chilly evening\u2014 . . . . she’s right at home in small towns and country fields:<\/p>\n cold moon \n the ferry slows \n cold sun– fruitstand apples\u2014 3:00 a.m.– p.s.<\/em><\/strong> Share this posting with this TinyURL:\u00a0 http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/fkaAlaskaLady November chill– avalanche warning– storm clouds roil \n trail\u2019s end\u2014 . . . all of the above poems by Billie Wilson<\/a> (Juneau, Alaska, USA) Publication Credits<\/em> [below the fold]:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “summer’s end–” – Mariposa<\/em> 10 (2004); “summer evening” (2nd Place, Henderson Award<\/a> 2002) “an open book” – Acorn<\/em> #6, 2001; “deepening snow” – Mariposa<\/em> 9 “overdue hunters–” – Mariposa<\/em> 15 (2006); \u00a0\u00a0 “mud-spattered pickup”-\u00a0 The Heron’s Nest <\/em>(February 2001);\u00a0 “from deep in the forest” – The Heron’s Nest<\/em> VIII:4 (2006)<\/p>\n “cold sun” – Boston Haiku Society News (January 2008); “the ferry slows” – Frogpond<\/em> <\/a>XXII:3, 1999; “fruitstand apples” – HSA Northwest Region Members’ Anthology, 2000; “cold moon” – The Heron’s Nest<\/em> VIII:3 (2006); “3:00 a.m.” – <\/em>temps libres<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n
\none more pretty stone
\nfor her fairy house<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/09\/billie-in-green-dress-on-deck_2.jpg\")
<\/a>. . . who’s been president and<\/em> vice-president of the Alaska Haiku Society<\/a> (probably secretary-treasurer, too)<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\na cradlesong sung
\nin an ancient tongue<\/p>\n
\nfrom across the meadow
\na call to supper<\/p>\n
\nthe lost child’s name-
\nstreetlamps veiled with rain<\/p>\n
\nwalking barefoot beside
\ngrandchildren’s footprints<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/09\/wha_image_2-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a> . .<\/p>\n
\nthere’s still enough light
\nto find our way home<\/p>\n
\nleaves shift
\nagainst the brick wall<\/p>\n
\nan uprooted tree
\nrides the storm tide<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/09\/putruck1.jpg\")
<\/a>
\nfour dogs watch
\nthe tavern door<\/p>\n
\nthe Coast Guard cutter’s wake
\nreaches shore<\/p>\n
\na haunting birdsong
\nsung just once<\/p>\n
\nhe tells me I\u2019m number one
\non his speed dial<\/p>\n
\nthe man ahead buys flowers
\nand breath mints<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/09\/wha_image-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a>
\nthe flowers he planted
\nalong the narrow road<\/p>\n
\nthe faint scent of mimosa
\nsweetens the breeze<\/p>\n
\nthe body builder pumps gas
\nin a muscle shirt<\/p>\n
\nwild Arabian horses–
\nI butter his toast<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/cyber.law.harvard.edu\/blogs\/static\/ethicalesq\/alaskagray.gif\")
And, though she travels and swings:<\/p>\n
\non the old porch swing–
\nfirst fireflies<\/p>\n
\nshe leaves our atlas open
\nto her homeland<\/p>\n
\nthe wine full of summer
\nin a far country<\/p>\n
\na stray dog roams
\nthe village street<\/p>\n
\nthrough Wrangell Narrows\u2014
\nmeteor showers begin<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/09\/putruck1_2.jpg\")
<\/a>
\ncheers from the stadium
\nreach Main Street<\/p>\n
\nthe rich smell of horses
\non my hands<\/p>\n
\nthrough sounds of winter rain
\nthe mail plane landing<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/09\/billie-in-green-dress-on-deck.jpg\")
<\/a> Billie Wilson is ready to serve.\u00a0 L<\/strong><\/em>andslides or mudslides, in boots or bare feet, on bridges or ferries, Juneau’s Billie Wilson<\/a> is a winner — known for congeniality and toughness.\u00a0 You can find much more of Billie’s work by clicking the links on her f\/k\/a<\/em> archives page<\/a>, and by heading to the Alaska Haiku Society website<\/a> or Cornell’s Mann Library<\/a> (where she was the featured poet for June 2008). Around f\/k\/a<\/em>, when we think of winners — and winning smiles — from Alaska, we think of award-winning haiku poet and editor, and our Honored Guest, Billie Wilson.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\na barefoot man waits
\nfor the northbound ferry<\/p>\n
\nhow very still
\nthis winter night<\/p>\n
\nacross the prairie\u2014
\nshe marks her place<\/p>\n
\nthe taste of wild onion
\nstill sharp on my tongue<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/09\/alaskagray.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n“winter wind” –\u00a0 (2006 Readers’ Choice Poem of the Year<\/a>, The Heron’s Nest<\/em> VIII:4, 2006); “summer day” – The Heron’s Nest<\/em>; “searcher’s call” – temps libres<\/em><\/p>\n
\n“howling wolves” – Anti War Haiku Wall<\/em><\/a>; “more war dead–” – The Heron’s Nest<\/em> X:1 (2008);
\n“letter from the war zone-” – Hermitage<\/em> Vol. III (2006); big sky<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a> “Valentine’s Day” –\u00a0 Frogpond<\/em> XXIX:1 (2006); big sky<\/em> (RMA 2005); “more gray in my hair–” – The Heron’s Nest<\/em> IX:2 (2007); \u201cfreezing wind\u201d – First Prize, The Gerald Brady Award for Senryu (2001); Frogpond<\/em> XXV:1 (2002); “in my dreams” – Haiku Dreams<\/a><\/em>
\n“express line checkout” –\u00a0 haijinx<\/em> I:1 (Vernal Equinox<\/em>, 2001)<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/09\/bwilson.jpg\")
<\/a> [she’s a poet not a Palin] ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/files\/2008\/09\/sarah-palin-miss-wasilla-1984_2-211x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n