Collin Barber - Three Questions

Collin Barber lives in Marion, Arkansas, and works at a local hospital in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. He began writing haiku a few years ago, while spending hours on the banks of the Mississippi River reading the works of writers such as Richard Wright and Jack Kerouac.

He maintains a website of poetry at http://collinbarber.com.

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1) Why do you write haiku?

I was hooked from the moment I discovered haiku. To me, there is a certain magic to a good one, and perhaps I enjoy the challenge of trying to create this myself.


2) What other poetic forms do your enjoy?

Naturally, I like tanka and haibun, but I also enjoy free verse poetry and sonnets. I must admit, however, that it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to write a free verse poem, because my attempts usually end up taking the shape of a haibun or tanka.


3) Of the many wonderful haiku you've written, what do you consider to be your top three?

Deciding on my 'top three' was a difficult yet enjoyable challenge. What criteria does one use to do this? I suppose I chose these because I remember the moments so vividly:



autumn morning
I still have the tooth
I lost in my dream

Frogpond XXIX:3, autumn 2006



butterflies . . .
a child's name
set in stone

Modern Haiku 38.3, autumn 2007



honeymoon over my suntan peels

Frogpond XXX:1, winter 2007



Thanks, Curt.

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If you've been enjoying this weekly series and have not contributed, please consider sharing your response to the three little questions that Collin answered. You must be a published poet in order to participate.

Darrell Byrd will be our guest next week.