Natalia L. Rudychev - Three Questions

Natalia L. Rudychev has two graduate degrees in comparative literature and linguistics. At present she is working on her PhD in Philosophy at Duquesne University . Natalia has taught literature and philosophy at various universities in the United States and abroad. Additionally, Natalia is an award-winning poet (Sakura Award 2007, White Lotus Editor’s Choice Award 2008, Robert Spiess Award 2008, the Winner of the 2008 San Francisco International Haiku Competition, the Winner of The First International Erotic Tanka Contest 2008) and artist (WHA Master Haiga Artist, Winner of the Heron’s Nest Illustration Contest 2007 and 2008, The Winner of the LEXICON Cover Art Contest 2008). Natalia’s works are published and displayed in the USA , Russia , UK , Italy , Canada , Australia , and Japan . In August of 2008, Natalia was featured on the TV program Poetry Today – HAIKU. Natalia has also published two tanka books: The Willow (HaigArt Press, 2007), favorably reviewed in Gusts # 8, 2008 and between the lines (HaigArt Press, 2008).

1) Why do you write haiku?

Sometimes I am lucky to receive a gift in the form of a miraculous encounter with an object or an event. Often this gift is too big to keep it inside (just for myself) so I share it with others in a haiku hoping that they can have their own experience of the miracle that touched my soul.

2) What other poetic forms do you enjoy?

Any kind of poetry that resonates. I write and publish formal and free verse in Russian and in English. I also enjoy writing tanka.

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

So far my favorites are:


letting go
the heart
of a sparrow


(The Winner of Robert Spiess Award 2008)



silence between us…
cherry petals
in flight


(Sakura Award 2007)



the heart
drawn in snow
still falling


(The Winner of the 2008 San Francisco International Haiku Competition)


Wishing you all the best,

Natalia L. Rudychev



[Natalia provided the lovely self-portrait and the wonderful haiga.]

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If you've been enjoying this weekly series and have not contributed, please consider sharing your response (whether it be for haiku or tanka) to the three little questions that Natalia answered. You must be a published poet in order to participate.

Colin Stewart Jones will be our guest next week.