Poetry Collections:
The Boat in the Reeds (haiku, 1990)
Alluvium (free verse, 2002)
Butterfly Over the Open Sea (haiku, 2011)
1) Why do you write haiku?
I write haiku because it is the world's shortest poetry form and because I don't have much time for longer poetry. In addition, I find haiku to almost not be poetry at all, but instead touching of reality and poetry in reality. What I like with haiku is that is is poetry in Nature, and not in words.
2) What other poetic forms do you enjoy?
I'm open to all poetry forms, and I generally and particularly like various styles of imagistic poetry, either rhymed or free verse, as well as poetry by Croatian poets: A.B. Šimić, Tin Ujević, Viktor Vida and Danijel Dragojević.
3) Of the many wonderful haiku you've written, what do you consider to be your top three? (Please provide original publication credits)
a child shakes off
the first snow from the swing –
quiet morning
(Ito en, 1991)
guests are coming –
are the petals to be swept
away from the paths?
(Sakura Award, Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, 2006)
hot tea-pot
on the garden table –
camellias in haze
(Vladimir Devidé Haiku Awards, runner-up, 2011)
If you are enjoying this series and have not contributed, please consider sharing your response - whether it be for haibun, haiku or tanka - to the three little questions that Tomislav answered. You must be a published poet to participate.