1989 letter from American haijin Lee Gurga

I'm continuing to publish selected letters from my haiku correspondence before I donate them to the Haiku Canada Archives in the University of Victoria Special Collections. It's interesting to note in Lee's letter that haiku was relatively unknown in English thirty five years ago. In 1997 Lee became the President of the Haiku Society of America. He edited Modern Haiku from 2002 - 06. He's the current editor for Modern Haiku Press.

 

2 - 16 - 89

Dear Chris,

         Thanks so much for your generous "care package" of
Canadian poetry. This morning I finally got a chance to
spend some time with the books - - in the tub, my favorite
place! Of course, I am familiar with your name and
Margaret Saunders from the various haiku publications.
It was enjoyable to read some of your "long" poems
and to be introduced to some poets who I haven't met before.
Quite a few more things going on there in Toronto than
here in Lincoln, IL!

          In reference to your twenty years of odd jobs, I recall
Randy Brooks emphasizing how important it is for poets to
have "other" jobs. Where else to get material to write
about? Maybe this is why so many hollywood movies are
about the motion picture industry - - an indication of
their creative bankruptcy.

        I have only recently begun to write "long" poems again - -
my first since I was in high school. Actually, I didn't do
much writing at all for the past 20 years, then began writing
haiku again in earnest about a year and a half ago. Over the
years I had kept in touch with haiku by reading  and rereading
Blyth's Haiku, the only haiku books in English of which I
was aware. The interest in haiku today is just amazing to me.

      I had an opportunity to visit some friends in Peterborough
this past summer. In case you don't get Modern Haiku, I am
enclosing a copy of a little piece I did up there. I hope
you enjoy it. Also a story about a haiku gathering we had
in the St.Louis area this past October. Glad to hear you
are enjoying my little "mouse."

Yours, 
Lee     

 

older international haiku correspondence

 
Over the 55 years I've been active in haiku there's been a smattering of international correspondence mixed in with the Canadian. Here's some interesting excerpts from them.
(will send to Haiku Canada Archives tomorrow, Jan. 9th)

                                                      ~    ~    ~

Lee Gurga and I exchanged several letters in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Lee went on to become the president of The Haiku Society of America for 1997, and he edited the mag Modern Haiku from 2002 - 06. When I googled him recently I learned he's still very active on the haiku scene, and that he's currently the editor of Modern Haiku Press.

From Lee's April 30, 1990 hand written letter to me:

Got my HC newsletter today. Have been enjoying the controversy over "reflections". Knew Dee Evetts' essay would ruffle a lot of feathers, but am slightly surprised at the vehemence of the response and to see my name included in a list of "respectable" contributors. Ha! Ha! Was happy at Keith's essay to reform the aims of HC, though personally, I hope haiku never does become mainstream. Randy Brooks says that one of the most valuable assets of haiku is  that it has no value - monetary, that is.

also included a brief typed letter from Lee dated 1-15-89, a photocopied review and a newsletter    

                                                   ~   ~   ~

From Kazuo Sato
Museum of Haiku Literature
Tokyo, Japan
Nov. 10, 1987  (typed)

Thank you very much for your books. I understand you know what a haiku is. I like

First spring rain
    mudpuddles
            crossing the road

England
    sheep grazing
         among gravestones

"Where there's a will, there's a way." You will get a free round-way ticket through a haiku contest's first prize.

                                                           ~   ~   ~

 

Professor Toshimi Horiuchi
Sendai Shirayuri Juniro College
Sendai-shi, Japan

typed letter October 16, 1989
In a book entitled Synesthesia in Haiku and Other Essays which is to be printed by the University of the Philippines Press I am quoting the following haiku of yours:

Green garden hose
spouting
a rainbow

(This haiku appeared in The Sunday Mainichi on August 2nd, 1987)


typed letter March 22, 1993
I heartily thank you for your letter and the copy of EEL PIE DHARMA. I am so pleased with them. The collection of your haibun is quite contemporary and very enjoyable. Congratulations on the publication of your excellent haibun.

several other letters and a photocopy of his essay  on Season words key to Japanese poetry