National Haiku Poetry Day
April 17, National Haiku Poetry Day, is a celebration of the genre of haiku, a kind of poetry whose origins date back a millennium in Japan; and more specifically, of English-language haiku, which has now been written for more than a century. It occurs in the heart of National Poetry Month (April) in the United States, under the auspices of The Haiku Foundation. The Foundation encourages public events, including readings, exhibitions and competitions on this day, and culminates the celebration with the announcement of winners from our annual HaikuNow! Contest.
Here are the schedule venues and events for National Haiku Poetry Day 2012:
Atlanta (Tom Painting, Coordinator)
Junior high school students in classes at the Paideia School in Atlanta have recently read Haiku Guy by David G. Lanoue as part of a unit on English Language haiku. A “haiku a day” bulletin board features a student each day at the school as a way to recognize student work and further interest at in the form. In addition to composing haiku of their own for both the Nick Virgilio Student Haiku Contest and the United Nations International Haiku Competitions, students have written to David with their thoughts about the book, as well as haiku and questions for the author. Students will Skype with David on Friday, Feb 24. At that time they will present a haiku reading of their haiku and further the discussion with David.
Baltimore: (Cathy Drinkwater Better, Coordinator)
Program TBA.
Bangor (Bruce Ross, Coordinator)
Site: Bangor Public Library
Address: 145 Harlow, Bangor, Maine
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Further Information: from the BPL (207) 947-8336.
Notes: All will be welcome to read 1-5 haiku from middle school to senior citizens.
Boston (Raffael de Gruttola, Coordinator)
Site: The Boston Conservatory of Music, Dance, and Theater
Address: 31 Hemenway Street, Boston, MA 02115
Time: 7:00 PM
Further Information: 508-653-3354 after 5:00 PM
Notes: Find us in the new Dance Studio, and bring 5 haiku to share!
Chicago (seeking Coordinator)
Pending
Dubuque & Mineral Point (Francine Banwarth and Gayle Bull, Coordinators)
Site: The Foundry Books
Location: 105 Commerce Street, Mineral Point, WI 5355
Time: 7:00 PM
Further Information: Gayle Bull info@foundrybooks.com or 608-987-4363
Notes: Readings: Each poet can bring up to 5 haiku to read. We encourage beginning haiku poets to come and read. If you don’t want to read, we encourage you to come, listen and learn more about haiku.
Fort Worth (Cliff Roberts, Coordinator)
Site: Benbrook Lirary
DDRESS: 1065 Mercedes St, Benbrook, TX 76126
Time: 7:00 PM
Further Information: Cliff Roberts vanpire13@aol.com
Notes: Haiku reading and How To Haiku programs.Audience Participation: bring 5 haiku to read, maybe more depending on crowds, time and participation.
Los Angeles (Debbie Kolodji, Coordinator)
Program TBA.
Minneapolis (Marjorie Buettner, Coordinator)
Site: Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts
Address: 6666 East River Road, Fridley, MN 55431
Time: 7:00 PM
contact: mbuettner@juno.com or the Library 763-574-1850
Notes: Please join in celebrating National Haiku Poetry Day with Haiku Society members in an open reading. Bring 5 haiku to read. Refreshments will be offered.
New Orleans: (David Lanoue, Coordinator)
Site: Latter Library
Address: 5120 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans LA
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Further Information: David Lanoue 504-861-1430
Notes: Bring up to 5 haiku for reading. Sponsored by The Haiku Foundation, The New Orleans Haiku Society and Latter Library. The New Orleans Public Library will make every effort to provide interpretation of library programs for the hearing-impaired. To request this service, please call 596-2605.
New York (Brenda Gannam, Coordinator)
Site: Tenri Cultural Institute
Location: 43A West 13th Street, New York, NY 10011 (between 5th/6th Avenues)
Time: 6:00-8:30 PM
Contact Information: gannamconsulting@earthlink.net or (917) 348-0709
Notes: Gala Celebration of National Haiku Poetry Day; Guest Speaker (TBA): Great Moments in Haiku + Haiku Reading by Guests (Please bring 8-10 of your very best!). Copious libations and sweet & savory treats. Raffle for Door Prize included in admission. Prizes for top three haiku presented. $10 in advance; $15 at the door; Limited to 50 people. RSVP by mail to: Brenda J. Gannam, 912 Albemarle Road, Brooklyn, NY 11218.
Princeton (Mark Harris, Coordinator)
Site: Maclean House
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08542
Time: 7:00 PM
Contact Information: marksirrah@gmail.com
Notes: Optional ginko before the reading, to be led by Jeff Hoagland; 7:00 PM reading (please bring 5 haiku if you want to participate in the reading).
San Francisco (Patrick Gallagher, Coordinator)
Program TBA.
Santa Fe (Charles Trumbull, Coordinator)
Program TBA.
Seattle (Tracy Koretsky, Coordinator)
Site: Capital Hill Branch of the Seattle Public Library
Location: 425 Harvard Ave. E. Seattle, WA 98102 206-684-4715, meeting room
Time: 4:00 – 7:00 PM
Contact Information: garciadianne@hotmail.com
Notes: Open Sketch Session with Live Haiku Poets. Create 25 original sketches inspired by the vivid imagery of some of Seattle’s most renowned haiku writers as you discover what the process of instant sketching can teach us about haiku.
Bring: Sketch pads and supplies for black and white drawing (sharpies, charcoal, pencils, erasers). Limited supplies available. Also bring 5 haiku for an open reading beginning at 5:45 PM.
Featured Readers: Dianne Garcia, Katherine Hawkins, Christopher Herold, Dejah Leger, Carole Macrury, Tanya McDonald, Margaret McGee, Angela Terry, Richard Tice, Michael Welch.
Shreveport (Carlos Colòn, Coordinator)
Site: Broadmoor Branch, Shreve Memorial Library
Address: 1212 Captain Shreve Drive, Shreveport, LA 71105
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Further Information: ccolon423@comcast.net or 318-868-8932 or 318-678-3889
Notes:
State College (Cathy Drinkwater Better, Cordinator)
Program TBA.
Washington DC (Lee Giesecke, Coordinator)
Site: Woodrow Wilson Library
Location: (near Bailey’s Crossroads in Fairfax County, VA)
Time: 6:45 PM
Contact Information: ee.giesecke@worldnet.att.net
Notes:
Winston-Salem (Robert Moyer, Coordinator)
Program TBA.
Check this page for updated information about National Haiku Poetry Day at all our venues.
