Join us to savor the poetry of the season, in this free gathering hosted by Jayne McPherson.

Gardens have an essential and ubiquitous place in lyric poetry. The great poet Kahlil Gibran called friendship a garden, one where planted seeds are sown “with love and reap thanksgiving.”

During this season, let’s follow his poetic lead and look up at distant mountains that frame the lazy lady on the horizon. Let’s remind ourselves of the middle pond’s pink and white lotus blossoms—that they float night and day under the sun or moonlight. Let’s notice how the water fountain’s splash undulates in ringlets; how, inside the iron gate, blossoms protrude as promises kept in heirloom roses; how a giving-tree oak allows another woodpecker or squirrel to sneak substance and nest.

Haiku offers beauty in form and empathy. And like a harvest, it can evoke awe or perhaps simply ahhh. When we seek pause in the natural world, we may remember our breath and breathe more deeply. We may tune in, feel our heartbeat, sense a door opening as we pause before a sunning lizard or grazing deer.

Writing haiku is a quiet way to savor these Garden gifts.

This is our third annivesary writing circle and will feature haikuist, David Watts. His poetry has been published widely. It includes two books, Dream Tree & Seed Kites.

David Watts is recognized by Haiku Poets of Northern California.