Although there may be a pumpkin shortage at your farm stands and supermarkets, there will no longer be a shortage of poetry by Laryalee Fraser, at this humble but proud weblog. As was leaked last week by haikuEsq, the entire f/k/a Gang is proud and pleased to announce that Lary has joined the f/k/a family, agreeing to become our latest (and 28th) Honored Guest Poet. If you love contemporary English-language haiku or modern haiga, you probably already know Laryalee’s fine work. If not, a quick look at her poetry site along poetry creek) or her haiga webpages (soft strokes), will surely explain our enthusiasm.
new neighbors —
apples hang on both sides
of the fence
Lary is also a frequent winner in the Shiki Monthly Kukai (contest). Indeed, she won 1st Place for both prongs of the contest (kigo and freeform) in July 2006:
mother-in-law…
he adjusts the sprinkler
for the fourth time
campfire chili
a loon’s call stirs
the darkness
Although I couldn’t find any pumpkin haiku by Lary, her many perspectives on nature and human nature can be seen in these autumn haiku:
noticing
the scent of autumn —
newlyweds
his frail hands
the last harvest
ungathered
harvest moon
a spider farms
the wall ivy
fading rainbow
a maple leaf swirls
down the drain
bristled pine —
the autumn moon
has a moustache!
Laryalee Fraser
“noticing” – Simply Haiku (autumn 2005)
“his frail hands” – Simply Haiku (autumn 2004)
“harvest moon”- Haiku Harvest (fall/winter/05)
“sales flyer” – Clouds Peak (#1, July 2006)
“bristled pine –” – Simply Haiku Vol. 2:2
Lary tells me she’s not fond of biographies, but I want to share this brief one from Haigaonline with you, so you can know a bit about our newest family member from Canada: “A former newspaper reporter, Laryalee is a widely published author whose favorite forms of writing have now become haiku and tanka. Her haiga have been published in Haigaonline, Mindfire Renewed, Simply Haiku and World Haiku Review, and she is a regular participant in the World Haiku Association’s monthly haiga contests. More of her haiga can be found on her web site Along Poetry Creek. Since her retirement, Lary’s interests have included gardening, photography and visiting her grandchildren. These and the pleasures she finds in small-town life in British Columbia infuse her haiga.” I bet she’d rather make your acquaintance through her poems, like this pair from Clouds Peak (Issue #2, p. 1, Oct. 2006):
sales flyer —
a crow paces
the parking lot
new pink sneakers —
grandma’s porch step
still creaks
Whatever the season or event, we warmly welcome, Laryalee!! 