(1939 – 2010)
poem by poem
the story of a life –
day-lilies open
(david giacalone, in mem. Peggy Lyles, after her poem)
Our Honored Guest Poet-friend Peggy Lyles died on September 3, 2010, and since then it is clear — and not the least bit surprising — that she was greatly loved and admired as both a person and a poet. (See, e.g., the Haiku Foundation tribute Peggy Willis Lyles at their weblog Troutswirl, by Scott Metz, September 6, 2010; and the article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sept. 14, 2010.) I’ve been waiting for an inspiration worthy of Peggy Lyles before posting a memorial tribute. Of course, that isn’t going to happen, and so I’ve settled for this modest posting. My words at the Haiku Foundation memorial to Peggy give a glimpse of my high regard and affection for Peggy:
I can give no greater praise than to say that her virtues as a human being were as splendid as her haiku. . . .
No poet added more to the quality and ambiance of my weblog than Peggy Willis Lyles. I felt fortunate to share her poetry as examples of the best of our genre with many readers who weren’t familiar with haiku
From January 2005 through February 2009, fifty-seven postings here at f/k/a had at least two of Peggy’s poems. You can find links to each of those postings by going to Peggy’s f/k/a archives pages. The short URL for her f/k/a archives is http://tinyurl.com/PeggyLylesHaiku .
Here’s the very first Peggy Lyles poem to illuminate this weblog:
bitter wind . . .
the hand that cups the flame
aglow
. . . from To Hear the Rain
You can learn much more about Peggy and find examples of her haiku here (a comprehensive review of To Hear the Rain: Selected Haiku of Peggy Lyles), and here (a profile at the Millikin University haiku website, including an interview).
. . . click on a photo for a larger version . . .
I’m not certain why — perhaps it was her name, one of her haiku, or a remark she made about one of my own haiku, but I have always connected Peggy Lyles with day-lilies and lilies in general.
Shortly before her death, I sent Peggy a hopeful get-well card that included this poem:
restless night –
a yellow daylily
starts to open
[David Giacalone, for Peggy Lyles, August 2010]
.
Here are a few of Peggy’s haiku featuring lilies:
.
distant jazz
a calla lily
catches rain
.
glide of the kayak 
ripples overlapping
water lilies
.
through a maze of lilies brushstrokes of the trout
.
dress by dress
the story of her life
day lilies close
Peggy Lyles from To Hear the Rain (Brooks Books, 2002)
Finally, one from dagosan:
just past sunset —
faded daylilies
more orange than before
. . . by dagosan (July 14, 2005)
. . . thank you, Peggy, for your art and your grace . . .