.. “white lies: Red Moon Anthology 2008” (by Jim Kacian and the Red Moon Press Editorial Staff, January 2009; ISBN: 1-978-893959-80-4; 182-pages, $17.00)
We’ve said it before: the publication of the annual Red Moon Anthology of English-Language Haiku is a much anticipated event in the haijin community. The annual “RMA” attempts to collect “the best English-language haiku and related writings from around the world” published in the prior calendar year, as selected by Red Moon Press owner Jim Kacian and a distinguished panel of editors. Poets and readers of the genre love to see which poems and essays have been included. Lately, there has even been some welcome controversy about the contents of RMA.
.. 
.. The f/k/a Gang was, therefore, very pleased to learn yesterday that the 13th volume in the RMA series is now available, “white lies: Red Moon Anthology 2008.” It contains “133 poems, 18 linked pieces and five critical works which encapsulate the very best writing of the haiku world in English this year.” Jim Kacian has held the line again on price, which is still $17.00.
Because we do not yet have a copy of RMA 2008 in hand, we can’t offer an overview nor yet present all of the works written by our Honored Guest Poets that were selected for inclusion in white lies. I’m hoping that members of our f/k/a family of poets will let me know which of their poems have been chosen for this year’s RMA. Here are the selected poems that I know about right now; I’ll add to this list as I learn of others.
to-do list done
the day softens
into dusk
…. by Billie WIlson
orig. pub. Upstate Dim Sum 2008/II
funeral dirge –
we bury the one
who could carry a tune
….. by David Giacalone (in mem. Arthur P. Giacalone)
orig. pub. Frogpond – Spring 2008 (Vol. 31: 2)
the cool kids
walk arm-in-arm
. . . wild narcissus
hunger moon –
the words
i meant to say
winter dusk—
when dad
would phone
… by Roberta Beary
“the cool kids” – pub. credit: the heron’s nest 9:11
“hunger moon” – pub. credit: Haiku Ireland Kukai 10
“winter dusk” – pub. credit: Anita Sadler Weiss Memorial Haiku Contest 2008
a cold cup
from a cold cupboard
morning moon
equinox
a new teacher
adjusts the globe
the smoothness
of a river stone
slow-moving clouds
….. by Peggy Willis Lyles
“a cold cup”– Acorn 20
“equinox” – Acorn 21
“the smoothness” – Valley Voices 8:1
— you’ll find more poems from white lies in our posts “quickies and white lies” (Feb. 3, 2009); “GAL’s alternative universe” (Feb. 5, 2009; “stein and hull and more white lies” (Feb. 9, 2009) —