Haiku 2000

Six days with seventeen syllables and 100 haijin.

The gathering in London and Oxford, from August 25th -30th of haiku poets from around the world was truly a unique experience for me.
Previously I had only ever met one other person who wrote haiku so it was a real learning experience and encouragement for me. The moving force behind the event Susumu Takiguchi, and artist and poet who lives in Oxfordshire had poured an immense amount of energy into the organization, and managed to bring together people from over 16 countries.
The strongest representations were from Japan, the Balkans , where haiku is part of the school curriculum and Western Europe, from Scandinavia to France.
From the subcontinent of India only one couple, but what a couple ! Drs. Shindhar and Angelle Deodhar.
The first day was full of moving up and down to the place of residence and finding where everthing ( and everybody) was and slowly friendships which, I believe will be deep and lasting begin to form.
I passed Baker street underground station several times on the first day,and noticed that a man dressed as Sherlock Holmes was giving out adverts, was not always the same !
thus

Most of the time was spent in listening to lectures, writing haiku, and exchanging information and insights.
I particularly liked the French Haiku group who were very different and individualistic. They are simple friends and do not have a Haiku association. That seems to me to be a good way of working. Though new to the world of organized haiku people, many things were familiar.
the apparent need for some to label and analyse, the desire to from two groups on almost the same theme on several occasions, the insights of some being criticisedd by others, the danger of success and the way in which money and business can corrupt the artists' spirit.
Two moments are of especial interest to me and gave me great delight.
The first was in Regents park where, a Japanese photographer had been assigned to cover the Haiku 2000 event. She approached two of us, myself and Devar from Canada ( incidentally we found out that both of us and been prize winners in the bridges competition in Japan last year! A small world.) She asked if might pretend to be writing haiku so she could photograph us for her newspaper !
After some reluctance we agreed, but when she had finished, I suggested she write Haiku while we pretend to photograph her !

While she protested that she had never written Haiku I asked her simply to describe what she saw.
"A pond..."
No closer than that..
" people taking pictures"
What of?
" me writing"
Writing what?
" my first haiku"
That's it!
I entered it anonymously in the haiku competition of the afternoon her first haiku received an honorable mention.

The second incident that really remains with me was on the last day. A vote was taken regarding setting up a new World Haiku Club. Most people voted for this only two against myself and one other. ( I never did discovered who the other one was)
The sole representative from Russia, Zeke Vayman was standing near me. I had formed some strong friendship which had begun in banter on the first day, and continued on the second with him giving me a supply of sunflower seeds, from the pouch her woore always,to stave of hunger. He said "Philip in Russia you have to be prepared to look after yourself for food fat all times."
Aftewr this not ver close vote Zeke turned to me and said in a loud stage whisper
" I just love being in a democracy" and forming a pistol with his right hand, pretended to fire a shot at me !" We will keep in touch.

Many excellent Haiku pages exist on the interest look especially for the Shiki Hiaku salon and that will give you a good start if you are interested.

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