John Wills was a major haiku poet who passed away in 1993. His best-known book is Reed Shadows (Black Moss Books, Ontario, 1987). In the Preface of Reed Shadows, Cor van den Heuvel wrote:
"John Will's haiku are closer to the tradition of classical Japanese haiku in their relationship to nature than those of perhaps any other English-language poet. And yet they come mint-fresh and original from the earth of North America, taking their distinctive colour and voice from its indigenous life-forms and from the soul of the poet as he responds to them with love and awareness."
Richard Straw is a haiku poet living in North Carolina.
Marlene Mountain, a significant haiku poet in her own right, granted permission for the NCHS to feature Richard's drawing based on one of John's haiku. (Please visit Marlene's web site.)
Click Previous to see the haiga.