READINGS, PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS
Jan - Dec, 2025 - HSA MENTORSHIP PROGRAM - Mentoring poets, monthly, on Zoom
Dec 15, 2024 - BOOK LAUNCH - San Francisco Haiku Anthology: Volume Two - (group reading in SF)
Dec 1, 2024 - BOOK LAUNCH - One Thread: Zoka in Contemporary Haiku (group reading on Zoom)
Nov 13, 2024 - OPEN MIC - Burlingame Public Library (featured poet Caroline Goodwin)
May 18, 2024 - KOMO KULSHAN HAIKU - WHY HAIKU, interactive presentation on Zoom SYNOPSIS bottom of this page!
Jan - Dec, 2024 - HSA MENTORSHIP PROGRAM - Mentoring poets, monthly, on Zoom
June 4, 2023 - HPNC - WHY HAIKU, an interactive presentation on Zoom
Jan - Dec, 2023 - HSA MENTORSHIP PROGRAM - Mentoring poets, monthly, on Zoom
Oct 30, 2022 - SEABECK HAIKU GETAWAY - WHY HAIKU, an interactive presentation
Oct 28-31, 2022 - SEABECK HAIKU GETAWAY - DOWNHILL HOME, a reading
June 16, 2022 - FROMM INSTITUTE, USF - STORY UP: Haibun as Memoir, on Zoom
June 5, 2022 - HSA Conference - RINGS: A Reverberation of Haibun, with Christopher Herold - Now on YouTube
May 29, 2022 - RIVERTOWN POETS - From EARTHSHINE to Luna Piena, a reading on Zoom - on KPCA.FM & 103.3 FM
May 22, 2022 - RIVERTOWN POETS - From EARTHSHINE to Luna Piena, a reading on KPCA.FM & 103.3 FM
May 11, 2022 - MENLO PARK LIBRARY Mental Health Open Mic - Haiku as Mindful Practice, a reading on Zoom
Mar 20, 2022 - HPNC - HAIKU FELLOWSHIP, an interactive presentation - Now on YouTube
Jan - Dec, 2022 - HSA MENTORSHIP PROGRAM - Mentoring poets, monthly, on Zoom
Dec 6, 2021 - RIVERTOWN POETS - From EARTHSHINE to Luna Piena, a reading on Zoom - Now on YouTube
Oct 31, 2021 - SEABECK HAIKU GETAWAY - HAIKU FELLOWSHIP, an interactive presentation - Seabeck, WA
Oct 30, 2021 - SEABECK HAIKU GETAWAY - CHUCK BRICKLEY: A Life In (and Out of) Haiku, an interview conducted by Michael Dylan Welch- Seabeck, WA
Oct 29, 2021 - SEABECK HAIKU GETAWAY - NETMENDING: A Haiku Revision Workshop - Seabeck, WA
Oct 28, 2021 - SEABECK HAIKU GETAWAY - From EARTHSHINE to Luna Piena, a reading - Seabeck, WA
Sept 11, 2021 - YUKEI TEKEI - Haiku Revision Workshop, on Zoom
May 15, 2021 - SO CAL HAIKU STUDY GROUP - Haiku Revision Workshop, on Zoom
Feb 7, 2021 - HSA >40 SOCIAL CLUB A reading from EARTHSHINE plus New Poems, on Zoom
Jan 16, 2021 - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAIKU STUDY GROUP A reading of New Poems, on Zoom
Jan - Dec, 2021 - HSA MENTORSHIP PROGRAM Mentoring poets, monthly, on Zoom
Aug - Dec, 2020 - HSA MENTORSHIP PROGRAM Mentoring poets, monthly, on Zoom
Feb 22, 2020 - FOUR POETS, at F.O.G. (Far Out Gallery), San Francisco, CA
Dec 14, 2019 - SPEAK POETRY: POEMS FROM SAN MATEO COUNTY, at Millbrae Library, Millbrae, CA
Nov 21, 2019 - BAY AREA GENERATIONS Reading with Aileen Cassinetto, at Penelope’s Coffee & Tea, Foster City, CA
Oct 25, 2019 - FOURTH FRIDAY FORMAL Reading from EARTHSHINE plus haibun, at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Albany CA
Sept 21, 2019 - INDIANAPOLIS HAIKU GROUP Reading from EARTHSHINE plus haibun, at Indianapolis, IN
May 18, 2019 - SEA TO SKY (Haiku Canada Weekend) RAVEN (and Other Ghosts): A Reading of haibun with Christopher Herold, at UBC, Vancouver BC
May 18, 2019 - SEA TO SKY (Haiku Canada Weekend) Haiku Revision Workshop, at UBC, Vancouver BC
May 17, 2019 - SEA TO SKY (Haiku Canada Weekend) Reading from EARTHSHINE, at UBC, Vancouver BC
May 11, 2019 - YUKI TEIKEI SPRING MEETING, Reading from EARTHSHINE/haibun, at Leininger Center, San Jose CA
Dec 16, 2018 - SHINE A LIGHT (Sunday Salon), Reading from EARTHSHINE, at O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, Mill Valley CA
Oct 21, 2018 - HPNC MEETING, Haiku Revision Workshop, at Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA
Sept 8, 2018 - FOUR SEASONS HAIKU KAI, Reading from EARTHSHINE/Haiku Revision Workshop, at Mercy Center, Burlingame, CA
Sept 7, 2018 - WABI SABI ART EXHIBIT, Reading from EARTHSHINE/haibun, at O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, Mill Valley CA
April 15, 2018 - HPNC MEETING, Reading from EARTHSHINE, at Fort Mason, San Francisco CA
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WHY HAIKU
An interactive presentation hosted by Chuck Brickley *
The following is a list of fundamental questions English-language haiku poets may ask themselves. There are no uniformly right or wrong answers, only a range of bespoke responses. Such an inquiry often raises more questions than are answered, but if pursued with intent, has the potential to be a fruitful source of inspiration.
1. Why do I write? What are the sources of my need to create?
2. Why do I write haiku? Why, out of all the genres of poetic expression in the English language, do I choose haiku as mine?
3. On what have I based my understanding of haiku? Do I feel the need to learn more about traditional and/or contemporary Japanese and/or English-language haiku?
Traditional Japanese haiku in their original language.
Traditional Japanese haiku in translation, with Western commentary.
Contemporary Japanese haiku in their original language.
Contemporary Japanese haiku in translation.
English-language haiku found in edited books and/or journals in print and/or online.
English-language haiku on unfiltered, unedited online platforms.
English-language haiku how-to classes in person and/or online.
English-language elementary school 5-7-5 teachings.
Any one of the above solely.
A mix of two or more of the above.
4. Is any short verse a haiku? If not, in my opinion based on my knowledge to date, what characteristics of haiku differentiate it from other short forms of poetry?
5. Do I consider there to be marked differences between haiku and senryu? If so, in my opinion based on my knowledge to date, what are they?
6. What is the importance of seasonality in my haiku? If any, do I employ traditional Japanese kigo as codified in a saijiki? To what extent do I follow local seasonality––where I live, or am at the time of composition?
7. What is the importance of Japanese aesthetics in my haiku? Which resonate with me? Do I study, assimilate and use them in my haiku? Do I appreciate them in the works of Japanese and English-language poets?
8. What is the importance of English-language poetics in my haiku? Do I study, assimilate and use them in my work? Do I read poetry outside the haiku platform?
9. What is the importance of form in my haiku? If I don’t write in a strict 5-7-5 syllabic pattern, do I consider my haiku to be free verse? (“clothes made to order rather than ready-made clothes” — T.E. Hulme.) Organic verse? (Organic form as a revelation of content — Denise Levertov.) Am I interested in trying my hand at any of the variant forms I’ve read over the years, such as single-line, vertical and concrete haiku?
Once you have answered these questions, try revisiting them, starting with the first. Will your responses be the same?
A Chinese pictograph for the word sincere depicts a person standing by their word.**
There’s a power in knowing why we write, and that what we write is in sync with our essential values. Such a power enriches the creative process. We can be more receptive to ideas and experiences on a daily basis, intuitively selecting which bear significance. We can ride waves of inspiration longer, and, with practice, breathe life into our poems. Over time we can edit our work with more assurance, and better decide what is worthy of being shared. By being more in touch with what we do know, we can––for ourselves, and our readers––touch upon the unknowable.
* Presented at Seabeck Haiku Getaway, October 29, 2022; Haiku Poets of Northern California (Zoom), June 4, 2023; and Komo Kulshan Haiku (Zoom), May 18, 2024.
** The Chinese Written Character As A Medium For Poetry by Ernest Fenollosa, ed. Ezra Pound, 1936.