Читать книгу The Haiku Apprentice - Abigail Friedman - Страница 6

This book could not have been written without the warm support of Kuroda Momoko and members of the Numa­momo and Aoi haiku groups. Individuals belonging to these groups, and especially Kuroda Momoko herself, gave of themselves freely in conversations and interviews over many months. I thank them for their kindness and their confidence in my work.

Many people contributed to the making of this book. I never would have given haiku a second thought had I not met Elizabeth Guinsbourg in Paris and, during the course of our friendship, learned that she writes haiku. Janine Beichman kept me going when I first started writing this book, with one simple word of encouragement, Avanti! Bill Higginson, Miyashita Emiko, and Michael Dylan Welch, three wonderful teachers whom I feel honored to call friends, helped me across the finish line. I also want to thank the many members of the Haiku Society of America and Haiku North America who introduced me to contemporary American haiku when I returned to the United States and gave me good advice on starting haiku groups. Janine Beichman, John Dickson, Peter Folejewski, John Gribble, Elizabeth Guinsbourg, Bill Higginson, Danielle Michelman, Miyashita Emiko, Mizuniwa Susumu, Nakamura Kuniko, Eric Passaglia, Marianna Pierce, Ueki Katsumi, and Michael Dylan Welch each read through some or all of the text and gave me helpful feedback.

My initial translations of the haiku in this book proved to be only a crude beginning. I owe a special debt of gratitude to poet and author Arthur Binard, who contributed his poetic talent to many of these translations, preserving the wit and beauty of the original Japanese text. At a later stage in the process, Bill Higginson made sure my translations were consistent with American haiku usage. I must confess to a stubborn streak, and I did not always follow their wise counsel. Any infelicities in the haiku translations are my own.

Every author needs a good editor, mentor, and advisor. John Gribble took on this thankless task, sticking by my endeavor and offering sound counsel, especially during those many times that I declared the manuscript and myself hopeless. Without John’s help, this book would not now be in your hands. After Stone Bridge Press accepted my manuscript, Elizabeth Floyd took over the editing process. Working with someone of her talent and integrity has been a pleasure.

Over time, writers become incredibly boring, distracted souls. I am infinitely grateful for the love of my husband, Eric Passaglia, and our children, Abraham, Martha, and Samuel. It has been a long journey, much longer than any of us anticipated, and I thank my family for their grace, understanding, and humor.

A.F.