Reviews

Katherine Samuelowicz is a newly emerging haiku poet. A Polish emigrant, writing in English, she also has a very strong sense of place. We know when she has returned to her birth place, and we know when she is writing about Australia...

winter funeral
heavy coasts
no warmth in embraces

through wind in gum trees
lawn mower cuts in —
another weekend

A trend which is also emerging with newer haiku writers is one of placing themselves quite opening within the haiku experience. While we, the older haiku generation, took our cue from the Japanese and did not openly state 'I, me', or 'my' in our poems, many are now doing so. Because of this modern technique the line between haiku and senryu is often blurred. The balance is tipped just that little more towards the human concern. But if done with sensibility I find it to be quite charming.

over my breasts
soap bubbles sliding
seasons change

night breeze cooling
his kiss
on my neck

While the above two poems lean towards being senryu/haiku, the following one is pure senryu!

motel room
nothing takes place in bed
but sleep

Katherine Samuelowicz has shown a remarkable development in a short time. She gives us many glimpses into her personality and delightful sense of humour. I predict we will see, and enjoy, much more of her work in the future. This book is a welcomed addition to the growing body of 'Australian haiku'.

Janice Bostok

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Extract

noticing the view

noticing the view

rooms
windows
beds

rooms where i made love
had sex

with you
and you
and you
and you

windows at which i stood
with my back
to rooms
to beds

to you
and you
and you
and you

noticing the view

and rooms
where love
sex
lust
were too urgent
or too quickly gone
for noticing the view

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