John Stevenson is the featured poet at this year’s Haiku conference.
The Arkansas Haiku Society will host the 25th Annual Haiku Conference at the Arlington Resort and Spa in historic downtown Hot Springs.
The Conference is hosted by South Regional Coordinating Director, Howard Lee Kirby, representing poets from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
This year’s conference takes place Friday and Saturday, November 5-6. The schedule for both days begins at 9AM, with a lunch break at 12PM, followed by 2PM-5PM sessions. The Conference is open to all: lovers and writers of haiku, as well as those curious to discover its charms.
This year’s featured poet is John Stevenson, of Ithaca, NY, a former president of the HSA. An award-winning published poet, Stevenson is the current managing editor of The Heron’s Nest, and the former editor of Frogpond, as well as the founding member of the Route 9 Haiku Group, which publishes Upstate Dim Sum.
Back in 1968, the Haiku Society of America was founded by 25 people at Columbia University, all who enjoyed 17th century Japanese haiku poetry. Over 1000 members are active today. The AHS (Arkansas Haiku Society) was born in the home of Verna Lee Hinegardener, Arkansas Poet Laureate. Under the direction of the late president, Dr. Paul Tucker, Hot Springs earned international recognition for its contribution to haiku.
For a quarter of a century this humanities-sponsored event has been offered in the Spa City as a gathering for haiku poets and friends to read, write, enjoy, and celebrate both modern and ancient versions of this timeless form.
For further information, email hkilby@hotmail.com, or call 501-767-6096.
