Haiku Utterances | Book of Haiku

Haiku in the Time of Winterberries
by Marie Bortolotto

New and Selected Poem-Images

A few excerpts from Haiku in the Time of Winterberries:

winter’s sleep 
explosion of red 
winterberries

abandoned garden 
two gulls keep up
 a mournful vigil

Paperback, 110 pages

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

Haiku in the Time of Winterberries is a book of new and selected poem-images by visual artist and poet Marie Bortolotto, in which she views haiku not only as an ever-evolving literary genre but also as a creative mindfulness practice. Dropping the rules of traditional Japanese haiku, she writes in a modern Western style to express “haiku moments” of heightened awareness in the here and now. Similar to her previous books, Haiku in the Time of Winterberries offers a window into quiet contemplation, inspiring us to cultivate curiosity and responsiveness toward the world around us to experience deeper truths, beauty and meaning.

Haiku Sketches
by Marie Bortolotto

300 Zen-Inspired One Line Poems

A few excerpts from Haiku Sketches:

resting on a vintage garden chair dead leaves
autumn’s decline even the bindweed sheds its glory
atop melted snow a red scarf and a carrot
slowly a beetle crawls across the sidewalk

Paperback, 110 pages

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

Artist Marie Bortolotto takes us on a mindful stroll through her portfolio of haiku sketches as she follows in the footsteps of renowned Japanese poet, Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902). Shiki is best known for his efforts to modernize haiku poetry, especially his idea of shasei or “sketching from life” where he encouraged poets to look at the world, as an artist does with a sketchbook, observing and expressing what they see in everyday life with fresh eyes. Each haiku sketch in this collection offers a window into meditation, inspiring us to open the eyes of the heart and find poetry in the ordinary.

Haiku Utterances
by Marie Bortolotto

300 Zen-Inspired One Line Poems to Liberate the Imaginal Heart

Revised Book Cover - Haiku Utterances - March 2_25.jpeg

A few excerpts from Haiku Utterances:

pinned to the sidewalk white paper butterfly
have you stopped to say hello little sparrow
fragrance of emptiness in her hand a tiny flower
all frogs on the tree stump gone! except one
Paperback, 110 pages

PURCHASE YOUR COPY HERE!

In Haiku Utterances, Marie Bortolotto invites us to slow down and attune to the poetic utterances that speak to us and through us from the heart of existence. Dropping the rules of traditional Japanese haiku, she writes in a free verse style that reflects ordinary day-to-day experiences. Most of the poems in this collection were gathered during daily walks while she was recovering from a lengthy illness. At first one may consider them too simplistic or insignificant, but once they seep into our hearts our eyes can see a depth of beauty found in the present moment. This book encourages us to cultivate an imaginal way of seeing by listening to the haiku utterances in our own lives.