Half a dozen years ago, when we had just moved to Seattle, the phone rang and a deep warm motherly voice welcomed me to the northwest, and invited me to the next haiku meeting - Francine Porad! I was touched. From the first meeting it was apparent that Francine's way of supporting everyone's attempts at writing while making perceptive suggestions is the fertile ground in which Northwest haiku has grown and thrived. And while Francine has lived a long life, through major illness and recent widowhood, her bright colors and her bright eyes make me think of her as a young woman. She has strong opinions, and we differ on some political issues, but her directness is refreshing and her heart is so big that it reaches out beyond any disagreements. I love her mischievous humor and creativity that spring out of her poetry, painting, and relationships with each of us in the haiku group. Thank you for being you, Francine!

                  Mexican sun
                  dancing around his fishing line
                  her eyes

                                                       Ruth Yarrow

web design by suhni bell
© copyrights retained by the individual contributors