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the book is calling -
empty pages like sirens
begging to be filled

chase a fickle muse
and the only thing you’ll catch
is inspiration.

I had almost forgotten about Nick Virgilio when I ran across an article about him in Thursday’s Daily News. And a shame it would have been to let Virgilio slip my mind completely.

Though I have only recently attempted the haiku form, I’ve admired it for much longer. Virgilio has been at the top of that admired list, especially since he was from the greater Philadelphia area. The aforementioned article is about an event to celebrate the life and work of the Camden haiku master twenty years after his passing.

And while I’m droning on about Virgilio, I should mention the Nick Virgilio Poetry Project — a fine website put up by Rutgers University in his honor. It has a nice archive of his work, including my favorite of his haiku:

my spring love affair:
the old upright Remington
wears a new ribbon

Most people seem to like “Lily” better, but whatever your taste in haiku, you should check out the site.

January’s drought
starves the creative impulse,
leaving us to mourn.