In school, most of us were introduced to haiku in a brief session that emphasized syllables, nature, and concision. However, haiku practitioners have taken the form as far above the grade-school exercise as skilled novelists have surpassed grade-school "Now you write a story." Haiku is not just a poetic form; it is a way of seeing and understanding. In much the same way that skilled photographers learn to find powerful images, haiku masters learn to capture in words moments that move them.
     This presentation will be an introduction to modern practice in English-language haiku literature, including haiku, senryu, renga, haiga and haibun with examples, resources and an exercise in haiku composition.
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DAVID OATES is the host and producer of Wordland, a radio program of stories, comedy, and poetry, on WUGA FM (wuga.org). He emcees Athens Word of Mouth Poetry Open Mic. His haiku books are Shifting with My Sandwich Hand, The Deer’s Bandanna, Drunken Robins, and only thunder: a family journey with hundreds of poems published in 60+ journals and anthologies. He loves introducing people to all the aspects of haikai literature not taught in school.