Martin Lucas: front row, left. *
Sometime during that walk I acquired my first copy of the journal Presence and it has been a favourite ever since. On those rare occasions when I gather together my published haiku I go to my Presence collection first because Martin, as editor, had a way of spotting the best and kindly returning the rest, often with a handwritten note of encouragement.
I've lost one of my first haiku mentors and it will be a more lonely path without him.
Martin's poetry showed a deep connection with the natural world and empathy with all kinds of living things, including humanity, often expressed with a touch of gentle humour. I'd like to include a small selection of his haiku and tanka here in appreciation.
the many noises of London
subside
in the smallest hour
all that's left:
voice of the blackbird
Blithe Spirit 8/1 1998
poetry group
deep in thought;
gurgle of plumbing
.. click.. Hub Editions, 1998
deepening winter
darkness in the eyes
of a chained dog
Earthjazz, Ram, 2003
a quiet stretch of river
the gull's little kick
into flight
Frogpond 26/2, 2003
summer river -
when I'm barefoot
it's forever
Presence 39 September 2009
Awarded 'Best of Issue' by popular vote in Presence 40
autumn spider running to the raincloud sky
Presence 47 December 2012
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* BHS North Norfolk Coast Park walk 1999. I would very much have preferred to get permission from everyone else in the photograph before posting but that was not possible as I do not have current contact details. If anyone has objections to it being included here please let me know and I will take it down immediately. If anyone does not object but would just like to get back in touch - please do! My new email address can be found in my profile.
2 comments:
Thanks for this memory of Martin - I met him I think at a few meetings of the Yorkshire & Lancashire Group of the BHS but I didn't get to too many of them.
Wonderful tribute. Thank you so much for posting this.
my deepest regards,
Alan
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