What do you think?
Rate this book
Keeping Time: Haibun for the Journey
This beautiful collection of haibun has a purity stemming from the honesty of its recollection and the elegance of its form. Reading it, I entered into a world of hawks and feathers, of deer and turkeys, of Poppy’s tears, of spouses lost, of love of family and friends, of gratitude for being a poet and love of the natural world. I emerged from this world with a feeling of privileged access into a great and positive spirit recording her shares of sorrow, loss, illness, the turbulence of years, encouraged by the poet to share her resolve to love the broken world and to praise the light.
—Neil Creighton, author of Morteza
Penny Harter’s Keeping Haibun for the Journey is an exceptional work. Haiku-woven tales of love, loss, hope and redemption are set forth in a poignant three-part journey of discovery. Although every haibun is remarkable in its own way, I was swept away by the beauty of these three “Keep,” “ Kept,” “Keeping.” And there is a not-to-be missed bonus at the end, a treasure trove titled “Tips for Writing Haibun.” Keeping Haibun for the Journey is destined to lead the canon of outstanding haibun collections.
—Roberta Beary, author of The Unworn Necklace
In Keeping Time, poet Penny Harter, takes her readers on a journey through the labyrinth of human existence. Each poem lingers in the liminal spaces between dream and memory, love and loss, joy and heartache. Whether it be antique store relics, the raised blue veins of aging hands, or the melting ice of an ancient glacier, Harter uses personal yet relatable imagery to thoughtfully ponder the things that measure, hold, and release time. Her poetry speaks to the resilient, transformative nature of the human spirit and the interconnectedness of all things. In a world that sometimes seems lost and struggling, her message is one of hope and reassurance the journey is our destination . . . .
—Terri L. French, author of Fully Human; co-editor, contemporary haibun online
—Neil Creighton, author of Morteza
Penny Harter’s Keeping Haibun for the Journey is an exceptional work. Haiku-woven tales of love, loss, hope and redemption are set forth in a poignant three-part journey of discovery. Although every haibun is remarkable in its own way, I was swept away by the beauty of these three “Keep,” “ Kept,” “Keeping.” And there is a not-to-be missed bonus at the end, a treasure trove titled “Tips for Writing Haibun.” Keeping Haibun for the Journey is destined to lead the canon of outstanding haibun collections.
—Roberta Beary, author of The Unworn Necklace
In Keeping Time, poet Penny Harter, takes her readers on a journey through the labyrinth of human existence. Each poem lingers in the liminal spaces between dream and memory, love and loss, joy and heartache. Whether it be antique store relics, the raised blue veins of aging hands, or the melting ice of an ancient glacier, Harter uses personal yet relatable imagery to thoughtfully ponder the things that measure, hold, and release time. Her poetry speaks to the resilient, transformative nature of the human spirit and the interconnectedness of all things. In a world that sometimes seems lost and struggling, her message is one of hope and reassurance the journey is our destination . . . .
—Terri L. French, author of Fully Human; co-editor, contemporary haibun online
100 pages, Paperback
Published March 23, 2023
1 person want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 24, 2023
Always an admirer of Penny Harter's haiku, this collection of her haibun does not disappoint.
In Searching for Omens: " inverting the toaster/ I shake the burnt crumbs / into the sink," this haiku is from Harter's last haibun in the collection which ends: "we must seek sustenance in our daily bread and do whatever work we can to praise the light." This is a collection of affirmation.
In Searching for Omens: " inverting the toaster/ I shake the burnt crumbs / into the sink," this haiku is from Harter's last haibun in the collection which ends: "we must seek sustenance in our daily bread and do whatever work we can to praise the light." This is a collection of affirmation.
Displaying 1 of 1 review