Simple Pleasures: Haiku from the Place Just Right

by Elizabeth Gauffreau

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

'Tis the gift to come down where I ought to be . . . .

                      ~ Shaker song attributed to Joseph Brackett

The simple pleasures of our favorite places in nature are gifts of the spirit to be shared with others. In this collection of 53 haiku, each paired with a photograph, poet Liz Gauffreau invites readers to come with her to some of her favorite places in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Some places are long-time favorites going back years; others have become favorites by virtue of inspiring poetry.

Genres: Poetry

74 pages, Unknown Binding

Published August 5, 2024

About the author

Elizabeth Gauffreau writes fiction and poetry with a strong connection to family and place. Her work has been widely published in literary magazines, as well as several themed anthologies. Her short story “Henrietta’s Saving Grace” was awarded the 2022 Ben Nyberg prize for fiction by Choeofpleirn Press.

She has published a novel, TELLING SONNY, and two collections of photopoetry: GRIEF SONGS: POEMS OF LOVE & REMEMBRANCE and SIMPLE PLEASURES: HAIKU FROM THE PLACE JUST RIGHT. Her second novel, THE WEIGHT OF SNOW AND REGRET, based on the closing of the last poor farm in Vermont in 1968, is forthcoming October 1, 2025.

Liz's professional background is in nontraditional higher education, including academic advising, classroom and online teaching, curriculum development, and program administration. She received the Granite State College Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2018. Liz lives in Nottingham, New Hampshire with her husband. Find her online at https://lizgauffreau.

Reviews

[Darlene Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous photographs, coupled with meaningful haikus, mixed with memories. Haikus are difficult but Elizabeth Gauffreau has done a superb job of making every word count, adding meaning and emotion to each photograph. These haikus are meant to be read over and over as the reader travels along with the poet and experiences the scenes through carefully chosen words like these:
capricious maple
what of this red, this yellow
in our own front yard
This book is a wonderful addition to my poetry collection.

[Chris Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely collection this is! I have read this several times as it’s delightful. The words are clever and interesting, it’s not easy to get these haikus so well written. We can all have a go using the 5-7-5, but diligence and careful placing makes all the difference.

The colours are vivid from spring, summer and autumn, and then the winter is white and whiter – what a treat! Mountains, water and trees are all lovely and Liz Gauffreau’s photography is brilliant, and I should also mention those wonderful bridges.

A couple of my favourites were these, maybe because those ones have beautiful birds.

ombre sky, cool air
twilight comes to the mountain
a lone hawk circles, keens

marshland lies quiet
grasses sway, water ripples
waiting for a crane

I highly recommend this little book with the short syllabic poetry collection. Well done, Liz!

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Haikus for their ability to convey deep meaning in few words. Elizabeth Gauffreau does just that in her new poetry publication, Simple Pleasures (2024). She handles her debut into this difficult poetic genre like a master, capturing readers' attention as though this is her calling.  Throughout the selections, she simplified complicated universal ideas that most of us struggle to put words to with ease, in her case, about her homeland, with a clarity and precision that kept me reading until I ran out of poetry.

stream water eddies

swirling whirlpools, sun-warmed rock

our feet touch bottom.

The depth connected me to the natural beauty of her surroundings, the emotions and feelings explained with profound clarity, imagery made more perfect by its sparseness. I especially enjoyed that she blended the poetry with an image and the occasional ghostly overlay of a person, as though it is a memory, or a thought. This is highly recommended for those who like the natural beauty and emotion of Haikus.

[Gail Meath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of curiosity, my great respect for the author, and my childhood memories of vacationing in New England, I decided to read Simple Pleasures. I had never read Haiku before, so I had no idea what to expect. What I found was simply amazing.

Every page held its own unique story with just a few ‘simple’ yet very powerful descriptive words accompanied by a stunning photograph. As you travel from a rusty trestle bridge to a majestic Jezebel maple and the Green Mountains, the breathtaking beauty of New England shines bright.

Thank you, Elizabeth Gauffreau, for taking me back in time to places I fell in love with as a young girl traveling through Rutland, Vermont, to Gloucester, Massachusetts, every summer. I highly recommend this beautiful book to anyone who loves nature.

[Sally Cronin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The combination of stunning photography and 17 perfectly ordered syllables is anything but simple, but is certainly a pleasure.

Elizabeth Gauffreau has captured the stunning landscape and changing seasons of her favourite places in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine in both her camera lens and her words. Although Haiku is short by nature, it can be in the right hands, filled with emotion and satisfyingly descriptive.

Very hard to choose favourites but I found one vibrant image and its accompanying haiku very evocative of my own trips to the area.

Jezebel maple
red, scarlet, vermillion
lives for the moment

This is a collection to savour and spending time with each page and absorbing the images and words is a delight. I can highly recommend.

[D. Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely little book of haiku is about a 30-minute read, and every minute is worth savoring. Haiku is a traditional untitled form of syllabic poetry composed of three lines with a syllable count of 5/7/5. The author stated that she’d never written haiku until undertaking this collection, but I would never have guessed that based on the beauty of the poetry.

Each poem is complemented by a color photo from the author’s exploration of northern New England through the seasons. In a way, both are snapshots, one in words and one in images. All are glimpses of natural landscapes, and the poems often express a sense of the author’s connection to the places of her youth.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy haiku. The most cherished years of my childhood unfolded in Vermont, and the poems evoked memories and nostalgia as I read. Two haiku that I particularly related to:

old apple orchard
unplowed fields, collapsing barns
we take the back road

mountain foliage
milkweed open to the wind
monarchs on the wing

[D.L. Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Simple Pleasures” is a beautiful gathering of 53 haikus and gorgeous photographs accompanying them. It’s incredible how much meaning can be packed into just a few words. I felt like I was walking along with the author and exploring where she lives and travels. Since the poems were all good, it made it hard to pick just these two haikus to share: stream water eddies/swirling whirlpools, sun-warmed rock/our feet touch the bottom and the pond in winter/windswept snow, crystalline sky/fridge air, silence. Ms. Gauffreau offers a nature that I so enjoy exploring. It was a soothing read that will be reread more than once. I can highly recommend this collection!

[Joy Kidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Gauffreau's gathering of photos of favorite places is so satisfying, each accompanied by a perfect haiku that enhances this beautiful collection.

[Marian Beaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Liz Gauffreau captures the beauty of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine both visually and in verse. The poet masterfully paints portraits of notable New England sites in a collection of 53 haiku, each paired with a scene from nature. Some pieces were especially nostalgic for me as I grew up in Pennsylvania with similar rural charm. There is so much to love about this book: From the font style to the photographic illustrations and the poems themselves, Simple Pleasures: Haiku from the Place Just Right is a treat to be savored. The poet has come lately to the haiku form, yet each vignette of three lines is polished to the point of perfection. I read the book digitally, but the print version would make a lovely gift.

[Flavio Miguel Pereira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful Haiku, sharing the views of the world as a three line simple poem.
Haiku have this beauty sign, in three parts the stronger of the picture or the scene is captured.
I will leave one star for author development

[Jan Sikes · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this beautiful book of stunning photography and matching Haikus, you'll find yourself swept away into the truly simple pleasures in life. The author does a fabulous job of portraying incredible moments in time and space with exquisite poetry. This is the kind of book you want to savor and re-read. If you are a fan of wonderful poetry spoken directly from the heart of the author and her experiences, you will no doubt love this collection as much as I did. I highly recommend it!

[Alex Craigie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Elizabeth Gauffreau’s writing since reading her powerful and moving collection Grief Songs. Simple Pleasures is another book of poetry, but this time the form is haiku. The format is deceptively simple, however the skill lies in capturing the essence of something in just a few, measured syllables – and this book is filled with excellent examples.
The book begins with ‘dirt road adventure’ which sets the theme of nature reclaiming the land and its innate beauty. There are exquisite descriptions of abandoned farms and untamed landscapes that fill the author and reader with awe, wonder and sense of peace.
Simple Pleasures is a feast for the senses. The words resonate and capture ideas perfectly, whilst the accompanying images add to the poetic quality. Some of the photographs are breathtakingly beautiful, such as the flaming Jezebel maple or the almost mystical accompaniment to the haiku:
silver filigree/embroidered with evergreen/ November remade
Something else that I loved was the blending of old photographs with the present scenery. The place Paul Stream, a favourite haunt from the past, is revisited in this way and it is fascinating to see how nature endures and keeps its beauty when circumstances allow.
Some people buy impressively large books of images for ‘coffee tables’; this book may not be large in size but is most definitely impressive and I am going to buy the paperback version and leave it out for others to sample and for me to dip into whenever I feel the need to indulge in its beauty.
(I own a Kindle Oasis which isn’t able to download this book and so I used my husband’s iPad instead.)

[Audrey Driscoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely book is a collection of short poems in haiku form. Each one is accompanied by a photograph, thereby providing both a visual and literary experience. The images are all of landscapes and the poems preserve the haiku tradition of relating to nature. Words link the author’s experiences, impressions, and observations with the places shown in the photographs.

Some of the poems are arranged by seasons, from high summer through autumn, winter, spring and back to summer. They show both change and stillness. Even reading the first lines in the table of contents is a journey of words.

Reading the poems themselves takes the reader on dirt road adventures, to abandoned fields and working farms, the vista through a covered bridge, an old graveyard, and the benign indifference of nature. The book is full of reminders that the boundary between civilization and nature is thin and recent. Some poems link to one another with mentions of the same things, e.g., monarch butterflies, marshes, ocean. Three photos superimpose ghostly images from the past on present-day scenes, hinting at history and memory.

My favourites: “ombre sky, cool air,” “Jezebel maple,” and in particular “Paul Stream in summer.”
But every poem in the book is worth reading and thinking about.

This is a book one can absorb in a single sitting, and then revisit at random to rediscover both words and images.

[Βίκυ Χ. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Simple Pleasures: Haiku from the Place Just Right” is an exceptional collection of fifty-three haiku poems, each thoughtfully paired with photographs that capture the scenes that inspired them. Written by Elizabeth Gauffreau, this book invites readers to appreciate the beauty of everyday moments through the lens of haiku.
This inspiring collection invites readers to savor the seasons and explore the beauty of fleeting moments. Along the way, it provides glimpses of Northern New England—the author’s home—and the emotions these landscapes evoke. While a few poems seem more like accompanying notes for photos, most are well-crafted, adhering to the form and focus of traditional haiku poetry. Among them, “rusted trestle bridge” stood out as my personal favorite.
"Simple Pleasures” is an exceptionally praiseworthy haiku collection, particularly given that it marks Elizabeth Gauffreau’s debut in haiku poetry. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I anticipate revisiting its pages in the future. Without hesitation, I recommend it to all enthusiasts of haiku.
Many thanks to BookSirens, the publishers, and the author for providing me with the eARC of this enchanting book. I eagerly await more books from this talented author.

[Frank Prem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short syllabic poetry is a poetic form that demands much of a writer. The concentration and distillation of thoughts and ideas, with no room for padding or elaboration. The task is to create a written image that has an impact on the reader, despite the restrictions imposed by the form.

When I began reading Liz Gauffreau’s Haiku collection, Simple Pleasures, I found myself writing mental Haiku in response to each poem I read. Something about the imagery of Gauffreau’s back roads around Vermont and New Hampshire, presented in both photographic and Haiku form, created a resonance that provoked a response.

How special is that?

Fields for haying, covered bridges presenting a vista glimpsed through a tunnel, seasonal changes and the seasonal implacability of natures laws.

I love the elevation of the overgrown and forgotten to centre-stage as the focus and feature of a piece of writing and Gauffreau has provided readers with plenty.

I encourage and recommend any reader to join me in tasting and sipping the sweet waters of this short syllabic poetry collection. It is truly comprised of simple, but wonderful pleasures.

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, the haiku. Out of the many poetic forms, this one is most suited for saying much with very few words. At its heart, a haiku is a way to express what is. There's no need to draw conclusions or associations within the poem itself; it uses evocative language to lead readers to their own conclusions, allowing them to draw their own connections. Haiku is a way to collaborate with the reader, where the poet offers words and the reader adds meaning.

Simple Pleasures contains many examples of haiku in its purest form. It dabbles a little in explaining and concluding, which isn't ideal, but for the most part, these poems are thoughtful observations that draw me in and help me feel a part of the scene. Each poem is paired with a photo. Some of the photos are brilliant. Some are merely adequate. Together, the photographs and the text work together to create a deeper sense of connection to nature. Certainly, there are a few that miss the mark, but overall, this is a peaceful and refreshing book.

Thank you to BookSirens and Paul Stream Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Joy York · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Gauffreau truly delights us with this beautiful collection of haiku poetry, accompanied by breathtaking scenic photographs of places she discovers on her leisurely drives through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Simple Pleasures is a perfect name for her “Haiku from the Place Just Right.” She and her husband meander through the countryside with no particular destination in mind, exploring dirt roads that lead to majestic mountains, tranquil lakes, unplowed fields of greenery and flowers, apple orchards, covered bridges and so much more. Her amazing peeks into the splendor of Mother Nature’s seasonal wonders provide the perfect inspiration for each haiku, putting the reader into each scene.

A few of my favorite poems:

Ater the storm ends
calm returns to the valley
reverie in blue

fading light, moonrise
day and night come together
our past, our future

Jezebel maple
Red, scarlet, vermillion
lives for the moment

I thoroughly enjoyed taking this lovely trip through Simple Pleasures with Elizabeth Gauffreau. I highly recommend it.

[Naito Diamond · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who deeply appreciates Japanese culture and the beauty of haiku, I was eager to dive into Simple Pleasures by Elizabeth Gauffreau. This collection of 53 haikus, while calming and evocative, left me wishing there was more to savor. Each haiku is accompanied by the author's own nature photography, enhancing the meditative quality of the poems and drawing readers into the moments she captures.

The precision of Gauffreau’s words speaks to her skill, as the short form of haiku demands thoughtful selection to evoke emotions and reflection. The simplicity of nature and fleeting moments are portrayed beautifully, providing a peaceful reading experience.

However, with the collection being as brief as it is, I found it a bit too short to fully justify purchasing. Nevertheless, the warmth and serenity of the haikus and their accompanying images make Simple Pleasures a soothing, reflective read for those who appreciate the beauty of both poetry and nature.

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Simple Pleasures, Liz Gauffreau takes us on a road trip through Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire in a beautiful collection of Haiku accompanied by photography. We visit some famous spots and take in gorgeous scenery, complemented by well-crafted poetry that shares the author’s impressions of her surroundings.

Throughout the book, Gauffreau’s love of New England shines through. Through her eyes, I saw a maple tree come to life and walked underneath a fiery sky. I traveled a dirt road and gazed from a mountain overlook. I enjoyed the journey and felt welcome as Gauffreau introduced us to the region she calls home. My favorite was Jezebel Maple, but I loved them all. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys haiku and photography, as well as anyone who wants to take a walk in the New England countryside.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an Early Reader copy from LibraryThing in exchange for my unbiased and honest opinion.


I give this book 3.75 Stars, for goodreads purposes, I'll give it 4 stars
While I like poetry, and Haikus, some of the poems felt a little discordant for me. I'm unsure whether that is because I don't usually read Haikus or because some word choices didn't feel in harmony with the rest of the poem. The photos that accompanied each poem were beautiful in their simplicity. I did enjoy the book, even with the not quite a 4 rating. It gave mental images of a life centered around the seasons in a rural area, free from the chaos of city living. Of living fully. The author is definitely an artist with words, despite my inability to see the vision at times.

If you like haikus and want to see the New England region through poetry, give Simple Pleasures: Haiku from the Place Just Right by Elizabeth Gauffreau a try.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this collection was like forest bathing, the photos of Liz’s favorite outdoor places filled with green mountains, blue lakes, red and yellow leaves, gray rocks, white trees, and pink-tinted and fiery sunsets. And yet the photo and haiku that stirred my soul the most was that of the snow-covered pond with a border of dark trees in the background:

the pond in winter
windswept snow, crystalline sky
frigid air, silence

I spent the first 21 years of my life in upstate New York, among farms just northeast of Albany. Although I often say that fall was my favorite season, sometimes I miss winter more, especially the silence of winter.

Simple Pleasures is a wonderful pairing of photographs and poetry. You’ll want to keep this book by your bedside or writing desk for when you want to enjoy a simple pleasure or to be inspired.

[Roberta Cheadle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple Pleasures is a collection of delightful haiku written about a variety of different places that have moved the poet to write due to their beauty, family connection, or historical meaning. Each poem is accompanied by a gorgeous colour photograph (I read the ebook). As a South African, I found this book to be a wonderful visual and literary tour of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

One of my favourite poems in the collection is as follows:
"grey heavens, grey sea
goldenrod out of context
lighthouse bears witness"

This short collection of 53 poems will fill your heart with joy.

[Catherine Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my all time favorite. I was greatly surprised by this book and its a great thing. This book made me think about things I took for granted, just looking at the pictures made me think about home in Upstate New York. The beauty places and this is of beauty you.really can't find anywhere else except your heart. Bear hai
Jus and beautiful pictures. Love the book and it is a must-read if you like poetry.

I received a free copy of the book and is voluntarily writing a review

[Colleen Chesebro · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Simple Pleasures: Haiku from the Place Just Right” is a poetic journey through the back roads of Vermont and New Hampshire captured in haiku and photographs. The author’s message is clear. When we connect to nature and the changing of the seasons, we find the simple pleasures in life.

The accompanying photos share a glimpse of places near and dear to the author, invoking many childhood memories. At times, I felt like I walked by her side. I enjoyed the journey. I think you will too!

[Katherine]

Simple pleasures is a homely, comfortable and snug collection of haiku that feels like a soothing transition from chaos and turbulence to relax and calm. This book contains pictures that give you an ultimate experience. They have a profoundly impactful and resonating feel to it. Elizabeth's writing invites us to experience life in a different lens that is unique and magical.

Definitely worth the reading time and experience.

[Gwendolyn Plano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple Pleasures is a collection of Haiku poems written in response to exquisite photos of nature. I loved strolling through the pages. As I did so, I felt the seasons and their nostalgic power. I also re-remembered the miracle of life. Just as the title suggests, this is a book of simple pleasures. It invites us to sit back and savor both the poems and the visual majesty of nature.

[Carol LaHines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Gauffreau’s collection of haiku is spare, lyrical, specific, universal; a gorgeous meditation on place—specifically, northern New England and the Maine coastline—and the echoes of time and memory. Each poem is twinned with a photo, to wonderful effect.

[Janet Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular pairing of Haiku and Photographs!

I love how the author paired each poem with a photograph. Reading the Haiku and letting my eyes rest on the accompanying photographs made for a relaxing read. This is a book I will enjoy again and again.

[Donna Koros Stramella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely little book combining poetry and photographs. I felt transported to the back roads of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine on a road trip that unveiled both the grand and the simple—both with their own beauty.

[Cheryl W · Rating 5 out of 5]

The haiku in this book is very eloquently written about the New England natural views. The poetry makes the pictures come to life for a whole new experience of nature. I absolutely loved the imagery and imagination of this writer.