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Insight
Insight is a 2021 collection of R. W. Watkins's more traditional haiku. Focussing on material written in more recent years, Insight compiles poems originally published in Haiku Canada Review and related anthologies, online venues, Watkins's own Eastern Structures magazine, as well as more obscure outlets. A companion collection is slated for publication in 2022.
51 pages, Paperback
Published December 23, 2021
2 people want to read
About the author
R.W. Watkins
38 books4 followersR W Watkins is a poet, essayist, indie publisher and social critic.
He is the author of two volumes of haiku and related poetry, October Twilight and New England Country Farmhouse, and the co-author (with Robin Tilley) of a third, In The Grip of Sirens. He has also edited and published issues of Contemporary Ghazals (the world's first English-language journal dedicated exclusively to the titular form) and the one-off Contemporary Sijo. His poetry has appeared in several journals throughout Canada and the US, and he was the only Canadian included in Agha Shahid Ali's Ravishing DisUnities, the world's first anthology of English-language ghazals.
He has also published numerous literary essays and reviews in various print journals throughout Canada and the US. Others, of a more sensational nature, have appeared on various websites.
Over the years, Watkins has been a member of such literary organisations as Haiku Canada, The League of Canadian Poets, and the Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland & Labrador (WANL).
In more recent years he has turned his attention to the internet and comics criticism, editing poetry at Red Fez and launching The Comics Decoder website.
His latest major works are View From The Cellar: A Critical Analysis of Laird Koenig's The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane; Contemporary Ghazals: An Anthology of the best poems from his sporadically published magazine; and Direct Lines to Hell, the first of two volumes which consist of his early Jim Morrison / Lawrence Ferlinghetti-inspired free verse.
Watkins holds a bachelor's degree in Religious Studies and English Literature, but invests very little faith in contemporary formal education. Outspoken on many issues, he resides in Newfoundland, Canada.
He is the author of two volumes of haiku and related poetry, October Twilight and New England Country Farmhouse, and the co-author (with Robin Tilley) of a third, In The Grip of Sirens. He has also edited and published issues of Contemporary Ghazals (the world's first English-language journal dedicated exclusively to the titular form) and the one-off Contemporary Sijo. His poetry has appeared in several journals throughout Canada and the US, and he was the only Canadian included in Agha Shahid Ali's Ravishing DisUnities, the world's first anthology of English-language ghazals.
He has also published numerous literary essays and reviews in various print journals throughout Canada and the US. Others, of a more sensational nature, have appeared on various websites.
Over the years, Watkins has been a member of such literary organisations as Haiku Canada, The League of Canadian Poets, and the Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland & Labrador (WANL).
In more recent years he has turned his attention to the internet and comics criticism, editing poetry at Red Fez and launching The Comics Decoder website.
His latest major works are View From The Cellar: A Critical Analysis of Laird Koenig's The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane; Contemporary Ghazals: An Anthology of the best poems from his sporadically published magazine; and Direct Lines to Hell, the first of two volumes which consist of his early Jim Morrison / Lawrence Ferlinghetti-inspired free verse.
Watkins holds a bachelor's degree in Religious Studies and English Literature, but invests very little faith in contemporary formal education. Outspoken on many issues, he resides in Newfoundland, Canada.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 13, 2023
** Some of the closest English Language Haiku to classical traditions and style of the form's early Japanese masters I have encountered **
In 2021's 'Insight' R.W. Watkins (also acclaimed for important work curating showcasing diverse poetic forms in seminal, long-running Eastern Structures literary journal, and a spirited composer of contentious critical essays) firmly cements his reputation as a gifted poet and haikuist, establishing himself as a true maestro and exemplar in the classical tradition of haiku, with a deep appreciation and studied command of the nuances of integral tenets, a commitment to 'on' and sound unit requisites which are refreshing and sadly absent from too much of our era's less Orthodox, more willy-nilly general thrust. In a time when the tradition's stewards in its native tongue evince vocal concern over haiku's collapse in metrical adherence, disregard for seasonality and kigo, works like this are enormously constructive beneficial to the writing community in leading by example and exhibiting the richness and capabilities a nature themed haiku (or cheeky senryu) situated in a strong moment occurring at a specific time, cutting between two objects in elegantly constructed tercets, what glory such fidelity to established dictates can make for. It's no surprise to discover work within was published in the widely read Asahi Shimbun newspaper of Japan, one of the most admired English haiku markets on the planet, uniquely appreciative of historical and contemporary permutations of the form in the native tongue. Watkins is also especially noteworthy for his talent as raconteur and storyteller, from the start inviting the reader into his fascinating world and unique perspective, keenly observed and eloquently related. This collection also includes some extraordinary examples of monoku, concrete visual micropoems, and a stunning vertical piece. A triumph of tradition and powerfully captured experience every lover and writer of these forms could benefit from thoughtfully exploring and having in their library. Also of great help for students interested in better understanding how their own writing might best reflect and exemplify haiku proper as its masters wrote and advocated for, techniques and tools for strengthening their verses and tightening their grasp of core ideas. I'm very glad I ordered, look forward to reading the poet's other similarly titled collection of haiku!
In 2021's 'Insight' R.W. Watkins (also acclaimed for important work curating showcasing diverse poetic forms in seminal, long-running Eastern Structures literary journal, and a spirited composer of contentious critical essays) firmly cements his reputation as a gifted poet and haikuist, establishing himself as a true maestro and exemplar in the classical tradition of haiku, with a deep appreciation and studied command of the nuances of integral tenets, a commitment to 'on' and sound unit requisites which are refreshing and sadly absent from too much of our era's less Orthodox, more willy-nilly general thrust. In a time when the tradition's stewards in its native tongue evince vocal concern over haiku's collapse in metrical adherence, disregard for seasonality and kigo, works like this are enormously constructive beneficial to the writing community in leading by example and exhibiting the richness and capabilities a nature themed haiku (or cheeky senryu) situated in a strong moment occurring at a specific time, cutting between two objects in elegantly constructed tercets, what glory such fidelity to established dictates can make for. It's no surprise to discover work within was published in the widely read Asahi Shimbun newspaper of Japan, one of the most admired English haiku markets on the planet, uniquely appreciative of historical and contemporary permutations of the form in the native tongue. Watkins is also especially noteworthy for his talent as raconteur and storyteller, from the start inviting the reader into his fascinating world and unique perspective, keenly observed and eloquently related. This collection also includes some extraordinary examples of monoku, concrete visual micropoems, and a stunning vertical piece. A triumph of tradition and powerfully captured experience every lover and writer of these forms could benefit from thoughtfully exploring and having in their library. Also of great help for students interested in better understanding how their own writing might best reflect and exemplify haiku proper as its masters wrote and advocated for, techniques and tools for strengthening their verses and tightening their grasp of core ideas. I'm very glad I ordered, look forward to reading the poet's other similarly titled collection of haiku!
Displaying 1 of 1 review