Hidden River Haiku by Denis M. Garrison Published by Modern English Tanka Press

Hidden River, Denis M. Garrison’s second collection of haiku, arranged in traditional seasonal sections, fulfills the promise he showed in his first collection, Eight Shades of Blue. The well-known editor of Haiku Harvest and several other haiku venues has produced a showpiece collection in this release from Modern English Tanka Press.

Baltimore, Maryland – December 21, 2006 – Haiku Harvest editor Denis M. Garrison shows how haiku in English can reach the high standards of traditional haiku in his second collection, Hidden River. Arranged in seasonal sections, with a full page devoted to each haiku, Hidden River flows smoothly, gently, through an archetypal year.

from the Foreword to Hidden River:

“Denis Garrison is an excellent poet; a breath of fresh air. He understands haiku and, as an editor of literary journals and the owner of a small book publishing firm, he realizes that, like any art form, one must pay their dues; putting in time, study, practice, and hard work. . . . With a fresh voice, Garrison writes poetry that resonates, doesn’t ‘tell all,’ and lingers in the mind after being read. . . . Garrison does not adhere to a strict 5/7/5 syllable formula. . . . Added to the haiku are good metre, more than one layer of meaning, and a unique way of viewing life. . . . This is the genius of haiku: using an economy of words to paint a multi-tiered painting without ‘telling all.’ Garrison does this well. His poetic canvasses only look simple. . . . however, level after level of meaning unfolds, calling to mind the way tones, tints, and simple brush strokes bring to life a sumi-e painting. Denis Garrison writes beautiful haiku. I recommend his new book, Hidden River, to all who appreciate the genre and to those who want a good model to emulate in their journey to becoming a better poet. His book will leave an indelible print in your mind.” — Robert D. Wilson, Managing Editor of Simply Haiku

“This is a book of haiku by Denis M. Garrison, the former Haiku Editor at Simply Haiku. It is organized according to the Four Seasons known in the Western world, beginning with Spring. [T]he reader will find this a good book to browse while relaxing by the fire in winter, or on a porch swing in summer. . . . But the overall charm of the book is found, at least by this reader, in the quiet recognition of the ordinary, the real things we encounter in our everyday lives, bespeaking the presence of a poet with respect for the silences as well as for the “cacophony of spring” and the cries of peahens. This is another attractive volume produced by Modern English Tanka Press, presenting each poem on its own page, with original drawings by Aurora Antonovic of Ontario, Canada. It is the kind of book I would give to my grandchildren (closet poets, ages 17-27), or to a friend. And it is one I will go back to often to enjoy, one haiku at a time, hoping to stir a pleasant memory, or perhaps a haiku.” — Johnye Strickland, in her review in Simply Haiku

“One wonders when they read the name of a man or even if they see his picture, what is he truly like? In my opinion, the best way to know a man is to study in depth what he puts down on paper. Denis Garrison would easily be recognized for the outdoorsman that he is by his haiku. . . . Denis skillfully gives readers a strong but pleasant taste of nature in this fine presentation via the many outstanding haiku found around every bend of his ‘Hidden River.’” — an’ya, Editor of TSA Ribbons and moonset journal.

About Author:

Denis M. Garrison is the editor and publisher of Modern English Tanka. He lives near Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay with his wife, Deborah. A 1974 Towson graduate in English literature, he edited Towson’s literary magazine and taught creative writing for Johns Hopkins University’s Free University. His poetry is published in Poetry Scotland, Nightingale, Verse Libre Quarterly, Simply Haiku, Ribbons, Lynx, Nisqually Delta Review, Moonset, Wisteria, Roadrunner, Stirring, World Haiku Review, Haiga Online, Paper Wasp, Short Stuff, Full Moon, Clouds Peak, and others, in his chapbook, Port of Call and Other Poems, and in his books, Eight Shades of Blue (haiku) and The Brink at Logan Pond. He has edited the webzines, Haiku Harvest (2000-2006; digital & print), Ku Nouveau, Haiku Noir, Templar Phoenix, Haiku Cycles, and Gunpowder River Poetry. Garrison’s poetry is published in several anthologies, including: May Dazed, Poets Gone Wild, Fire Pearls, and The Five-Hole Flute. In 2002, he was a founding editor of Amaze: The Cinquain Journal. In 2005, Garrison was a founding editor of Loch Raven Review. In 2006, he was the haiku editor of Simply Haiku. He has led several online haiku poetry elists including two named Haiku Unchained. Email : dmg (at) tankapress (dot) come. Website: www.FlyingFishes.net

For media inquiries or to arrange an interview with the author, contact: Denis M. Garrison by e-mail at dmg (at) tankapress (dot) com. Publisher information at: www.modernenglishtankapress.com.

This book is available from www.Lulu.com/modernenglishtanka and from major booksellers; or by order from the publisher. Complete information and mail order form are available online at www.modernenglishtankapress.com. Price: $15.95 USD. ISBN 978-0-6151-3825-1. Trade paperback. 184 pages, 6.00" x 9.00", perfect binding, 60# cream interior paper, black and white interior ink, 100# exterior paper, full-color exterior ink.

About Modern English Tanka Press:

Modern English Tanka Press is an independent equity publishing house in Baltimore, Maryland, dedicated to producing books and periodicals of lasting literary value. A family business, we treat our customers and partners in publishing like family. Our publications are produced using modern print-on-demand production and distribution methods. We publish tanka, haiku, and other fine poetry.

Our special mission is to promote the tanka form of poetry, to educate newcomers to tanka about this most ancient poetic form, and to work for wider publication of tanka in both specialty and mainstream poetry venues. To those ends, we publish the journal “Modern English Tanka” and special edition books of tanka, haiku, and other fine verse. We operate www.TankaCentral.com, the internet megasite for tanka, with its popular “Tanka News” blog, and the poetry web hub, www.ShortVerse.com.

Contact:

Denis M. Garrison, owner
Modern English Tanka Press
443-802-1249
Email to dmg (at) tankapress (dot) com.
www.modernenglishtankapress.com www.modernenglishtanka.com
www.shortverse.com www.tankacentral.com www.tankanews.com

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