Highlights from Haiku Workshop at the Escondido Library

Susan J. Farese of SJF Communications taught her 2 hour “Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku” workshop at the Escondido Library on February 27, 2025. Many thanks to Principal Librarian, Adult Services Azar Katouzian for hosting/coordinating the workshop and for her photos.

Thanks as always to all of the participants for attending, interacting and sharing their work!

Left to right:
Debbie, Jessica, Susan, Debi, Pamela, Rudy and Oliver
Photos by Azar Katouzian; Collage by SJF Communications

We began with an interactive fun ice breaker – getting to know each other.

After introductions and a review of her published work, Susan taught her Power Point presentation about writing Haiku and shared her nature photography as prompts to encourage Haiku writing. We all practiced writing Haiku and had the opportunity to share our work. As always, it was a great discussion and we equally had so much to say about the creative process and the parallels with Haiku poetry and visual arts.

Enjoy these Haiku from Susan’s nature photography prompts….

“Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku” Workshop

Escondido Library 2/27/2025

Sunset Cliffs – Photo by Susan J. Farese

Little waves be small

but will always strike truly

As us humans be

by Oliver (age 9)!

Mist above white waves

Rumbling sea below the rocks

People, perched above!

by Susan

Little hummingbird

Will fly faster peacefully

When the flowers bloom.

by Oliver

Master of the flight

Protective of its life space

Drinker of nectar

by Debi

Rocks at Torrey Pines State Beach- Photo by Susan J. Farese

Small pebbles might fall

still they keep their own balance

And strong in sunlight.

by Oliver

The blood-red night sky

Conjured from the depths of hell

Message from Hades

by Debi

Moon Rise and Yellow Traffic Light – Photo by Susan J. Farese

Captured by the Moon

Saw the signal to slow down

Thank you, universe

by Pamela

Carlsbad Flower Field – Photo by Susan J. Farese

I can find comfort

In a crowd of wild flowers

But not with people

by Pamela

Beautiful flowers

Delicate, colored petals

Waving in the breeze

by Debbie

Julian Leaves – Photo by Susan J. Farese

Crispy, rustling leaves

A potpourri of colors

Waiting for a rake

by Debbie

Great White Egret at Santee Lakes- Photo by Susan J. Farese

Susan (great white egret)

Ivory plunge

Contemplating the nest step

Great white egret soars!

Jacaranda Tree- Photo by Susan J. Farese

Jacaranda trees

Bloom but once annually

Purple hues unite!

by Susan

More Haiku Inspired by the workshop

My hesitant breath

Fear, my mountain Everest

Eyes open I jump.

by Rudy

Ruffles, the dog

Morning you are there

Hungry you seek attention

Soft coat ruffles hand.

by Rudy

Colors red and blue

Visit me and leave fast

Dreams of flying now.

by Rudy

Heavy

Blanket of darkness

Feels like a heavy blanket

Covering my soul

by Debi

Broken

Pieces of my heart

Shattering to the cruel Earth

I lie here, broken.

by Debi

Soaring, easy flight

Masters of the ancient sky

Behold, my dragon

by Debi

Writing in silence

Hum of imagination

Words vibrate inside

by Pamela

It’s 80 degrees

Doesn’t feel like wintertime

in Escondido

by Debbie

Pickle Ball has rules

Don’t volley in the kitchen

Or you’ll lose the point

by Debbie

Montessori School

Wonderful community

Of special people

by Debbie

Waikoloa

Warm sun, gently breaking waves

Me, fully relaxed

by Jessica

Sea turtle swimming

In the warm afternoon sun

So oblivious

by Jessica

With snorkel and mask

Sea turtles and rainbow fish

Such a sparkling world

by Jessica

For more information or to book a workshop (Individual or Group) with Susan:
Information LINK: https://sjfcommunications.com/haiku-workshops/
Or, Email info@sjfcommunications.com or sjfcommunications@gmail.com.

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A Recent Creative Collection from SJF Communications Haiku Workshops!

I thoroughly enjoy teaching my SJF Communications “Capturing Your Creativity With Haiku” Workshops at local libraries, online or in person elsewhere! I’ve been teaching on and off since 2018. Here are some photos and poems from participants from my most recent (4) Haiku workshops. Whether I have 2 participants or 20, I still savor the outcome – creative writing with Haiku combined with my nature photography (or other inspirations the attendees might have)!

I’ve added photos and several Haiku poems from my recent workshops at the Ramona (SD County), Skyline Hills (SD City), Casa de Oro (SD County) and Bonita-Sunnyside (SD County) Libraries. As always, it’s so rewarding for me to see how creativity develops with attendees! As a contracted performer/instructor for the County as well as City of San Diego, I want to thank the library branches, and Friends of the Libraries for all of your support and all of the attendees for joining in me in these “Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku” Workshops!

For more information or to book a workshop (Individual or Group) with Susan:
Information LINK: https://sjfcommunications.com/haiku-workshops/
Or, Email info@sjfcommunications.com or sjfcommunications@gmail.com.

Collage from Haiku workshop by Susan J. Farese at Ramona Library and Skyline Hills Library

Here below, my nature photography prompts which encouraged and sparked Haiku writing about the actual photos seen. Additionally, some poems were written with attendees thoughts after our workshop, (not necessarily photo prompts). It’s all good! Enjoy these Haiku….

From the Ramona Library 6/26/2024

Bouquet

Hand painted with much love

Anniversary flowers

Farmer’s Market joy!

~ Anita
(No photo, she had memory from the bouquet her husband gave her for their anniversary)!
Also, Carol was in attendance – we are looking for her Haiku!

From the Skyline Hills Library 8/31/2024

The Ocean

I go to the beach

for my self-preservation

Rejuvinate ME

~ Jacquelyn

Scents of Season

I feel crispiness

My mood changes at this time

This is my season

~ Jacquelyn

Orange Flower

Alien flower?

Blood vessels on yellow skin

Alien or not?

Nature – Space or Earth?

External organ

Dead alive or in between

Scary as can be

Secret morgue flower

Red blood vessels on yellow

A new dimension?

Putrid slimy wet

Unnaturally warm, dark

Beautiful bloody.

~ Carol Ann

From the Casa de Oro Library 9/6/2024

Haiku, Casa de Oro Library, Blaca, Joy, Susan, Cathrine

It’s the Simple Things

Crisp air, bees buzzing

Calm whispers of morning sun

Sweet serenity!

~ Anonymous

Untitled

What happened to you?

Was there nothing that intrigued?

Was that all my fault?

All those days before

My love kept your interest

Until it didn’t

How was I to know

You were just a whip-poor-will

Any flower would do

Now I don’t get close

Nothing’s worth the grief, the shock

The pain of loss sucks

Now I thank my stars

That I can still show love

Unabashedly

My love is my love

I can fondly show it

Surely not to you.

There’s a lesson there

I don’t have to hate myself

For not being enough

It is not from lack

I am just too good for you

Sit with that, you chump!

~ Joy

And Cathrine had to leave early, but she was a delight as well! Here is her photo and a few Haiku poems:

Untitled

Mother’s precious love

Gentle, kind, gives of herself

Gets kisses and hugs

Untitled

A harvest full moon

Shines brightly in the dark sky

Creates ocean tides

~Cathrine

From the Bonita-Sunnyside Library 9/7/2024

Claire, Susan and Christina at Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku, Bonita-Sunnyside Library 9/7/2024

Moon Rising at Yellow Traffic Light – Photo by Susan J. Farese

Untitled

Hottest year ever

And the coldest from now on

Apocalypse now

~Christina

Untitled

Ruby, sapphire flash

Little bully hummingbird

Never time to pause

~ Claire

Untitled

Beauty suspended

In perpetual motion

Greedy bully wins

and a second one from Christina….

Untitled

Nature’s abundance

Capital’s scarcity myth

How pointless to fight

~Christina

Thank you for visiting my website!

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Haiku for Two at the Julian Branch Library

Susan J. Farese of SJF Communications taught her 2 hour SJF Communications “Capturing Your Creativity with Haiku” workshop on May 24th at the Julian Branch Library. Many thanks to Josh Mitchell, Branch Manager and Friends of the Julian Library for hosting the workshop.

Mark was a solo attendee that day, and we made the best of it!

We began with an interactive fun ice breaker. After introductions and a review of her published work (with Haiku and other forms of poetry), Susan taught her Power Point presentation about writing Haiku and shared nature photography, including several photos of roses and flowers, plus other nature photos as prompts to encourage Haiku writing. We practiced writing Haiku and had the opportunity to share our work. It was a great discussion and we equally had so much to say about the creative process and the parallels with Haiku poetry and visual arts.

Here is a glimpse of us, along with the photo prompts and written Haiku for the afternoon.