DAVID ASH learned his first haiku in sixth grade. It began with the
word hototogisu (cuckoo), and he felt an instant connection. He should
also have been learning about spelling, grammar, and punctuation, but
he somehow thought haiku gave him a loophole. By the time he got a
degree in English from Georgetown University, studying twentieth
century poets such as e. e. cummings, it was a wonder he got a job as a
secretary, especially after typing “secertary” on the application. He
eventually realized that no one could check your spelling when you sang
what you wrote. Three albums, many years of church choir directing, and
a master’s in liturgical music from Santa Clara University followed,
strangely in that order. David finally figured out that his wife, son,
family, and friends seemed a lot happier when he would use no more than
a dozen words at a time. So he regressed to his sixth grade roots.
David doesn’t seem worried that his first haiku is being published at
an age when Matsuo Basho was writing his last. Basho’s inspiration is
still there, and haiku is about the journey. Whether this is a second
childhood journey or a mid-life crisis journey remains to be seen.  =0
D
David lives in Mukilteo, Washington.

* * * * *

Coming in 2009:

Haiku for Cat Lovers
Haiku for Romantics
Haiku for Tea Lovers
Haiku for Wine Lovers

Now Available through Partners/West:

978-0-9793993-1-2 0-9793993-1-9 Haiku for Catholics   06/2007
2007901733
978-0-9793993-2-9 0-9793993-2-7 Haiku for Baseball Lovers 08/2007
2007903401
978-0-9793993-3-6 0-9793993-3-5 Haiku for Poker Players 08/2007
2007903402
978-0-9793993-4-3 0-9793993-4-3 Haiku for Coffee Lovers 09/2007
2007905402
978-0-9793993-5-0 0-9793993-5-1 Haiku for Chocolate Lovers 10/2007
2007905403
978-0-9793993-6-7 0-9793993-6-X Haiku for Dog Lovers 04/2008 2008900198
978-0-9793993-7-4 0-9793993-7-8 Haiku for Office Workers 09/2008
2008906524
978-0-9793993-8-1 0-9793993-8-6 Haiku for Christmas 10/2008 2008906525

David Ash 
Publisher 
Basho Press, LLC 
10924 Mukilteo Speedway #222 
Mukilteo, WA 98275 
(206) 200-9525 
www.BashoPress.com 
BashoPress@aol.com 
Event calendar on www.BookTour.com (search for “David Ash)