Roadrunnner Haiku Journal

August 2006 Issue VI:3

Southwestern Haijin Spotlight

Victor Ortiz

Victor Ortiz, born in Southern California, currently resides in San Pedro, CA with his wife Mimi. He graduated from UCLA with a Ph.D. in Classics and though he only occasionally teaches Latin, he continues to read ancient Greek and Latin literature for fun! He first discovered haiku along with his students at an independent school in Los Angeles when he decided to have them write 5-7-5 haiku in Latin. It was so much fun he continued to write haiku in Latin and even published some in The Classical Outlook. Soon writing haiku became a way of life and now he writes almost everyday, but rarely in 5-7-5, and only in English. He was lucky enough to have had his first English haiku published in Frogpond and has managed to keep publishing in haiku journals ever since. Into Breath (Red Moon Press, 2002) was his first chapbook and his first haiku collection is due out in 2007. Although a few of his haiku have received special recognition, he considers himself a neophyte because the more he writes haiku the more he realizes there is to discover. He does consider himself a member of The Southern California Haiku Study Group, though they may not realize it since he misses far too many meetings.

Haiku is short enough to suit his attention span, but long enough for him to experience lasting truths. Haiku connects him to life, helps him establish relationships with his world, and when he listens closely enough it transforms him.

winter evening faded pictographs in shadow
	windy ridge a rusty bed frame in winter light
snail trail grinding holes in a granite boulder
	recess children count police cars
sunrise clouds at the foot of Los Angeles
	late winter storm refried beans buried under melted cheese
wherever I walk I walk in the sky
	desert petroglyph autumn rain falls on the sun
Black Mesa a water serpent winds around the clay pot
	snowmelt down the arroyo her laughter
spring rain… the rattle of seeds in a painted gourd
	bees among the desert lavender winter song

Some of these originally appeared in Modern Haiku, The Heron's Nest, and Acorn.