a raindrop, a flowing river

by Ernest Berry, photographs by Graeme Matthews, 1998.
Published by Graeme Matthews PhotoImage, Blenheim, New Zealand.
Review by Elizabeth St Jacques

For some time, Graeme Matthews, a professional landscape photographer, had been trying to find a unique way to present his photographs that would enable the viewer to connect on personal and emotional levels. As it was, he felt that captions prevented free association. The solution, however, evaded him until reading an article in the local newspaper about a haiku workshop headed by Ernest Berry. Examples of Ernest’s haiku revived the photographer’s interest in haiku, an art form he had “seen and liked” in earlier years. Of particular interest to him were “the ‘layers of meaning’ that the haiku contained (and the fact that) readers can bring their own experiences to the poem to interpret it for themselves.” It was the solution Graeme Matthews had been seeking.

More than 100 magnificent full color photographson quality glossy paper make up this hefty coffee-table book. The photographer takes us to various parts of the world and focuses solely on Nature, covering a wide range of subjects, perspectives, seasons, and varying moods. The span is great: from a full view of an African sunset to a thundering waterfall to a daisy thriving in a rugged mountain’s crack, to delicate blue-white frost crystals, to a translucent leaf.

Throughout these photographs are fascinating plays of light and shadow, suggestions of tranquillity or turmoil. Yet even in a stone, for example, one feels its energy.  The effect stimulates the spirit and holds the willing observer in its strong yet tender grasp. An illustration of Graeme Matthews’ remarkable photographic eye: set in an ancient forest, a huge, uniquely shaped tree that stands covered with lush green moss clearly resembles a dinosaur sitting on its haunches, head turned back, as if to check over its shoulder. One of many arresting images that lure me back again and again.

The prolific New Zealand poet, Ernest Berry, was given the assignment to write a haiku for each of these photographs. When we consider the large number of images, all of which derive from someone else’s experiences, Ernest has come through extremely well.

The poet effectively captures the primarysubject and mood/emotion in and from the image(s) in each photograph while skillfully integrating his own perceptions that serve to enhance and deepen. Following are a few favorites that dwell on a particular fascination of my own – light.

redwood forest after the shower puddles of light

short of light       a travelling bird       brings its own

alpenglow the granite peaks soften almost night the grasses dance to different light

The majority of haiku in this collection are carefully crafted, arousing the senses with suggestions of color, texture, sound, scent, and/or taste, highlighting inferred movements of/from an image to present a fresh exhilarating view:

As impressive as are most haiku here, a few could have benefited from revision. For example, in the otherwise superb haiku “cliff-top/the ti-tree/wind-shaped” a hyphen in each line tends to distract. (A hyphen seems necessary only in the final word.) Then there’s “tweet tweet/says the yellow leaf/in the hollow of her hand” that I find difficult to classify as haiku. Also, it’s unfortunate the use of “the” (that appears in all but a few haiku) had not been used more sparingly; as is, the word becomes rather tedious. A few flaws are forgivable, however; after all, perfection is expected only from the gods.

By and large, haiku in this collection more than satisfy and are of excellent quality. In fact, several haiku are remarkable, even memorable. Surely, this is no small accomplishment for so great a task.

Together, the talents of photographer, Graeme Matthews, and haiku poet, Ernest Berry, have created a work of art that deserves a place of honor on coffee tables throughout the haiku community. Moreover, a raindrop, a flowing river deserves recognition in the annals of haiku history as well.