Haikus are simple, powerful poems that have been used in Japan for centuries to distill beautiful moments in nature. Led by writer and haiku author Sue Wasserman, participants in the workshop will learn about the form, listen to a few examples to get their creative juices flowing, and pen their first haiku before embarking on a garden adventure to create their own “Hike-Ooh” at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Before putting words to paper, Wasserman will guide participants through a relaxing, mindful breathing exercise to help them become more present to the wonders that surround them. Throughout the morning, each poet-meanderer will have the chance to share their work – it’s not only amazing to listen to how others perceive a moment in time, but it’s also a whole lot of fun!
Sue Wasserman fell in love with haiku after being asked to teach it by The Penland School of Craft. She is a freelance writer and nature photographer who enjoys sharing her passion with both adults and children. A former resident of Atlanta for over two decades, she has contributed to a variety of businesses and publications, including The New York Times, Southern Living, American Style, Smokies Life Magazine, Ceramics Monthly, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Asheville Citizen-Times. She has self-published Walk with Me: Exploring Nature’s Wisdom and A Moment’s Notice, both of which combine her passion for writing and nature photography.
In 2022, Wasserman was named the Steve Kemp Writer in Residence in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The response to her “Hike-Ooh” program during the park’s annual member retreat was so positive that Wasserman continued offering it. Her most recent book, which has yet to be interpreted through a haiku lens, is Even Goats Take Catnaps: Adventures of an Unexpected Critter Sitter.
Date: Saturday, April 5
Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fee: $50 ($45 Member)
Registration Deadline: April 1
Instructor: Sue Wasserman
