Ruth Yarrow

Ithaca, New York, formerly of Seattle, Washington

Ruth Yarrow taught ecology in colleges and environmental centers for several dozen years, and continues to work for peace and justice as a volunteer. When their two adventurous kids fledged, she and her husband Mike moved from the northeastern United States to the northwest where they revel in mountain backpacking. Ruth has had hundreds of haiku in the major journals and four books of haiku published. She has given readings and workshops, judged contests, and served as editor and regional coordinator of the Haiku Society of America's Northwest region. She finds that writing haiku helps her be aware of the richness of life. Read the newspaper article Ruth Yarrow: American Haiku Master by Mike Dillon from City Living Seattle.

a marmot’s whistle

pierces the mountain

first star

warm rain before dawn:

my milks flows into her

unseen

         light

up under the gull’s wing:

        sunrise

I step into old growth:

autumn moon deeper

into sky

leaving—

ponderosas comb a low tone

from the wind