After Seabeck: 2024 Report

by J. I. Kleinberg

The Poetry Department (then known as The Boynton Blog) launched in 2010. By September 2011, the Seabeck Haiku Getaway had already earned a mention. It has been on the radar ever since, but 2024 was my first occasion to experience it in person. This is a quick overview from the perspective of a first-timer.

The Place

Located on the eastern shore of Hood Canal with sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains, the 90-acre Seabeck property has been groomed as a conference center for more than a century. In addition to meeting rooms of various sizes, a dining hall, and residential accommodations, the grounds feature manicured lawns (with deer and Canada geese vying for windfall apples), forest trails, recreational facilities, and even a historic cemetery.

The Getaway

The Seabeck Haiku Getaway is the annual retreat of Haiku Northwest. This was its 17th year, and while most of the nearly 70 participants were from the Cascadia bioregion https://cascadiabioregion.org/facts-and-figures, there were also poets from Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, New York, and California.

The Theme

Each year’s Getaway is themed, and the 2024 theme was maps, which invited a wide variety of approaches. Speakers shared stories and images of haiku-infused pilgrimages in Spain, Japan, Cambodia, and Jordan. Geographer Paul Blank spread out his collected aeronautical maps on the floor of a large meeting hall and invited us to wander the world in our sock feet. There were many maps on display and most of the presentations had some reference to maps and literal or figurative way-finding.

The Format

Events take place over four days, from Thursday afternoon to mid-day Sunday. Michael Dylan Welch is the emcee for most sessions, a role he manages with self-deprecating warmth and a lively sense of humor. Sessions begin on the hour and generally run 50 minutes, with a single presentation offered at each time slot. Some attendees show up for every session, some don’t. Meals are served at 8:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 6:00 p.m.

The Keynote

Each Getaway features a distinguished guest whose creative and/or scholarly work involves haiku. This year’s keynote speaker was Crystal Simone Smith, who framed her presentations as a haiku journey. Rather than the typical long lecture, the Seabeck keynote is spread over four sessions, each building on the theme and each offering an opportunity to write haiku. The featured speaker for 2025 will be Kristen Lindquist.

The Haiku

Whether participants are longtime haikuists or newbies, there is plenty of opportunity to learn, write, and share. Most presenters provided prompts and time for writing and sharing, plus each morning started with a ten-minute guided “Write Now” session. Additionally, there was haiku tag, a kukai (anonymous haiku, voted for prizes), anonymous haiku critique, late-night rengay, and an assortment of readings.

Etc.

In addition to all of the above, there was an expansive book fair, a huge selection of free books, prints, etc., a silent auction, a haiga exhibit, a treasure map, music (flutes, piano, drums), various awards, a woodland walk, and generous snacks provided by the attendees.

Impressions

• The participants were warm, friendly, and supportive. There was no feeling of cliques or exclusion that sometimes happens at gatherings.

• The event is very well organized, from beginning to end: registration, printed program, packets, and scheduling, with most events starting and ending on time.

• There’s no pressure. Schedule in hand, you’re on your own. If you need to walk on the beach or hunt for mushrooms or take a nap, go for it. (There’s also no pressure to share your writing if you don’t want to.)

• The weekend and the varied programs provide a great introduction to the wide-ranging possibilities of haiku and it felt like even the most accomplished haiku writers were willing to stretch their creativity and embrace new ideas.

• As a participant, I gained a lot from the programs and exercises; as a presenter, I spoke to an eager and engaged audience.

Next Up

Next year’s Seabeck Haiku Getaway is booked for October 23–26, 2025. Registration, with early-bird rates, usually begins in August, with single-day participation options available if you don’t want to stay overnight. Mark your calendar and keep an eye on the Seabeck Haiku Getaway page at Haiku Northwest (and The Poetry Department!) for updates.