When I was a child, my family lived in Japan for three years. There I was able to experience the fragrant beauty of the cherry blossoms in the spring. Along with this, we visited the immaculate grounds of the emperor's palace Underneath the bridge that led to this peaceful place swam beautiful koi fish. For three years, Mount Fuji watched over me as I went about my daily tasks.

I saw the dedication of the farmers in the fields planting the rice one plant at a time. In Kamakura, the massive Buddha towered above me. We went to every shrine and temple in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, walking the paths where so many had perished. Their ground zero.

It was here in this enriched environment that I found haiku, or rather, haiku found me. This form of poetry continues to be with me today.