Without zoka, there is no haiku… Zoka — the creative, the generative force that animates the universe — is more than a concept. It's the heartbeat of haiku. In this week’s Poetry Pea Podcast, I reflect on Janice Doppler’s brilliant essay, “Following Bashō, Following Zoka,” and the powerful conversations it’s sparked within our community. I talk about my own grappling with the idea — from my strict Catholic upbringing to gradually recognizing zoka in my writing, even before I had the language for it. We’ll explore what haiku can be when we allow transformation, transience, and seasonality to rise above static images or generic kigo. 🌀 What does it mean to feel the seasons in an urban space? How can we write haiku that breathe and evolve with nature — not just describe it? 🎙️ Tune in and journey with us through change, through poetry, through zoka. Show notes
