The haiku poet lives in a world where everything is alive. From birds and flowers to mountains and rivers, all things share an imperishable essence that infuses them with emotion and meaning. The poet’s task is to “greet” these beings on an equal footing, uniting with the “animate everything” that sustains all life on earth. The Path of Haiku preserves a lost way of radical belonging to this world.
From July 10–12, 2026, Tricycle haiku columnist Clark Strand will guide us in writing small poems with big messages. We’ll explore the origins of haiku in ancestral ways of knowing that erase the boundary between the human and natural worlds. We’ll experiment with techniques pioneered by masters like Bashō and Chiyo-ni, Shiki and Kyoshi—and learn from modern poets like Richard Wright and Tomas Tranströmer, Sonia Sanchez and Victoria Chang.
Most of all, we will spend lots of time writing and sharing haiku together, with an emphasis on gathering material for our poetry directly from life, exploring the beauty of the Hudson River bioregion, discovering its trees and flowers, animals and insects, while enjoying its beautiful summer weather.
This retreat is co-presented by Tricycle and Garrison Institute. Learn more and register here.
Teacher
Clark Strand
Clark Strand is a former senior editor of Tricycle: The Buddhist Review and the author of numerous works on poetry, spirituality, and ecology. His books include Seeds From a Birch Tree, Waking Up to the Dark, Waking the Buddha, and The Way of the Rose (co-authored with his wife and fellow writer Perdita Finn). His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Wall Street Journal. Strand has been writing haiku for fifty years and has mentored some of the finest poets currently working in the form.
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DETAILS
- Date: July 10–12, 2026
- Time:
- Format: In-Person: Garrison Institute, Garrison NY
- Price: Click below for more information
- Learn more