Marina Bellini

1. How did you get started with haiku?

I was introduced to haiku by a Facebook friend, Marianna Pane. She insisted that I should try to write some, so I joined her Facebook haiku group, called “Cinque Sette Cinque,” and there I started my journey. I soon bought a few books dedicated to the Japanese masters and I joined the Italian Haiku Society, which has been very important for my growth. It is now natural to think of a haiku when I see or hear something that touches me.

2. Tell us more about yourself.

I have a degree in physics, but I have been teaching math for most of my professional career. I have also worked as a computer analyst and programmer. In 1998 I moved to Northern Ireland to work as a college lecturer. In 2013 I moved back to Italy. I now live near Mantua, where I teach in a secondary school for apprentices. Aside from teaching, I love jewelry of any sort—in Ireland I got a diploma in arts and crafts for making silver jewelry. I also have three Jack Russell terriers and four cats. My main interests now are caring for my plants (especially orchids, cacti, and carnivorous plants), reading, and practicing yoga.

3. What does NaHaiWriMo mean to you?

NaHaiWriMo is a great group to join. It offers the opportunity to exercise my creativity. The daily prompts can be quite challenging at times. Also it’s important for me to connect with other poets from so many different countries.

4. What one piece of advice would you offer to those who are new to writing haiku?

My humble suggestion is to start reading the masters, and gradually move to more recently renowned poets. We cannot fully appreciate the present if we don’t know where it comes from. I also recommend joining a good haiku group where people with more experience can help with critiques and comments.

5. Please share three of your favourite or best haiku.

Internet’s down

cutting paper snowflakes

for the window

central station—

on the girl’s arm

the Big Dipper

dead leaves—

alive in the storm

for just one day