[sdf_hero id=”sdf-row-1″ last=”yes”][sdf_col id=”sdf-col-1″ width=”2/3″][sdf_text_block id=”sdf-element-0″ module_width=”1/1″ top_margin=”” bottom_margin=”” text_alignment=”left” font_family=”” font_size=”” text_color=”” entrance_animation=”No” entrance_animation_duration=”” link=”” link_title=”” target=”None” nofollow=”no” class=””]Many American school children of a certain generation, or perhaps several generations, were introduced to writing poetry through the Japanese form – haiku. It is very simple, and allows for great creativity within a defined structure – 3 lines, 17 syllables total, 5 – 7 – 5. Easy enough for even a child, but never truly mastered. I think many people, like me, have fond memories of writing haiku in grade school.

And some of us come back to it as adults, like Lawrence Eyre, Iowa born and bred, who spent most of his life as a teacher and tennis coach after earning a B.A. in American Studies from Yale. Eyre was named US Professional Tennis Association national high school coach of the year in 2009, and he coached both high school and college level. Upon retirement, he started writing haiku, and couldn’t stop. His first two collections are “Heartland Haiku” and “”Haiku Country,” both of which we explore in this delightful conversation.[/sdf_text_block][sdf_image id=”sdf-element-1″ module_width=”1/1″ title=”” alt_text=”” image=”https://vch7348tts5.c.updraftclone.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Green-Quote-e1453672031762.png” top_margin=”15px” bottom_margin=”” entrance_animation=”No” entrance_animation_duration=”” image_alignment=”left” image_size=”sdf-image-md-12″ image_shape=”square” lightbox=”no” link=”” link_title=”” target=”None” nofollow=”no” class=””][/sdf_image][sdf_blockquote id=”sdf-element-2″ module_width=”1/1″ top_margin=”” bottom_margin=”” blockquote_alignment=”left” quote_icon=”yes” quote_icon_size=”fa-lg” blockquote_author=”Lawrence Eyre” cite_title=”” cite_link=”” entrance_animation=”No” entrance_animation_duration=”” class=””]Some Haiku arrived simply with the stork, others required long labor.[/sdf_blockquote][sdf_button id=”sdf-element-3″ module_width=”1/1″ top_margin=”10px” bottom_margin=”” button_icon=”fa-hand-o-left” button_icon_position=”icon-left-side” entrance_animation=”No” entrance_animation_duration=”” button_layout=”left” style=”link” size=”btn-lg” link=”https://www.facebook.com/laweyre” target=”_blank” nofollow=”yes” class=””]See Lawrence Eyre’s Facebook page for his latest haiku![/sdf_button][sdf_video_oembed id=”sdf-element-4″ module_width=”1/1″ video_oembed_url=”https://youtu.be/5YmC6kV0fI4″ top_margin=”10px” bottom_margin=”” video_oembed_aspect_ratio=”16by9″][/sdf_video_oembed][/sdf_col][sdf_col id=”sdf-col-2″ width=”1/3″][sdf_image id=”sdf-element-0″ module_width=”1/1″ title=”” alt_text=”” image=”https://vch7348tts5.c.updraftclone.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Lawrence-Eyre.jpg” top_margin=”” bottom_margin=”20px” entrance_animation=”No” entrance_animation_duration=”” image_alignment=”left” image_size=”sdf-image-md-12″ image_shape=”square” lightbox=”no” link=”” link_title=”” target=”None” nofollow=”no” class=””][/sdf_image][sdf_image id=”sdf-element-1″ module_width=”1/1″ title=”” alt_text=”” image=”https://vch7348tts5.c.updraftclone.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/carolinequotes.jpg” top_margin=”” bottom_margin=”” entrance_animation=”No” entrance_animation_duration=”” image_alignment=”left” image_size=”sdf-image-md-12″ image_shape=”square” lightbox=”no” link=”” link_title=”” target=”None” nofollow=”no” class=””][/sdf_image][sdf_blockquote id=”sdf-element-2″ module_width=”1/1″ top_margin=”0″ bottom_margin=”” blockquote_alignment=”left” quote_icon=”yes” quote_icon_size=”fa-lg” blockquote_author=”Lawrence Eyre” cite_title=”” cite_link=”” entrance_animation=”No” entrance_animation_duration=”” class=””]If what we love and do well helps others, that’s our natural best work.[/sdf_blockquote][sdf_raw_html id=”sdf-element-3″ module_width=”1/1″ top_margin=”” bottom_margin=””][/sdf_raw_html][sdf_raw_html id=”sdf-element-4″ module_width=”1/1″ top_margin=”” bottom_margin=””][/sdf_raw_html][/sdf_col][/sdf_hero]

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