Hidden River

ISBN 978-0-6151-3825-1. Trade paperback. 184 pages. Available at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Hidden River is Denis M. Garrison's second collection of haiku, arranged in a traditional seasonal pattern. “Denis Garrison is an excellent poet; a breath of fresh air. He understands haiku and, as an editor of literary journals and the owner of a small book publishing firm, he realizes that, like any art form, one must pay their dues; putting in time, study, practice, and hard work. ... With a fresh voice, Garrison writes poetry that resonates, doesn’t ‘tell all,’ and lingers in the mind after being read. ... Garrison does not adhere to a strict 5/7/5 syllable formula. ... Added to the haiku are good metre, more than one layer of meaning, and a unique way of viewing life. ... This is the genius of haiku: using an economy of words to paint a multi-tiered painting without ‘telling all.’ Garrison does this well. His poetic canvasses only look simple. ... however, level after level of meaning unfolds, calling to mind the way tones, tints, and simple brush strokes bring to life a sumi-e painting. Denis Garrison writes beautiful haiku. I recommend his new book, Hidden River, to all who appreciate the genre and to those who want a good model to emulate in their journey to becoming a better poet. His book will leave an indelible print in your mind.” —Robert D. Wilson, Managing Editor of Simply Haiku at www.simplyhaiku.com (from his Foreword to Hidden River) "One wonders when they read the name of a man or even if they see his picture, what is he truly like? In my opinion, the best way to know a man is to study in depth what he puts down on paper. Denis Garrison would easily be recognized for the outdoorsman that he is by his haiku. Words and phrases such as: 'hidden river, plowed field, leafing orchards, hunger moon, old tin cup, rabbit spoor, river stones, bridle paths, spring-fed creek, woodpecker’s vibrato, fragrant hay bales, sparrow tracks in fresh snow, field of ripe pumpkins, scorched dirt, cowpies, frog song and fireflies, woodcutter’s cabin' and so forth, appear throughout his book. Denis skillfully gives readers a strong but pleasant taste of nature in this fine presentation via the many outstanding haiku found around every bend of his 'Hidden River.'” —an’ya, Editor of TSA Ribbons and moonset journal • Back to the Selected Books page.