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<< Previous   of   Next >> Courtesy of Basho Press  (click to enlarge) David Ash's "Haiku for Baseball Lovers"   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Stick to the silver screen, Scarlett 5/19/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, May 19, 2008 Writer composes in 17 syllables everyday stories By Andy Rathbun Daily Herald Staff Writer for Features Sections David Ash started writing haiku while onboard a cross-country flight. By the time the plane landed, he had 100 of the small poems. He showed them to friends, got some laughs, and then put them aside years ago. The Mukilteo resident now publishes haiku collections. So far, he's put out six books. Each collection has 100 poems. True to the form, Ash lets 17 syllables capture a moment. Each poem is a short three lines, with syllables placed in a pattern. The first line has five syllables, the second has seven, the third, five. He's waxed poetic on coffee, Catholics and chocolate so far. Most of his work is observational and light. Examples include: "She likes her boyfriends the way she likes her java: Tall, dark and steamy." "Rapt parishioners hang on Father's every word ... one gasps, then: 'Bingo!'" "Because cacao grows around the planet's waistline, it ends up on mine." Christmas and office work will provide fodder for more new books this year. Formerly a choir director, Ash wants writing to be his sole job. Ash, 49, put out his first collection in 2007. He publishes his work through Basho Press, a new company he launched. The private press was named for Japanese poet Matsuo Basho. The press' odd name could slip your mind, but Ash knows how to recall it. "I just tell them to remember 'Ash' surrounded by B.O.," he said. Thoughts? Call 425- 339-3455 to reach A. Rathbun. Or write him via e-mail at arathbun@ heraldnet.com Order a book Visit www.bashopress.com for a full selection of Ash's "Haiku for Life" series, including "Haiku for Baseball Lovers," "Haiku for Poker Players," and his new release, "Haiku for Dog Lovers"

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