<p>
	<img alt="" src="{filedir_5}cherry-tree-2.jpg" style="float: right; width: 200px; height: 165px; " />Spring and haiku poetry go together like cherry blossoms and sweet scents, one follows the other. &nbsp;In fact, cherry blossoms serve as the focal point for many japanese haiku poems. &nbsp;Not only that, but&nbsp;Haiku poems sometimes include a&nbsp;<em>kigo</em>, a word or phrase that is associated with a particular season. &nbsp;Use of the phrase &#39;cherry blossoms&#39; triggers an association with spring time within the poem.</p>
<p>
	Well, for us, spring time creates an association with students treking around campus, scoping out emerging wildlife reborn or reawoken after winter and the utter delight they experience. &nbsp;We want to honor and celebrate this reawakening by asking you to send us your creative haiku poems drawing from your experience with environmental education. &nbsp;Haiku poems typically come in a three-line 5-7-5 syllable format. &nbsp;You can send your poems to Dieter (dbouma@ausable.org), where we&#39;ll post them in our next newsletter. &nbsp;Happy writing!</p>
<p>
	Here&#39;s a few staff haikus to get you started:</p>
