small flowers crack concrete: eyeku and conceptual minimalism

by R. W. Watkins

A sequel of sorts to Waka-Cola, R. W. Watkins’s Small Flowers Crack Concrete is the fifth title in the Poetical Perspectives series from Nocturnal Iris. A blend of visual haiku (or ‘eyeku’) and conceptual minimalism, this short volume transcends the basic nature themes of traditional haiku, and pays tribute to those painters, musicians and fellow poets who have employed understatement as a technique and concept as a motive in their artistic output. Hence the poetic references to the styles and subjects of Raymond Roseliep, Yves Klein, Frank Stella, John Cage and Sonic Youth. Many of these poems, it is worth noting, originally appeared several years ago in such classic avant-garde journals as Dorothy Howard’s RAW NerVZ Haiku and John M. Bennett’s Lost & Found Times. In what is possibly his most conceptual and visually sparse suite of poems, Watkins explores the boundaries between haiku and minimalism, form and empty space—effectively saying something about everything and everything about nothing.

27 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2019

Reviews

[Jerome Berglund · Rating 5 out of 5]

** Bold, sensational writing in innovative forms which truly dazzle in unexpected and captivating ways!

If you enjoy haiku and senryu, concrete and visual poetry (Vispo and its short form iteration 'eye-ku'), this is a must read collection of impressive, original pieces of the highest caliber. The poet/artist possesses a firm grasp of both language and structure, imbues potent meaning and articulates ideas in highly unique methods which will rivet readers and be of tremendous use to aspiring writers hoping to hone their personal craft and perhaps inspire and teach what can be accomplished with vision and disciplined application of technique. Highly recommended!