St. Croix spring stanzas: A few haiku poems penned at Interstate Park

Verses written by event attendees last weekend celebrate spring, the river, and more.

By Greg Seitz | May 2, 2019 | 2 minute read

ArtReach St. Croix’s Gil Gragert invites participants to write a haiku.
Learn to Paddle with Wild River Outfitters
Osceola Girl Scout Troup 57474, tree cookie lanyard art project and tree ring activity.
Spring-fed creeks in spring.

Photos courtesy Friends of Interstate Park

People who attended the Outdoor Skills Expo at Wisconsin Interstate Park last Saturday could learn a lot: how to tie knots, build a fire, forage for food. They also could get some practice with poetry.

The event was part of ArtReach St. Croix’s Big Read program, in partnership with the St. Croix River Association and others.

ArtReach supplied the St. Croix River Haiku Challenge, originally developed by St. Croix 360. Board member Gil Gragert ran the show, and wrote a few himself. Check out his and others’ below!

ArtReach will have the haiku challenge again at the Belwin Conservancy Bison Festival on May 18 this year.

By Gil Gragert:

Remember matches
bring newspaper and kindling
build and light, enjoy

Nature speaks loudly
on the river rapid foam
careful wading in

Girl Scouts love the woods
they tromp and stop and laugh loud
pick up leaves and mud

Two turkey vultures
listening and smelling prey
waiting patient

Twas a throw pillow
much to my surprise, the lamp
was not a catch lamp

By others:

Woodpeckers pecking
all the waves are Rippling
And we are hiking
– Carlee

Way up in the sky
high above the Hills and Lakes
Stand Whispering trees
– Carlee

Leaves falling in Fall
Birds migrating as winter comes
sleeping till spring comes
– Jeremiah, Lilah and Teresa

Birds whistling loudly
On the blue water with waves
Wolfs howling loudly
– Kayla

Water birds whistling
in the trees high up above
On a lovely sunny day
– Natalie

Outside in nature
Every little animal
quiet as can be
– Carlee

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St. Croix spring stanzas: A few haiku poems penned at Interstate Park

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<div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter" data-effect="slide"><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container"><ul class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrappper swiper-wrapper"><li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"><figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-18883" data-id="18883" src="https://www.stcroix360.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/58376966_2303842343008857_5733024854685253632_n-1.jpg"/><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">ArtReach St. Croix's Gil Gragert invites participants to write a haiku.</figcaption></figure></li><li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"><figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-18879" data-id="18879" src="https://www.stcroix360.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/58616538_2309008932492198_8547744187653554176_o.jpg"/><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Learn to Paddle with Wild River Outfitters</figcaption></figure></li><li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"><figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-18881" data-id="18881" src="https://www.stcroix360.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/59469433_2309008679158890_8274411923475267584_o.jpg"/></figure></li><li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"><figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-18880" data-id="18880" src="https://www.stcroix360.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/58994584_2309008185825606_4985212976198844416_o.jpg"/><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Osceola Girl Scout Troup 57474, tree cookie lanyard art project and tree ring activity.</figcaption></figure></li><li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"><figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-18882" data-id="18882" src="https://www.stcroix360.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/58721780_2309007792492312_486522303174148096_o.jpg"/><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Spring-fed creeks in spring.</figcaption></figure></li></ul><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a aria-label="Pause Slideshow" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause" role="button"></a><div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white"></div></div></div>
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<p style="text-align:right"><em>Photos courtesy Friends of Interstate Park</em></p>
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<p>People who attended the Outdoor Skills Expo at Wisconsin Interstate Park last Saturday could learn a lot: how to tie knots, build a fire, forage for food. They also could get some practice with poetry.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

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<p>The event was part of ArtReach St. Croix's Big Read program, in partnership with the St. Croix River Association and others.</p>
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<p>ArtReach supplied the <a href="https://www.stcroix360.com/2013/04/haiku-poets-show-love-for-the-st-croix-and-exasperation-at-snowy-spring/">St. Croix River Haiku Challenge</a>, originally developed by St. Croix 360. Board member Gil Gragert ran the show, and wrote a few himself. Check out his and others' below!</p>
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<p>ArtReach will have the haiku challenge again at the <a href="http://www.belwin.org/events/306/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Belwin Conservancy Bison Festival on May 18 (opens in a new tab)">Belwin Conservancy Bison Festival on May 18</a> this year. </p>
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<p><strong>By Gil Gragert:</strong></p>
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<p>Remember matches <br>bring newspaper and kindling <br>build and light, enjoy</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

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<p>Nature speaks loudly <br>on the river rapid foam <br>careful wading in</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Girl Scouts love the woods <br>they tromp and stop and laugh loud <br>pick up leaves and mud</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Two turkey vultures <br>listening and smelling prey <br>waiting patient</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Twas a throw pillow <br>much to my surprise, the lamp <br>was not a catch lamp</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

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<p><strong>By others:</strong></p>
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<p>Woodpeckers pecking <br>all the waves are Rippling<br>And we are hiking<br> - Carlee</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

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<p>Way up in the sky <br>high above the Hills and Lakes<br>Stand Whispering trees<br> - Carlee</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Leaves falling in Fall <br>Birds migrating as winter comes <br>sleeping till spring comes<br>- Jeremiah, Lilah and Teresa</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Birds whistling loudly <br>On the blue water with waves <br>Wolfs howling loudly<br>- Kayla</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Water birds whistling <br>in the trees high up above <br>On a lovely sunny day<br>- Natalie</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

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<p>Outside in nature <br>Every little animal <br>quiet as can be<br>- Carlee</p>
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