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Rich Youmans

A (Somewhat) Brief Note about cho‘s New Look

Yes, there have been a few changes around here.

The first was noted in the last issue of contemporary haibun online, when Bob Lucky announced that he would be stepping down as editor after five and a half years and 23 exemplary issues. (OK, I added in the “exemplary” part—Bob is too modest to characterize his tenure as such—but really, it was.)

In his last editor’s note, Bob introduced the new cho team. It includes some familiar faces. Jim Kacian, who more than two decades ago started the contemporary haibun print series and, shortly afterward, contemporary haibun online, has returned as owner and publisher. Ray Rasmussen, the long-time cho technical editor and former editor of the recently closed Haibun Today, continues to share his expertise as cho‘s consulting editor. The team also includes many Haibun Today alums—Tish Davis, Terri French, Pat Prime, myself—as well as new faces: Ron Moss, who now serves as cho‘s haiga editor, and Dave Russo, our web manager and north star behind the new look for contemporary haibun online.

That new look is the latest of the changes that cho has undergone. When Jim took over, he wanted to update cho‘s appearance, and he brought in Dave, a founding member of The Haiku Foundation who has managed that organization’s website since its inception. The goal was to have a responsive site, suitable for all devices (desktop, tablet, phone), that captured the spirit of contemporary haibun online: open, welcoming, inclusive, and dedicated to promoting and celebrating excellence. If you’ve found this page, you’ve seen the results. Although this redesign has been a group effort, Dave provided the foundation, the tutelage, and the overall wisdom and guidance that made it possible. We all owe him a huge debt of gratitude.

(Before going on, I’d like to pause to thank Mike Rehling, on whose server cho resided for many years, and whose quiet contributions to the entire haiku community have had a big impact. Thank you, Mike.)

The redesign includes not only a new look, but also some new features. Although tanka prose always had a place in cho, it now has its own section, edited by Tish. And we asked Ron to feature his own work in the first Haiga Showcase Gallery, as cho expands its scope. In future issues, he’ll be soliciting, assembling, and commenting on the haiga of other artists who are demonstrating the form’s potential.

We also made sure to keep what made contemporary haibun online popular. As you’ll see, cho still has book reviews and essays, which are now under Pat’s editorship. We’re also continuing the popular “Featured Writer” series, which this month highlights the work of none other than Bob Lucky himself. Since launching the column in July 2014, Bob has never had a chance to feature his own work, and this seemed to be the perfect time to correct that.

And, of course, we still intend to present the best haibun possible, with a range that shows just how far this age-old form is being pushed, pulled, twisted, and ultimately made new. Over the course of the year, that job will fall to Terri French (editor for the December issue), myself, and Glenn Coats, another Haibun Today alum who will serve as the guest editor for the August issue.

At this point you may be wondering when this “brief” note will end, so it’s probably best to just let you now explore this issue and all it holds. In it, you’ll find writers both familiar and emerging. And if you discover something especially moving or noteworthy, feel free to add a comment (another new feature). In the end, we’re all part of a community, adding our voices and supporting one another. And regardless of how many changes come about, that’s one thing that will always stay the same.

In this time of global upset and pandemic, of social distancing and sometimes forced isolation, we hope this issue provides one more sustaining connection to that community. All of us at cho send our best wishes for you and your families to stay safe and healthy.