Simple Pleasures: Haiku from the Place Just Right

 'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

'Tis the gift to come down where I ought to be . . . .

                     ~ Shaker song attributed to Joseph Brackett 

 The simple pleasures of our favorite places in nature are gifts of the spirit to be shared with others. In this collection of 53 haiku, each paired with a nature photograph, poet Elizabeth Gauffreau invites readers to join her on a poetic journey through the picturesque landscapes of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Each poem captures a moment of clarity and serenity, offering a window into the tranquil beauty of northern New England and the profound feelings these places evoke. Through her blend of poignant haiku and vivid imagery, Gauffreau creates a relatable and uplifting experience that resonates with anyone who cherishes nature’s gifts and the memories made with loved ones in these serene settings.

Elizabeth Gauffreau writes fiction and poetry with a strong connection to family and place. She holds a B.A. in English from Old Dominion University and an M.A. in English/Fiction Writing from the University of New Hampshire. Her fiction and poetry have been widely published in literary magazines and several themed anthologies. Her first collection of photopoetry is Grief Songs: Poems of Love & Remembrance. Her debut novel is Telling Sonny: The Story of a Girl Who Loved the Vaudeville Show.  Her second novel, The Weight of Snow and Regret, was inspired by the closing of the last poor farm in Vermont in 1968. It is scheduled for release on October 1, 2025.  Liz lives in Nottingham, New Hampshire with her husband.