We welcome Raymond Garraud as a guest writer at Haiku By Two.

Raymond likes haiku for its brevity. In fact, he’s had some publishing success with the idea of less is more.

In 2007, he submitted a 6-word memoir to Smith Magazine, an online publication that collects such tiny missives. In 2008, when the magazine published a book featuring the best of its submissions, Raymond’s was chosen for inclusion.

His 6-word memoir reads: My reach always exceeds my grasp.

It can be found in the book Not Quite What I was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure, which is—if we could insert our opinion for just a second—a fantastic and fun little book.

The book was hailed as “American haiku” by some reviewers. That phrase caught Raymond’s attention and he stared researching the short, poetic form. Before long, he found himself giving it a try.

His experience with the 6-word story, he said, “made me keenly aware of the imagery, thoughts and ideas one could convey in just a few words.” Haiku, he soon discovered, was an extension of this.

In July of this year, Raymond made a personal pledge to write a haiku a day for an entire year. “I see this as a challenge to myself,” he said. “I believe it will help me to improve my writing skills and become a springboard toward other writing projects.”

Every day, a new daily haiku can be found on Raymond’s Twitter stream.

“As I move forward with my haiku pledge,” he said, “I find that I have to dig a bit deeper each day in order to find the words to describe what I’m feeling and observing.”

“I draw motivation and inspiration from nature and all its various themes,” he continued. “As a long term goal, I’d like to combine photography with my haiku and write a book.”

We, of course, wish him the best of luck pursuing his dreams. Raymond lives on Long Island, is a father of three and considers himself to be an eternal optimist.

For the next week, his haiku will appear on the site, so check back all week long for a new, daily installment.

Find it on Amazon: Not Quite What I Was Planning, Revised and Expanded Deluxe Edition: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure