Short Poems, Long Impact: Reception Marks 20th Anniversary of Camden Haiku Poet’s Death

CAMDEN –  His name alone could begin, or end, a haiku: Nick Virgilio.

The Japanese verse with the 5-7-5 syllabic line structure was the medium that Virgilio discovered in 1962 while reading in the Rutgers University—Camden library.  That discovery ignited the Camden resident to innovate  American haiku and capture the attention of haiku poets around the globe, including the Emperor of Japan.

Virgilio, who died in January 1989, left behind numerous inspiring and concise lines, such as his most famous “lily:/out of the water…/out of itself,” as well as a dedicated fan base.

On Sunday, Jan. 25, from 2 to 5 p.m., in the dining facility located within the Rutgers–Camden Campus Center, those dedicated fans will gather for readings, commentary, and a light reception. “I Remember Nick,” sponsored by the Rutgers–Camden Department of English, has been organized by the Nick Virgilio Haiku Association to honor the 20th anniversary of the Camden poet’s passing. The event will also serve as an opportunity to create a video archive of those who knew Virgilio personally, like his priest, and those who knew his work, like noted haiku scholar Raffael DeGruttola of Boston.

According to Robin Palley, a board member of the association, next Sunday’s event will serve as fodder for both a potential play and a documentary about the Camden haiku poet.

“Virgilio has been credited as the father of the American haiku…We want to make sure that what he generated is not lost,” she says.

Rutgers–Camden continues to champion Virgilio’s work: a collection of more than 20,000 haiku was donated by the Virgilio estate to the campus in 1999. Several courses on the craft and Virgilio’s significant contribution to it have also been taught at Rutgers–Camden.

Tickets to “I Remember Nick” cost $10.  To reserve tickets or for more information, call (856) 365-0136 or email Nick.Virgilio.Haiku@gmail.com. The Campus Center is located on Third Street, between Cooper Street and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge on the Rutgers–Camden Campus.

- 30 -