Innovative Poetic World of Lenard D. Moore

Abstract

Lenard Duane Moore is lesser known haiku poets up to date. However, his poetic perspective as well as his composition of haiku has been neglected although Moore’s various attempts are significant. Moreover, Moore’s haiku reflects stark differences from African American writers. Moore is originally from Jacksonville, North Carolina and his poetry shows how he has been intimately connected to the land and society in which he has lived. This experience and memory became the background of his haiku. One might argue that composing haiku in English has limits, however, the point is how Moore composed haiku, what kind of elements does Moore put emphasis on haiku and its significance should be considered. Unlike other American haiku poets, Moore’s attempt to write “un-American” is evident in all his works.