Cosmic Lens

by Naia

Copyright © 2005, Naia

The name Naia is Greek for "Flowing" and, for the poet, symbolizes the state of mind when poetry or painting transforms from inspiration to expression. Like many haiku poets, Naia became interested in the genre while the Shiki Internet Haiku Salon flourished, one of the first email lists of its kind. Since that time she has also written other forms of Asian-rooted poetry, such as tanka and haibun, as well as cinquain and free verse. Her watercolor paintings are referred to as "haiga" when combined with a haiku. Characteristic of haiga is the synergistic relationship between painting and haiku, such that either stands alone but together they create deeper levels of meaning and scope, richness and fullness.

A third generation native Californian, Naia was raised in a simple country home in the Sacramento farm valley and attended college at California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo. She lives in sunny Southern California with her feline companion, Poppy. To view more of Naia's work, please vistit her website: http://www.naia.ws/.