Where We Started & Where We’re Going
We founded Haikuists ten years ago by complete accident. In an attempt to meet and interview New York City’s self-starters and entrepreneurs, we brought our vintage typewriters and the FREE HAIKU concept to connect with passers-by on a Brooklyn street corner.
We booked our first event right there on the sidewalk. During our first official event, we booked our second. Soon our third was coming up. At that point, we knew we were onto something promising.
What we found was this: writing free poetry for people brings them immense joy. It's incredible how most people are willing to share a brief view into their world, and wait a few minutes for a complete stranger to encapsulate the moment with a powerful three-lined poem. Their reactions are always priceless–– laughter, tears, hugs––and further inspiration is never far behind: folks celebrate their poems by framing them, displaying them on their wall or mirror, or even having their haiku tattooed!
Fast forward ten years later: we’ve expanded to over thirty major cities, and have a roster of more than 150 poets, each equipped with vintage typewriters and ready to write personalized haiku poetry for guests at events. We’ve had the pleasure of writing at hundreds of events a year, and we can tell you with absolute confidence that haiku is for everyone and any occasion.
Thank you for joining us on this journey!
Meet the Haikuists
Our roster of incredible poets, each with a unique story and a passion for writing.
Erick Szentmiklosy
Erick is a co-founder of Haikuists who enjoys enabling people to be the best versions of themselves.
Leah Clancy
A poet, writer and artist. Since starting with Haikuists in 2016, she's written thousands of free haiku for people all over the world; and now, she's our booking manager too. Leah grew up in Buffalo, NY and is currently based in Los Angeles. Her dog's name is Artichoke.
Daniel Zaltsman
Originally from the former Soviet Union, and currently based in California, Daniel Zaltsman is one of the co-creators of Haikuists. He works at the intersection of art and tech and believes that everyone inherently has the capacity to create. And that it all starts with starting.
Michelle Nieweg
Prefers to use her time on earth making things with her hands, offering support to those who need it, and laying in the grass with her cat. She lives in Burbank, CA where she runs a business reading tarot cards and teaching yoga.
Jessica O'Brien
A poet and visual artist whose work has been recognized for its empathic portrayals of grief and grace. She's a graduate of the MFA writing program at California College of the Arts and her writing has been featured in the anthology Starting Lines, the literary journal 50 Haikus, Southbay Magazine, and elsewhere.
Fani Avramopoulou
A writer, artist, and educator from Baltimore. She currently lives in Philadelphia and studies at Temple University, where she's an MFA candidate in poetry.
Megan Mandrachio
A Salvadoran American story-teller typing on a yellow-typewriter in Brooklyn, New York.
Sahina Jerome
A first-generation Haitian-American poet who's been charming the world of poetry with The Haikuists since 2018. This cat-loving dancer, who is also a high school English teacher, recently traded the concrete jungle of NYC for San Diego's sunsets.
Allen Feldman
Always ready for a Haiku Duel. Will he prevail? Only one way to find out.
Angie Lee
A poet, project manager, and producer who is dedicated to building communities through art and storytelling. She loves to learn about the world through travel, conversations, and stories.
Paasha Motamedi
An Iranian-Indonesian-American artist born on Coronado Island and currently based in Los Angeles. With a diverse background and a multidisciplinary approach, Motamedi's artistic journey has been shaped by his experiences in poetry, cooking, music, and visual arts.
Noah Moss
Trial lawyer by day. Writer always. Dog dad. Curious to a fault.
Michael Lopez
A poet and nature lover from Topeka, Kansas. In 2004, he moved to San Francisco, California, where he became a restaurant industry professional. Michael holds a BA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University, and an MFA in Writing from the University of San Francisco.
Francesca Leader
A self-taught, Pushcart-nominated writer originally from Western Montana. Her fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in Wigleaf, Fictive Dream, Barren, the Leon Literary Review, JMWW, the Mom Egg Review, Bending Genres, Drunk Monkeys, Door Is a Jar, Literary Mama, the Sho Poetry Journal, and elsewhere. Learn more about her work at inabucketthemoon.wordpress.com.
Melissa Word
Melissa is an artist, dancer, writer and facilitator based in Atlanta, GA
Nicholas Warholak
NJ born and raised, always exploring music, writing and design in one way or another. If you want to add a melody to your haiku come find me.
Jason Brazil
A Texas native with a passion for words and world wisdom. His poetry expresses our universal human needs and desires, which have their root in nature and the seasons. He is the author of Body Constellations, a heart-centered guide to East Asian medicine.
Kay Kro
A full-time on-demand typewriter poet, and teaches creative unblocking and typewriter improvisation. They also host events cultivating community expression with their 16 typewriters. Kro authored Prayer Wheel, received their MA in linguistics (thesis in bilingual indigenous performance poetry) in 2016, and received a full scholarship to attend DePaul's Creative Writing MFA program (class of 2025).
Savannah Guenthner
A poet, historian, and film photographer born and raised in the South. She loves picking up hobbies and niche bits of information, bringing her curiosity to every new experience.
Michael Skib
A musician, an audio producer, and a jack of all trades content creator! He works in a vast range of musical styles, always seeking to highlight what makes an artist unique - to help them tell their story. He is inspired by the relationships between nature, humanity, and technology: how they intersect, and how we can achieve a sustainable balance between these forces.
Vanessa Golenia
A writer and current MFA student at the University of Houston. Her work has appeared in Longreads, The Rumpus, Mr Beller's Neighborhood, and bathroom stalls around the world. She currently serves as the Reviews and Interviews editor of Gulf Coast Journal.
Dylan Tran
A Chinese American poet based in Washington, DC, Dylan received a B.A. in writing seminars from Johns Hopkins University, and has received fellowships from Brooklyn Poets, Relegation Books, and DC Writers Room. His poems appear or are forthcoming in The Margins, The Mid-Atlantic Review, The Shore, and elsewhere. Outside of writing, Dylan's interests include public history, anime, and tennis.
Tom Kubik
I don't eat tacos in NYC and I don't eat pizza in LA.Things that are important to me: art, dancing, good people, intentionality, the great mystery. People have labeled me as: a photographer, writer, veteran, kind, present, thoughtful
Maddie Durbin
An artist, writer, and dancer living in Las Vegas. Maddie loves people, all things creative and imaginative, being in nature, and hanging out with her cat.
Erin Brophy
Writer. Re-writer. Thinker. Runner. Eater.
KL Landin
A professional artist in painting, drawing and photography. Furthering the practice of fine-art, she's incorporated writing through journal and prose. Based in Las Vegas, NV her work can be seen at regional and local exhibits.
Brian Calvert
The son of two bohemian artists, Brian revels in the opportunities that art provides for self-expression and mutual connection. After dancing for more than a decade, Brian was thrilled to connect with the Haikuists and expand his artistic forums to include poetry.
Alison Mandible
An occasional writer and instruction artist. She either always lies or always tells the truth, but you may only ask her one question.
Chloe Wong
Currently studying acupuncture and herbal medicine. Their love of poetry and the visual arts as a way to practice care has led them to further explore the intricacies and beauty of holistic medicine.
Sara Gomez
My story is just like yours. I was born on Earth. Fed by hand. Grown in sunlight. Indulgent by nature. Forced to work. & always writing. I'm interested in imagination and designing transportive art experiences on and off the internet.
Kamila Washington
A singer-songwriter, sound healer and certified Yoga Instructor. In 2019 she opened her virtual doors to her energy services at www.kamilahadiya.com. She loves horses, swimming and caring for nature.
Alison Tugwell
The Producer of Punspoken, the world’s first pun-and-spoken-word poetry show and Amazon #1 Bestselling Author of ‘Word Awakening: Stop Writer’s Block and Start Creating Impact Now.’
Nicholas "Quazzy" Herd
An author, educator, and wellness consultant. Since 2014 he has been leading wellness sessions including yoga, meditation, and community circles. In addition to his dedication to wellness, he is a father and a family oriented person.
Molly Gorelick
A Philadelphia-based writer pursuing an MFA in Poetry from Temple University.
Connor McInerney
Writer, dj, and red headed stranger. media wunderkind, social strategist, and erstwhile journalist.
Jalynn Harris
A writer and educator from Baltimore, MD
Seth Bodine
A poet living in Texas. He works as a journalist covering business and the economy. When he is isn't writing, he's probably reading a long fantasy book.
Sage Heqwabti
As an artist, I like to view life, nature, moments as my canvas. Having expressed my perspective through a variety of mediums, the language of poetry has become one of my favorites.
Alexandra Valdez
A perpetual wanderer, forever fueled by curiosity and a desire to connect the dots in the human tapestry through imaginative writing, creativity, humor and love.
Patrick Cody-Carrese
Has been with Haikuists since 2023, and has enjoyed connecting with people, however briefly, while writing them an original poem. Patrick is from Oakland, California, and loves to talk about all things Bay Area with folks as well!
Emi Smith
my typical poetic style is visceral & earnest still-life haiku. my non-writing hobbies include creating and listening to music (guitar, keys, singing), playing rugby, rock climbing, biking around dc, and doting on my doofus dog, ernie.
Kate Humphrey
A creative writer, poet, and visual artist based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Peter Hornung
Part Colombian and part American, identity has always been a tricky concept for me. Identifying so much with latin culture, but not looking the part made things confusing for me. I believe this in-between space, once embraced, helps us connect and empathize with all people. As a result from my journey into self awareness, I facilitate healing work in the form of understand energy and connection and I write and perform my own music.
Kaylen Ralph
A freelance writer and journalist who covers Chicago arts & culture. By day, she is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the West Town Chamber of Commerce, where she oversees the emergent gallery district’s West Town First Fridays program. She is the founder and moderator of the Ladies Who Lit, a multi-platform, events-focused book club celebrating writing by women. She is working on her first novel.
Angel Bautista
I am simply trying to bring out the best of everything I touch.
Jordan Colton
My fascination with comedy, fantasy, philosophy, human connection, and pondering our place within the Great Infinite truly lends a hand to the creative process. Every person I meet is an entire collection of experiences waiting to be unearthed. Alchemizing a conversation into a poem uniquely crafted by the depths of their honesty is a gift I am always delighted and honored to bestow.
Evan Sokolowski
A creator based in Toronto. I work in music, acting, writing and teaching, with a couple more jobs on the side.
Ezra Zhang
A queer Chinese American writer based in Brooklyn. A Best New Poets and Pushcart Prize nominee, they have attended workshops with Tin House, Cave Canem, DreamYard, and The Adroit Journal. They are an MFA candidate at New York University and received their BA in English at the University of Pennsylvania. Read their work in Ninth Letter, Redivider, Salt Hill Journal, and other journals.
Anna Feldman
A mother, musician and poet based in NJ. I have solo project and also make music with my husband Allen under the name Spirit Twin. We met at a haiku duel some years ago and the rest is history.
Tomás Riegos
Was introduced to the haiku form while training with Zen monks outside Kyoto. He fell in love and has become a life-long student of the practice, influencing how he writes for people at events and in his own work.
Carolyn Hersey
I've been writing and doing poetry since I was a kiddo. It's kind of my soul elixir :)
Michael Baruch
A poet and investment banker living in Brooklyn, New York. He holds an MFA in poetry from Columbia University.
Brett Bergstrom
A writer and creative technologist based in Chicago. He completed BSes in English and Economics at UNL in 2016, and received his MSJ in Media Innovation at Northwestern in 2018. He believes in the power of language and momentary experience to touch and transform lives -- and what better way to exercise both than to write haikus for strangers?
Kyle Huneau
A passionate songwriter, guitar teacher, and poet. He moved to Portland, OR in 2017 to pursue music and explore the Pacific Northwest. Kyle has a deep love for nature, reading, and bringing joy to others.
Simone Sullivan
An artist currently based in Los Angeles, CA. I host a series of poetry fundraisers for the Downtown Women's Center at Heavy Manners Library and most recently am going to start coaching girls basketball through the "Girls Play LA" program. My favorite writers are Eve Babits, Maya Angelou and Patti Smith.
Arella Reyes
An agent of creativity based in Las Vegas. Some of her main focuses are poetry, graphic design, and event coordinating! They loves to travel, meet new people, and are an open and friendly addition at any event.
Abraham Guevara
A Southern Colorado-based artist and poet, I specialize in 3D and 2D visual art. My artwork and written works advocate for a harmonious coexistence between nature and technology. This concept is brought to life through the use of biological anatomies, calculated lighting techniques, and geometric shapes in my creations.
Lejan Deocariza
A film and commercial production designer based in Los Angeles.
Seth Kopchu
When I'm not working in IT (and I'm sorry, but I've never heard of "Windows"), I'm usually creative writing for either video games, or, oddly enough, holiday decorations. I can write across genres, from loose comedy to heavy hitting narrative structures. And now poems too.
Zachary Lynch
A sworn enemy of the dark forces which lay siege upon the human heart, his haiku are the aegis shield which separates the world of the living from maws of the undead. He is your champion; he is your last hope; he is your hearth in an unyielding storm. Godspeed, traveler; make sure to pack a jacket.
Max Stossel
A nomadic NY LA just ask me, union square in NY never done it in LA
Rae Niwa
I am a dreamer, wanderer, reiki healer, philosopher, and human. Dedicated to the present moment through the articulation of feeling, living in the gaps between words and the space between sentences.
Emily Mothersbaugh
Currently lives in the DMV area working in tech sales. I love sharing my work (mostly paintings and writings) with others and enjoy creating for anyone with an idea! Introduce your brand
Rachel Dindy
A poet and dramatists based in Massachusetts. She holds and MFA in Playwriting from Goddard College and her work has been recognized for its humor and humanity. She is madly in love with the world and hopes to reflect this in all of her art.
Iain Watson
The director and founder of Reno's Spoken Views Poetry Collective. Watson has performed poetry for over 15 years and have shared stages with Derrick C. Brown, Brandon Leake and Michelle Myers. Iain also has lead poetry workshops for schools in Nevada and California and has written content for the Nevada Humanities.
Demyia Browning
Multi-disciplinary artist Demyia Browning has been a part of the Buffalo creative scene since 2019 after moving from Las Vegas, NV. Since their arrival, they have worked with the visual arts community via their role at WNY Book Arts, participated in local theatre productions, and can frequently be found performing original music at various venues around town.
Caroline Hayes
A writer and to-be psychologist living between LA and Philadelphia.
EJ Schwartz
A writer living in Richmond, VA. Her words have appeared in The New York Times, Barrelhouse, and Necessary Fiction, among others. Her debut novel, Before We Were Blue, about two best friends in treatment for their eating disorders, received the 2022 IPPY gold medal in Young Adult fiction.
Christoph Jenkins
An extraordinary haikuist and poetry business owner who teaches poets around the world how to create a career with their art.
Caroline Preziosi
A poet and artist living between Chicago, Baltimore, and Callicoon, NY.
Hannah Tokuno
An actor, model and creator based in the Bay Area. She is a big fan of fantasy and sci-fi novels. She is always happy to talk about plants, food and good books.
Christina Stock
A writer, musician, and poet based in Buffalo, NY. To cope with life's constant chaos, she aims for levity and whimsy—invoking the power of play and laughter on the page, on stage, and in her day-to-day life!
Samantha Wallen
A poet and writing guide who dares to believe poetry restores our connection to the precious, invisible essence at the heart of the living world. She has an M.F.A. from Naropa University’s Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics. Her work recently appeared in The Dark Mountain Project, American Haiku, and House of Haiku.
Sarah Pollock
A poet and artist living in North Carolina. Sarah loves meeting new people, drinking coffee, and learning new skills.