Obviously a Jodie Foster fan, Watkins dedicates this pamphlet to “Foster on her 40th.” The haiku gives homage to the actress, for it is based on a film in which she starred called “The Little Girl Who Lived Down the Lane,” an adaptation of Laird Koening’s 1974 novel. Having never seen the film, nor read the book, the haiku seemed eerie and suspenseful. I felt a little scared too. Even Watkins’ descriptive passage of why he chose this subject matter was educational. Being a huge fan of Sonic Youth myself, I never knew their album “A Thousand Leaves” was named from the same film and novel. Many interesting patterns recur throughout the haiku, like the number 13, which establishes a creepy scene. I do however have a problem with Watkins using that tired term of “girl power” to relate to our current era. The way I see it, girls are always powerful – don’t ever forget it. (LR)
poetry, 6 pages, R.W. Watkins, $1.50, Haiku Canada Archives,67 Court Street, Aylmer QC, J9H 4M1