Suburban Haiku by Peyton Price

Author Peyton Price

Finds the amusing moments

In everyday life.

I thought about leaving that as my haiku review of the new book by Peyton Price, Suburban Haiku: Poetic Dispatches from Behind the Picket Fence, but this little book demands more praise.

I belly-laughed at the first verse. Was Peyton peeking through my windows in the morning? She certainly has my life as a mom in a mid-range neighborhood in a secondary city absolutely pegged. It’s as if she’s ridden a mile in my minivan, seen me underprepared for scout potlucks, and watched me get shut down at soccer practice by a ten year old. “The snacks for half are supposed to be orange slices.”

This is a short book of poetry, but almost every page is a precise reflexion on how we live now. The illustrations by Mike Lowery are simple and charming, and add a great atmosphere to the book.

Like the best humorists, Peyton Price holds up a mirror in which we see our own faces. She’s got that classic Erma Bombeck thing going, where if there’s a little edge to the humor, it’s self-directed–mostly.

Coffee, dogs, husbands, and Whole Foods–it’s all here seventeen syllables at a time. It’s a fun little book, and I see it making the perfect housewarming gift for either someone you like or are trying to warn.

Check out Peyton’s website at suburbanhaiku.com for more by Peyton and audio recordings of her newest works, like this one. Which has happened at my house four million times.