By BEVERLY SPRINGER

Special to The Press

Deprivations attributable to COVID-19 have fostered the need to develop new approaches to almost all realms of human activity.

The writers’ group that met weekly at Allentown’s Lehigh Valley Active Life Center responded to COVID restrictions by venturing into the art of Haiku poetry.

Their efforts have blossomed into a 30-page book titled “Haiku and the Zen of Covid.”

The group, founded by memoir writer Marcia Felkay, also includes Patricia Arnold, Maria Azar, Annie Marans, Jane Maulfair, Joan O’Donnell, Karla Libby Reidinger and Marianne Ruch.

Before COVID-19, the participants gathered regularly to share, analyze and critique their compositions in a wide range of genres. The onslaught of COVID-19 ended face-to-face interactions and they began connecting via email.

“We kept in touch with each other and decorated our time writing Haiku,” Maulfair explained.

Because their original sessions had taken place in Lehigh Valley Active Life Center’s pool room, they christened themselves the “Damsels of the Virtual Pool Table.”

Haiku poetry is a Japanese art form. Each poem makes use of only 17 syllables. The first and third lines consist of five syllables; the middle line incorporates seven.

As described by Reidinger, “Haiku is a highly refined and conscious art form that often evokes an emotion.”

Such stripped down poetic expression requires precise focus and language mastery.

In her poem “On Writing Haiku” Arnold ironically captures one of the difficulties often experienced by Haiku poets:

No fives or sevens Come to mind -

just four, six, eight

Syllables - that is

Each writer provides unique insights on the COVID-19 experience, and each, unwittingly perhaps, opens a window to her personality and world view.

The book also provides background information on the authors in addition to photos relating to the various poems. By creating Haiku poems, each Damsel of the Virtual Pool Table has voiced her feelings and frustrations in the time of COVID-19.

Organizing and publishing their works is an act of outreach and gratitude.

Readers may find comfort knowing the COVID-induced sense of isolation is a feeling shared by others. Additionally, the book contains poems offering sparkling views of the natural world and ironic commentary on relationships.

To thank the Lehigh Valley Active Life Center, the group is donating all proceeds from the sale of the books to the center.

To order a copy of “Haiku and the Zen of Covid,” call 610-437-3700 or send a $10 check to LVAL, 1633 W. Elm St., Allentown, PA 18102.