Research
Robert Spiess
At his request, I conducted this interview with Robert Spiess on April 25, 1988. At the appointed time I arrived at Bob’s small cottage with a small and very inexpensive cassette tape recorder. He had typed up a script from which we used to conduct the interview.
At the time I did not question Bob about the project. I was under the impression that he had been asked to do an interview by someone else and I believe he wanted to “practice” speaking into a tape recorder. Bob had little to no knowledge or experience with technology. His life was void of a computer, TV or any other type of audio/visual equipment. Rather, his modest cottage was filled with books, and with art work that was given to him over the years as gifts. The only technology in Bob’s life was a small radio that allowed him to listen to the local public radio stations.
Recently I found the old cassette tape of our interview session. After finding a cassette player it was possible to listen to this session again. Obviously the interview sounds scripted and amateur. This was the nature of the recording session. But after I listened to the recording two or three times I was convinced that haiku poets would appreciate hearing Bob’s views of haiku, and hearing Bob read his own haiku in his voice. To that end, I had the interview professionally cleaned up and converted to a digital format for posting on this website. I hope you will agree that this interview is enlightening and of historical value.
There are some that feel this interview should not have been posted, as evidenced by this excerpt of an email I received from Lee Gurga on May 11, 2008:
Speaking of his legacy, Bill Higginson pointed out to me that you have posted an interview with Bob from 1988. I listened to it and it caused me some concern. As you know, in addition to my considering Bob a friend, I am also his literary executor. I feel very strongly the desire to preserve the memory of his contributions to haiku as well as his nurturing of individual poets. It appears that the two of you are reading from prepared scripts. As a result, the recording sounds stilted and, well, amateurish, if you will forgive me for saying so. I am not sure it is a positive contribution to his legacy to have this available online. . . . I don't want to cause you any distress, but I hope you will seriously consider removing this interview from your website.
I was disappointed to receive this email, and in all due respect, I disagree strongly with Mr. Gurga and Mr Higginson’s sentiments. I believe that haiku poets are intelligent and sensitive folks who have the ability to sort out the merits of information available to them. Further, I reject the notion that certain individuals are anointing themselves as the information filter for haiku. In spite of this situation I continue to admire the dedication, work and contributions that Mr. Gurga and Mr. Higginson have committed to the haiku community. They are among the very best and they have earned my deepest respect and gratitude.
I invite you to listen to the interview and enjoy this small piece of haiku history. In spite of the scripted and amateur nature of the interview, I am confident that hearing Bob’s voice, views and poetry will give you additional insight into his life’s work and his contributions to the haiku community. Feel free to email me with your comments and suggestions: mark@hawkscry.com.
Mark Alan Osterhaus
02 June 2008