One of the finest journals around for Japanese short form poetry has been A Hundred Gourds. The editors announced several months ago that the June issue would be the last issue. This is a great loss, but there is an amazing amount of work editors do to make a journal of this caliber work so well. The tanka editor, Susan Constable, is one of the finest poets around, and her skill and advice as an editor is special. I know I have learned a great deal from her through our correspondence this past year. My thanks go to all the excellent editors of this journal. I am fortunate to have two tanka selected for this final issue of A Hundred Gourds. I will be posting them separately, one today and one tomorrow.
A Hundred Gourds 5:3 June 2016
A Poet in Time 
Oh, how sad, Mary. This is a tanka that should be shared as unfortunately it is an experience that many have had, so it’s great it has been featured in AHG.
marion
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Yes, so many go through it. I’m touched by your comments, Marion. 💛
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Thank you for sharing your sadness, Mary. I’ve not had the experience but my mother miscarried at seven months, two years before my birth. It was a heartrending time she used to speak about.years afterward. I’m so glad you healed. This is a beautiful piece. —- Suzanne
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Thanks for sharing this story, Suzanne. 💛
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Oh, that is so sad Mary
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Loss is very sad, isn’t it? I’m glad that after so many years I could finally write a poem about it. So many women share this loss. Thanks, Maureen, for leaving a comment. That means a lot to me.
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