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
Yes, so many go through it. I’m touched by your comments, Marion. 💛
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
Thanks for sharing this story, Suzanne. 💛
Oh, that is so sad Mary
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.