Over the past few months, a lot of my work has been published, but I’ve been negligent in getting them posted. Breaking from my usual tradition of a separate post for each journal, I’m going to post all of them here in a single posting. Separate poems and journals are both divided by ***.
Redlights, Volume 15, No. 2, June 2019
.
a day will come
when we are the faces
in old picture albums
and no one left
to give us names
***
babcia’s borscht recipe
in faded black ink—
can you smell the beets
bubble and hear her
hum along
Ribbons Spring/Summer 2019: Volume 15, No. 2
.
PET scan . . .
all the dogs & cats
I ever knew & loved
romp in the tunnel
where I lie in stillness
***
Ribbons Spring/Summer 2019: Volume 15, No. 2
Tanka Café: Theme: What Matters [to You]
they say time
moves faster as we age
yet here I am
stealing an hour
to listen to the birds
***
cattails: The Official Journal of the United Haiku and Tanka Society, April 2019 Issue
.
late winter
the garden’s breath
shifts once more
***
one crow
and a clutch of chickadees
at the birdfeeder —
that simple need
to fit in someplace
***
Frogpond 42.2 * 2019
.
graveside—
white blossoms
lighten the darkness
***
Blithe Spirit 29.2, 2019
.
evening meditation
fireflies flit here
& there
& there
***
.
sacred sites
finding myself praying
in another language
.
***
.
the soft rustle
of quivering aspen leaves
over and over
I replay the words
I might have said
.
***
.
a feeling of you
standing behind me …
when I turn around,
only shadow
only silence
.
***
.
Moonbathing 20 Spring/Summer 2019
.
sea glass
a distant story
told in waves
I long
to read
.
***
.
The Heron’s Nest, Volume XXI, Number 2: June 2019
.
a single brass button—
I try to remember
his voice
***
.
Eucalypt Issue 26, 2019
.
without warning
a leaf rises in the wind
then tumbles—
our need for forgiveness
so unexpected, too
.
(Eucalypt, The Distinctive Scribblings Awards)
***
.
Gusts, Contemporary Tanka No. 29, Spring/Summer 2019
.
faint notes
of a harpsichord
playing Bach –
why is it you always wait
for one wrong note
***
you pour a second cup
of pale moon tea
in a teashop in Prague
. . . I wonder what story
the leaves might tell
***
walking alone
past the tide’s own
push and pull –
I turn to see my footprints
wash away
***
Kokako 30, 2019
.
abbey ruins
voices of evensong
nowhere everywhere
***
old burying ground
so many grave markers
buried too
***
in the coffee shop
a glimpse of someone
who looks just like you—
I quickly check my face
in a mirror
***
dark storm clouds
dissolve in sunlight
and shift again—
your changing moods
just as quick
***
All of these pieces are lovely, Mary. Congratulations on having them all published. 🙂 — Suzanne
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My thanks, dear Suzanne. ❤
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Hi, Mary. Popping over from Michelle’s blog to read more of your wonderful poetry! Sharing and following your blog. Congratulations!
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Thank you, Bette. How lovely to have you here! 🕊🌸
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I hope this goes through. My third attempt. Word Press keeps asking for a new password and I’m about at my wits end.
However, your poetry is worth trying to comment on again and again. The beauty and the depth of it. It makes me feel very connected, Mary.
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Mary Jo, what a beautiful thing to say. It’s a wonderful feeling to know my work connects with a reader. You’ve left many kind comments in the past, and they are always dearly appreciated. ❤
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Your haiku poetry and tanka’s are awesome and so thought-provoking, touching simple yet profound trying to learn how to do haikus when I was in honors English in high school and I have a bunch of them that I’ve done over the years turn after reading your collections that you recently printed, you inspired me to want to print some of my most favorite ones.
There’s a big congratulations to all of your publishing send the recent books that you were in as well. If you have any pointers on how I could submit some of my work to any of the Publications that you’ve the publishing, I would love to hear what you have to say. Once again congratulations and I look forward to reading more on your blog and of your inspirational words.
Paulette Le Pore Motzko
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You might want to explore a website such as this: http://www.graceguts.com It is edited by Michael Dylan Welch, who is a very important person in both the haiku and tanka world. The best thing really is to read and read and read and then write, write, write. You will learn to self-edit and build the skills you wish. If there is a local haiku group near you, join it and get involved. 🙂
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Thank you so much for joining TotallyInspiredMind my most popular web blog
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Beautiful work, Mary. I’d written before but had a problem with the site. There is so much to praise here, to steep oneself in. I’ll need to come back many more times. Thank you.
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Word Press has issues. Sometimes I find it hard to sign in myself on my blog! Thank you for your perseverance. 🙂
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Reblogged this on BOOK CHAT and commented:
I’d like to share some of the beautiful poetry of Mary Kendall. Please check out her blog for more of her poems.
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Thank you, Michelle! ❤
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So much beauty! Thank you, Mary
Sent from my iPad Joan Leotta Author, Story performer http://Www.joanleotta.wordpress.com
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Thanks, Joan. I hope you are doing well. 🕊🌸
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Thanks so much, Joan. 🙂
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I wish I had read this post before the other I commented on! My comments very much came to my reading all these fine poems. I will read them again and pause more with each one.
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You are too kind. I’m always glad to know you’ve stopped by to read some of the poems. Hope you are well. 🕊🌸
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Mary– I so love your work. Your words/thoughts/images move me–and in so few words convey so much meaning. Thank you. –Gale
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Dear Gale, you are always and will be a dear friend. I’m delighted whenever you stop by. 🕊🦋🌸
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