The last plum blossom, etc. (a mix of tanka and haiku)

The lovely New Zealand journal, Kokaku, published two haiku and two tanka in their fall issue: Kokaku #37, 2022.

Kokaku #37,  2022

evening web –
the last plum blossom
caught fast

       ***

corner flower shop –
if only our lives were
arranged so well

       ***

quick twists and turns
of rutting deer ~
another season passes
adrift in colours
of passion and promise

       ***

This tanka appeared on my blog last month but was from this issue (37):

a tiny fawn dead
by the side of the road –
I close my eyes & imagine
all those children lost
in Ukraine strikes

 

       ***

 

Two New Senryu…

hats 3

 

I had two senryu published in the March, 2016, issue 18 of Prune Juice, Journal of Senryu, Kyoka, Haibun & Haiga, edited by Steve Hodge. It’s a real honor to be published in this excellent  journal.

 

Screen Shot 2016-03-15 at 11.47.26 PM

 

 

 

The first is dedicated to my friend, Gale, who underwent brain surgery last fall. She handled it with such grace and her usual humor. She has recovered and is doing really well. This poem is for her:

 

scalp stapled shut–
your laughter as you
try on bright new hats

 

hats 2

 

Senryu have a human element to them. They are often thought of as being humorous, but that is not always the case. They can be very serious as in the next poem. This poem is a one line senryu. It is dedicated to someone dear to me who is undergoing cancer treatment.

 

your tumor growing        we worry about the snow

 

 

snow forest 1

 

I hope you will explore all the writers in this issue of Prune Juice:  https://prunejuice.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/pj-issue-18-march-1603.pdf

 

Haiga #3 (a senryu)

This is #3 of the three photo haiga published in the March issue of faileD haikU, a Journal of English Senryu, Volume 1, Issue 3, edited by Michael Rehling. A bit of nursery rhyme whimsy in this one.

daydreamer 1

 

divider purple

 

Note: this beautiful photo is in the public domain free use category. The senryu is by Mary Kendall.