Mindful Writing Challenge – day 19

the morning grows colder by the hour & goose bumps appear
I search out some winter clothes to wear this midsummer's day


Find out more about the January Mindful Writing Challenge here.

Mindful Writing Challenge – day 10

a man leading his child along on a white pony in the morning sunlight


Find out more about the January Mindful Writing Challenge here.

O, Christmas Tree . . .

My heartfelt thanks to all this year in the world of haiku who have supported me over the past 12 months. Sending happy Christmas thoughts your way today!

To my readers, those that have left comments, and the poets that I've written alongside: Thank you!

To the editors that have published my work, the judges that have chosen my poetry, and those in the community that have sent me gifts through our haiku inspired friendships: Thank you!

Here's our little living Christmas tree 2012

May we all remember moving forward into a New Year that haiku is not a mountain to climb, but a bed to relax in.

My wish for you is that you'll be able to write the way you hear the poetry in your heart.

Christmas morning

 amongst the pine needles

a spider's gift

Blessings!
Kirsten x

Day of the Dead #1: A photo-haiga with Cara Holman

Haiku by Cara Holman / Image by Kirsten Cliff (click on image to enlarge)

See Margaret Dornaus' full Day of the Dead post on her blog Haiku-doodle.

Dream Catcher: A Rengay With Cara Holman

Dream Catcher

Kirsten Cliff & Cara Holman

crosswinds

struggling not to recall

last night's dream

the morning sky

filled with rain

drifting fog

where does the dream end

and I begin

dream catcher

I tell myself what

I want to believe

across dandelioned fields

a hawk's shadow

river reeds

weaving daydreams

into stories

Published in 'fox dreams' - a Yay Words! project by Aubrie Cox

Simply Haiku, Simply Tanka, Simply Svetlana

When I first heard the news that Svetlana Marisova was to be the new tanka editor at Simply Haiku it gave me courage; I knew I should try sending some of my work there for the first time.

Unfortunately, our dear Svetlana passed away before she could fully embrace this role. In honour of her, I sent in my submission anyway, knowing that she wouldn't be there to receive it.

I'm grateful that two of my tanka were chosen in the end to be part of this latest issue of Simply Haiku, which is in loving memory of Svetlana. You can read an in depth piece on her and her poetry by Robert D. Wilson here.

          on the morning 

          of her death, I sit

          searching

          for the small differences

          between these wild finches

          why couldn't I

          have let myself love her?

          the sun's warmth

          as I sit in the graveyard

          this spring morning




A posthumous book, Be Still and Know: a journey through love in Japanese short form poetry, by Svetlana Marisova, and her dear friend Ted van Zutphen, is out on-line now. You can read it free here. Print copies with be available for purchase soon.

Having been given the honour of reading a preview of the book, I can say that I've never read or seen anything like it before. It's a beautiful conversation between two haiku poets across the page, across time zones, across seasons, genders, age groups... It works extremely well as their voices balance and blend throughout the book.

I look forward to holding a copy in my hands very soon and savouring the unique voices of these two haijin.

Tanka and photograph © Kirsten Cliff

Tanka appeared in Simply Haiku (Autumn/Winter 2011) here

Book cover © Ted van Zutphen