birds in a tree – by Corey D. Cook
one by one they drop to the ground – overripe fruit
What? – by Doug Hawley
Duke started hallucinating about a month before seeing a psychiatrist. At 7pm someone, perhaps himself, went flying off a cliff on a horse, but never landing. That was just the beginning. From that day on, each evening at the same time, he would experience what appeared to be a dream overlaying his reality. The next […]
A Poet’s Five Stages of Grief – by Shari Crane
Denial: Receive an email from the “Annual Ipecac Writing Competition.” Excitedly open the email. Entertain thoughts of winning. You sent them a good piece; it was revised more often than a realtor’s face. Imagine a publishing deal. Imagine handing in your two-week notice. Feel relieved about the prospect of never again staring (while trying not […]
The Pond Heron – by Chella Coutington
I can’t think of my cousin without seeing the Chinese Pond Heron. Its yellow bill tipped in black. During mating season gray feathers flecked with white turn red. Low-lying, he wades in brackish water, spears a glossy frog. Cracks him in half before swallowing. One leg tucked under his body, he holds position. Behind a […]
ECO ECHOES 8 – by Duane Locke
“Many things in the old days Made one popular among his peers: A sun tan, smoking cigarettes, slinging a yo-yo into the air, Underage whisky drinking, shaking hips in a hoop, Saying ‘Hubba hubba,’ shop-lifting in dime stores. Son, what makes one popular today?” “Dad, drug addiction.”
for the record – by Jane Blanchard
for the record watching you play baseball or golf or whatever does not count as a date in my book
What is Haiku and Does it Matter?
Across many haiku communities people argue about what haiku is. Some people write mostly haiku and attest that you need kigo (season words) or kireji (cutting words). Others believe that you must adhere to “5-7-5″—though most communities have abandoned this syllable count. And then there is senryu. As I understand, senryu is like haiku, except […]
5 Translations of the Frog Pond Haiku by Matsuo Bashō
Basho’s frog and pond haiku has been translated many times by many authors. Looking through some of these translations, I’ve found the following poems, which I consider my favorites. I did not look at the authors until after reading the poems, and Lo, some of these are my favorite authors too! (1) The old pond, […]
Read more 5 Translations of the Frog Pond Haiku by Matsuo Bashō
Haiku by Yosa Buson
Before the white chrysanthemum the scissors hesitate a moment. Translated by Robert Hass