Contemprary Tanka Poet Mariko Kitakubo.
お知らせ
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On July 14, I participated in the Thursday Poetry Zoom Meeting hosted by Kathabela Wilson from Kassel, Germany, where I have been staying for a while. Although it was only for a short time, I read my English tanka poems and was inspired by other participants' creative works and Mr. Rick Wilson's performance on the transverse flute, Nahr. It was a precious and fruitful time. Thank you very much. |
Friday, July 15, 2022
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Starting at 7 p.m. on July 12, I present a Japanese-English-German tanka reading in Lübeck, Germany. It was my first visit to Lübeck, and I was very honored to have the opportunity. I would like to thank Ms. Hannah Rau, a poetry teacher and an artist, Ms. Heike Jurzik, a translator, and Ms. Karen MahaShakti Gärtner, a poet, for their efforts in making this event possible. |
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
On July 12, an online poetry journal "Scarlet Dragonfly Journal" published "Forest Bathing." It is a set of English tanka & haiku I created together with Ms. Debora P. Kolodji, my best friend haiku poet.
My sincere thanks to the editor, Ms. Kathleen Trocmet.
https://scarletdragonflyjournal.wordpress.com/.../forest-bathing/
Forest Bathing
uphill path
I slow down to breathe
the pine scent (D)
she perches
at the edge of
my straw hat
a butterfly’s siesta
in emerald breeze (M)
— Deborah P Kolodji / Mariko Kitakubo
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
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I had an opportunity to give my bilingual tanka reading performance overseas for the first time since the fall of 2019. Ms. Anna Maris, a Swedish poet I met at the British Haiku Society event in St. Albans, UK, three years ago, invited me to this creators' event in Tranas, Sweden. |
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Starting at 17:45 p.m. on July 7 (local time), I presented a reading performance of my previously-created and newly-created Japanese and English tanka poems for 30 minutes. The sensitive audience listened to my reading performance with tears in their eyes. I was glad that everyone enjoyed my presentation. After my presentation, we had free-talk time with the audience. It was a heartwarming time, and I enjoyed communicating with them. |
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After the event, I received a request to give another presentation to those who missed my performance. On July 8, I presented my reading performance again at a live music club after dinner. It was a grateful offer, and I did my best to give a Japanese-English tanka poem reading. |
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I am very honored that more than 100 people came to the event. |
Thursday, July 7, 2022
"failed haiku" a journal of English Senryu posted two pieces of linked verse I created together with Ms. Debora P. Kolodji, my best friend haiku poet.
My sincere thanks to the editor, Mr. Bryan Rickert.
failed haiku - a journal of English Senryu website.
failed haiku Volume 7, Issue79
Hanging Overhead
in the heat
of all this anger
an umbrella (D)
round shade
makes me calm
even if
nuclear light can
penetrate this thin film (M)
Deborah P Kolodji/Mariko Kitakubo
Ebb and Flow
dreaming to return
to ancestral seas
the pendulum
keeps moving
possible impossible... (M)
Foucault thoughts
swing in all directions
the earth turns (D)
Mariko Kitakubo and Deborah P Kolodji
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
"red lights", an American tanka journal, the editor and publisher Ms. Marilyn Hazelton, posted my tanka sequence in its Vol.18, No.2 June 2022.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Marilyn. Thank you very much.
『Angel Talk』
Mariko Kitakubo
Grandma,
will you disappear, he asks,
someday?
yes, but let me stay with you
little bit more, I answer
he is 5
his pure and simple
question ...
as if a petal is dancing
and dancing
I think about
the silhouette
of death -
yes, we should go
without knowing when
I will
miss you
after my death
looking on this world
from afar
grandson
don't hurry please,
be in the shining mist
there are still wings
on your back
Monday, July 4, 2022
let's pray
for everyone...
the border
is invisible
to the universe
Thursday, June 30, 2022
On June 24, an online poetry journal "Scarlet Dragonfly Journal" published "Sachet." It is an English linked verse with Ms. Sigrid Saradunn, Ms. Kath Abela Wilson, Ms. Taura Scott, Ms. Jackie Chou, and myself.
My sincere thanks to the editor, Ms. Kathleen Trocmet.
https://scarletdragonflyjournal.wordpress.com/.../sachet/
Sachet
sunrise wedding
by the sea
wisteria bouquets
for bride and attendants
mother weeps at the sight
— Sigrid Saradunn, USA
does wisteria
weep as it droops
lavender tears
I catch in my hand
for my faraway friend
— Kath Abela Wilson, USA
draping
over the archway
wisteria blossoms
caress my face
as I walk by
— Taura Scott, USA
again and again
the same walk just to feel
wisteria
it’s silky touch its sachet
stays in my heart
— Kath Abela Wilson, USA
by the cloister
my mother was young
violet strands
how many springs ago
wisteria
— Mariko Kitakubo, Japan
strolling through
a wisteria trellis
alone . . .
my mind somewhere
beyond my own reach
— Jackie Chou, USA
Monday, June 27, 2022
On June 23, a poetry video journal "Frameless Sky" published "Stormy."
It is an English tanka & haiku sequence I created together with Ms. Deborah P Kolodji, my best friend haiku poet.
My sincere thanks to the editor, Ms. Chrissi Villa.
Stormy
spring snow
or petals of sakura
falling falling
like ashes
in Ukraine (M)
trains going west
a child’s stuffed bear
stares out the window (D)
whose uniform. . .
a sunflower sprout
comes out
of the camouflage
pocket (M)
the caws of crows
footage of survivors
underground (D)
searching for
better days...
repeated invasions
in our layered
past (M)
petal storm
is there a chance
for peace? (D)
— by Deborah P Kolodji, USA / Mariko Kitakubo, Japan
Friday, June 24, 2022
On June 23, an online poetry journal "Scarlet Dragonfly Journal" published "Under the Sun." It is an English tanka & haiku sequence I created together with Ms. Debora P. Kolodji, my best friend haiku poet.
My sincere thanks to the editor, Ms. Kathleen Trocmet.
https://scarletdragonflyjournal.wordpress.com/.../under-the-sun/
Under the Sun
early heat wave
the shade tree not yet
leafed out (D)
road mirage,
the wait for thunder–
ordering
a scoop of pistachio
ice cream (M)
earth baked
by relentless sun
my wide-brimmed hat (D)
high tide
tomorrow always
comes
the shiny edge
of the field of vision (M)
aloe vera
the cool rub down after
of a heated argument (D)
the thorns
were young green
never-ending
vacation
in Mallorca (M)
— by Deborah P Kolodji, USA / Mariko Kitakubo, Japan
Thursday, June 23, 2022
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