Contemprary Tanka Poet Mariko Kitakubo.
お知らせ
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On Friday, November 17, I participated in a poetry reading event at Garigari, a live bar in Ikenoue, Tokyo. Ms. Joy Waller, the co-organizer of the event, also offered me the opportunity to be a performer at the launch party for the latest issue of Tokyo Poetry Journal, a poetry magazine for which she serves as Co-Editor. It was a great honor, and I am very grateful. Although it was the first time for me to submit my work to the journal, my dream of being published in the journal also came true. Thank you very much to the editors for featuring my English tanka works. |
Monday, November 20, 2023
I am pleased to report that my work has been published in TSA Ribbons Fall 2023 Vol19 No.3.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Tanka Editor Ms. Susan Weaver for selecting my sequence from the many works of many members.
I would also like to thank Tanka Hangout Editor Mr. Ken Slaughter.
Thank you very much.
The Past
Mariko Kitakubo, Tokyo, Japan
under
the bloody red sky
the agony
of hibakusha*
...still there
darker and darker
her shadow each summer
as August approaches
my friend was a spy
for the Allies
the hidden past
growing heavier
did her information
help a Fatman**
and a Little Boy?
at midnight
of Hiroshima Day
and Nagasaki Day
the secret box of feelings
opens by itself
* "Hibakusha, the survivors of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, suffered radiation sickness, the death of family and friends, and discrimination, as rumors spread that the effects of radiation exposure might be contagious.
** "Fat Man" and "Little Boy" were Manhattan Project code-names for the two different types of atomic bombs.
Ribbons - Fall 2023 page 69
Tanka Hangout: Tribute Poems
the blind poet
spoke in English or French,
played koto
I miss you, grandma...
her infinite field of view
Mariko Kitakubo, Tokyo, Japan
...Some poets pay homage to family members. Mariko Kitakubo recalls her grandmother, who was a "blind poet." She played the koto, a traditional Japanese zither. ... by -Ken Slaughter
Ribbons - Fall 2023 page 13
Move to "Tanka Society of America"
Monday, November 13, 2023
Saturday, October 14, 2023
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On October 8, 2023, I was delighted to have been invited to participate in a poetry reading event organized by NVHA at the Nick Virgilio Writers House in Camden, NJ. Alongside Ms. Deborah P Kolodji, I presented a selection of pieces from the Tan-Ku collection "DISTANCE" with percussion for approximately 20 minutes. It was an honor for me to have the opportunity to introduce the Tan-Ku collection to the poetry community on the East Coast of the United States. |
Monday, October 9, 2023
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I am in the United States to attend a reading event at Nick Virgilio Writers House in Camden, New Jersey on October 8th. Along with Ms. Deborah P Kolodji, I'll be one of the featured poets in the event. On my second day in the U.S. on October 4th, I received a wonderful suggestion from haiku poet Mr. Henry Brann to participate in an open mic reading at Kelly Writers House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. |
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Most of the attendees at the Kelly Writers House event were young university or graduate students. It was an honor to present a tanka reading in both Japanese and English. Some of them were even moved to tears as they heard Tanka for the first time. |
Saturday, October 7, 2023
I am excited to share that NVHA has invited me to be a featured poet at their upcoming reading event in Camden on October 8th.
It has been five years since my last reading performance, which was for the Spring 2018 rebuild event.
I am truly grateful for this opportunity to introduce Tan-Ku, a book I co-authored with Ms. Deborah P Kolodji.
*NVHA: Nick Virgilio Haiku Association
The event will be live-streamed from Instagram at @nickvirgiliowritershouse.
Thursday, September 21, 2023
My English tanka poem was published in the Tanka Society of America 2022 Members' Anthropology, "One Moment at a Time."
I express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Jim Chessing, the editor of the magazine, and to Ms. Kathabela Wilson for sending a copy via airmail to me.
you were
named after
Mother
unforgettable
blue Cosmos
Move to "Tanka Society of America"
Monday, August 28, 2023
Dear Susan Weaver, The Ribbons Editor, and Ken Slaughter, Tanka Hangout Editor.
Thank you very much for choosing my works from among many members' works.
Tanka Hangout: Compassion
her row veering off
the peasant woman plants
tward her crying child
- Issa (1763-1828)
fortitude
against the power.
the skinny frog
must be you, Issa ...
rooting for you
Selected Tanka
forgotten
the name of that slope ...
shadow tag
with my mother
when her smile was young
Move to "Tanka Society of America"
Monday, July 31, 2023
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Mr. Edward Levinson, a haiku poet, and a photographer, invited me to participate in an open mic reading of "Drunk Poets Tokyo." It is an event of a private poetry group hosted by Mr. Samm Bennett and Mr. Joy Waller. Mr. Levinson and I belong to the Japan PEN club, where we got to know each other. It was my first time taking part in this event, and it had been a while since my previous performance in Japan. I had a great time with the participants as we were all inspired by each other's expressions. Thank you very much. |
Saturday, July 22, 2023
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On July 11, 2023, the excellent painter Ms. Susan Dobey, whom I have known for a long time, invited me to her art gallery and gave a tanka reading performance for those who rarely have a chance to listen to tanka poetry. I was very happy to have the opportunity to perform Tan-Ku's reading from DISTANCE, which I co-authored with Ms. Deborah P Kolodji. For background music, Mr. Rick Wilson played an old Native American vertical flute in addition to my percussion. |
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From Tan-Ku Collection, " DISTANCE" In the Wind wild dogs can smell our wildness the traces of us in ruined cities a mockingbird learns a new song refugees it might be raining ashes across the sea across the border settled in time wings of planes wings of birds no doves waiting for a twig of olive shining green forgogtten ark new skies condors return from near-extinction |
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
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