Contemprary Tanka Poet Mariko Kitakubo.
お知らせ
 |
On July 31, from 6 pm PST (August 1, from 10 am JST), I was invited to the 11th-anniversary reading event of Shabda Press, an American publisher, and performed a Japanese-English tanka reading. I appreciate all the help and support for the publication of INDIGO in 2016. It was my 6th collection of tanka poems and was the first anthology published without self-financing. The participants in the event were all poets who have been deeply involved in the company's publications. Deep, meaningful, and powerful messages in their unique and original poems moved my soul. I am very honored by the offer to publish a new collection in 2023. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Ms. Chúc Mỹ Tuệ, the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Shabda Press. |
Please watch the video of the event!
1:04:00 Ms. Chúc Mỹ Tuệ's introduction about me
1:05:29 Japanese-English tanka reading (from INDIGO)
1:25:27 English haiku & tanka sequence with Ms. Deborah P Kolodji
Monday, August 1, 2022
July 31st, 18:00 PST (August 1st 10:00 JST), I will participate in Shabda Press 11th Anniversary Reading Event and present a reading.
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
Thank you so much, Ms. Autumn Noelle Hall for using my tanka for "Tanka Studio'' about Ukraine.
Tanka Studio: Ukraine
our smile
in the old frame
where are you?
empty beaches
in Ukraine
Move to "Tanka Society of America"
Saturday, July 23, 2022
Two sequences that Ms. Deborah P Kolodji and I composed have been published in the online poetry magazine "Dashboard Horus: A Bird's Eye View of the Universe".
My sincere thanks to the editor, Marie C Lecrivain.
Click here to view our sequences on "Dashboard Horus: A Bird's Eye View of the Universe" website.
Asakusa
by Deborah P Kolodji and Mariko Kitakubo
tourists pose
by the thunder gate
jinrika-sha (D)
cherry petals
were dancing
at Senso-ji
together in the photo
us with incense smoke (M)
red-faced in the wind
of a spring day
paper lantern (D)
a couple
of Nioh watches us
since we visited
sweet rain
of Asakusa (M)
my last package
of Matcha sweet treats
empty suit cases (D)
am I
mishearing?
happy liveliness
from that April
pale blue sky (M)
© 2022 Deborah P Kolodji & Mariko Kitakubo
Meiji Jingu
by Deborah P Kolodji & Mariko Kitakubo
sun on the water
an egret meditates
in the shrine garden (D)
making
shining circles
around us
like waterfowl,
our thankful prayer (M)
I write my heart
too soon for irises
in the inner garden (D)
the leaf
looks like a sword ...
SYOUBU iris
please don't bring us
another war (M)
crossing the bridge
I am lost
in the forest (D)
how many Torii
did I go thorough?
hopefully
the next gate
will be welcoming (M)
© 2022 Deborah P Kolodji & Mariko Kitakubo
Friday, July 22, 2022
 |
On July 19, 2022, I presented a tanka reading performance in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, for about one hour from 18:00. I was happy to provide an opportunity for those who usually study haiku and poetry to experience the unique language rhythm and kimono culture of Japan. I would like to thank everyone who came to the event despite the extreme heat of 40℃ during the daytime, which is rare even for the local area. |
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
 |
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
 |
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
 |
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. |
 |
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. |
 |
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. |
 |
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
Prev