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Writer's pictureShalini Pattabiraman

THE HAIBUN GALLERY 14 April — a Thursday feature

Updated: Apr 15, 2022

hosts: Shalini Pattabiraman & G. Akila

14th April 2022


Afternoon Garden

For the time being, well past noon, God, I ask that you above all leave me alone, that I might just sit here in the leaf shade, beside the wall with its swallow-thrown shadows and the easy, unmended thoughts time affords me: these solid forms of pots, flush with zinnias, and the sun patch fading where the grass snake glides unknotted.

a hollow tree the beginning of dusk

— Previously published in Anthology of Days (Backwoods Broadsides, No. 70, 2002)

Michael McClintock


Some additional links to his work:


A very interesting haibun by Michael McClintock features here, do give it a read.


We are in the middle of spring. Flowers fill the meadows and paths everywhere. The sun is glorious and abundant. Write a haibun that captures spring.


We are delighted to open the comment thread for you to share your unpublished haibun (within 300 words) to be considered for inclusion in haikuKATHA monthly journal.






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124 Comments


Firdaus Parvez
Firdaus Parvez
Apr 20, 2022

Wow beautiful! Each word so thoughtfully placed after another. Vivid, magical, inspiring!

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neena singh
neena singh
Apr 19, 2022

Edited Version thanks to Kala's suggestions.


Mindfulness


Spring is in the air, and in the garden, flowers. The pink roses on the gate trellis hang in abundant clusters and hordes of bees buzz around them. The dahlias—violet, yellow, red and lavender, bend their heads to hide in the leaves. The orange trumpet vine climbs the wall and its blossoms fill my eyes.


I sit on the cane swing.

Pigeons nest on the porch and squeakers can be heard over the breeze. The family of squirrels chittering, cavorting up and down the evergreen tree. The birdfeeder is almost empty and it's still early noon.

a grey feather

floats silently...

sunset years


I am still working on the haiku...feedback and suggestions…


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Firdaus Parvez
Firdaus Parvez
Apr 20, 2022
Replying to

Beautiful Neena. Loved the descriptions. I like the haiku too. Maybe: a grey feature finds the breeze sunset years Just a suggestion. I like your original though. :)

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neena singh
neena singh
Apr 19, 2022

Kala the mantra of restraint, not to overplay, not to exaggerate in haibun noted. Great advice.

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Robert Kingston
Apr 18, 2022

revision 1:1


News round


Mum was always first to rise. A stealth like shake on the shoulder would see the remaining sleepers continue without so much as a disturbed breath.


out sharp a brief cat lick sharpens the light


On time to hear the 6 a.m dock whistle, I weave through the pre and post war buildings, collect my round and make haste for the start.


barking dog I own the broken clock


Like most, my dog Max was a bitsa (mongrel). He would head off to search out anything that moved in the shadows. Always finding something, always being someone’s alarm call.


war mag I drag my feet through father’s youth


The papers…


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Robert Kingston
Apr 20, 2022
Replying to

Hi Kala,

Thank you once again for your time and for the suggested changes.

I did respond to your comment yesterday mentioning I would return. I removed the edits I had done based on what you had said. I did give careful consideration to combining all the prose and to making a haiku to go with it. I still have it in mind to do this as a separate poem. At this time though I’d hope to explore further the current format (subject to others kindness). Re the monoku; Re the “cat lick” I will give this more thought with your suggestion in mind, as this has local connotations and can form as a metaphor for a brief/quick wash (U…

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mona bedi
mona bedi
Apr 18, 2022

Revision #2 thanks Neena😊


Happy Hour


The night holds a special place in my heart. It is the best part of a 24 hour day. With the world cocooned in their safety vaults, I have the darkness to myself. backyard hammock I travel to the moon

and back


Revision with inputs from Shalini and Diana:


Happy Hour


The night holds a special place in my heart. It is the best part of a 24 hour day. With the world cocooned in their safety vaults, I have the darkness to myself. backyard my hammock travels  to the moon and back

Original:


Happy Hour The night holds a special place in my heart. It is the best part of a 24 hour day.…


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Robert Kingston
Apr 20, 2022
Replying to

I like your original Mona.

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