THE HAIBUN GALLERY: 21st July — a Thursday Feature

Hosts: Firdaus Parvez and Kala Ramesh

21st July 2022

This month we'll be showcasing haibun written by our four editors! This week we have AKILA G., with us! Genealogy

Every night the river rippling under the bridge pulls me along the bank where trees kiss their reflections. In the middle of this river, a barren branch dares to break this seamless flow of narcissism. The more I indulge, the deeper it pulls me within.

It is a recurring dream in which, I soak in the syllables and caricature it across the pages of my manuscript in a blue fountain ink. The pen moving in the same manner as my daughter’s hands with oil pastels, rotund and pointed like Mother’s fingers kneading dough.

But then no one talks poetry at home. They don’t have such dreams either.

moonbow ...

they say

I have your eyes

(Published in Red River Book of Haibun Vol.1 edited by Steve Hodge and Paresh Tiwari in 2019)

What is it about Akila's writing? Every time I read her haibun or her haiku - I was struck by the honesty with which she portrays her characters. The perfect juxta between the prose and her haiku, each time.

Look at this haiku: moonbow ...

they say

I have your eyes Minimalism at its best.

Give us a good haibun, thought-provoking, something that tugs y.our heartstrings.

And we’ll do our bit – publish it in haikuKATHA – Issue 10, for you!

PLEASE NOTE:

1. Only two haibun per poet per prompt. Only one haibun in 24 hours.

2. Share your best-polished pieces.

3. Please do not post something in a hurry or something you have just written. Let it simmer for a while.

4. When poets give suggestions and if you agree to them - post your final edited version on top of your original version.

5. Don't forget to give feedback on others' poems.

We are delighted to open the comment thread for you to share your unpublished haibun (within 300 words) to be considered for inclusion in the haikuKATHA monthly journal.