THE HAIBUN GALLERY: February 5, 2026 K. Ramesh - Guest Editor
- Kala Ramesh
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
editors on haikuKATHA: Shalini Pattabiraman, Vidya Shankar, Firdaus Parvez and Kala Ramesh
Guest Editor: K. Ramesh
Featured Poet: John Zheng
A Thursday Feature February 5, 2026
Mid October in the Smoky Mountains
by John Zheng
We drive to see the fall foliage, but the cascades of color look as dull as a small town’s faded murals. At an overlook, an old couple tell us that it’s because there hasn’t been enough rain during the year. Then, for two days, thunderstorms and lightning confine us to the resort. We sit in balcony chairs, watch dark clouds somersaulting. When the storms slacken, we go to see the Harrisburg Covered Bridge. Each of its cut-out windows frames the same view: lines of rain and wisps of mist slanting in wind. black sky— hiding in a white wooden church
On the day of departure, blue sky returns. We wind west on the Little River George Road, from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove. Along the way, we stop to shoot pictures of everything we can: a watermill churning by a creek, a fenced historic graveyard, a replica of a pioneer log cabin. Above the muddy river, red, gold, yellow, and orange sparkle in the morning sunshine.
photo after photo the creek gurgling all night long John Zheng
Haibun appeared in CHO 16
Comments
I have always enjoyed reading travelogues, and the first time I came across The Narrow Road to the Deep North, it became my constant companion. The book went with me wherever I went, partly because I always carried a shoulder bag.
Before I became familiar with Japanese forms of literature, I was deeply interested in British and American literature, especially travel writing. I enjoyed reading the travel writings of D. H. Lawrence, John Muir, John Steinbeck, Mark Twain, Eric Newby, Jack Kerouac, and Pico Iyer, to name a few.
Their books opened my mind, and I travelled with them to small towns and deserts. I was fascinated by the names of these places and often imagined myself being there.
This week, the prompt is: Write a haibun about your travel experience and take your readers along with you. Let them see the bend of a road, the small church in a village, the busy market and a snow-capped mountain.
***
Thanks, Ramesh.
I'm sure this month is going to be interesting for our members.
_kala
The Haibun Gallery continues as is.
We will be having editors and prompts, and your sharing …
#2
Echo
Heavy footsteps on narrow wooden stairs. The floor creaks. The end has come of the hardest journey, one that lasted many years. A journey to the attic, to childhood dreams...
old globe
covered in dust
all the journeys
Artur Zielinski/Poland
#1
Colca Canyon
The volcanos, Chachani, El Misti and Pitchu Pitchu are barely visible through the fog. We leave Arequipa, 3000 metres above sea level. Before the day’s end our vehicle will climb to 5000 metres. Our guide Antoinette insists we buy coca leaves and lemon sweets at the general store to help with altitude sickness. We start munching them with a small amount of cereal ash, a bitter substance. It’s not long before my mouth and tongue are numb.
shallow breath
stopping for tea
and souvenirs
There is still another 1000 metres to climb. The grey plains are barren except for a low grass that grows in rings. White lichen coats the rocks. Scarps are…
Thank you for taking the role, K. Ramesh.
#2 Revised
With the input of Lorraine Haig. Massively thankful.
Raging Myagdi River*
It is a late monsoon month. I embark on a trip to my native village in a bus. I know the bus goes only as far as the capital town of my district. Then I have to walk on the muddy road. There is a section often prone to landslides during the monsoon. Unfortunately, this time I have to walk across one. It's steep and the trail is dangerous. I have only two options -- to hike up the mountain and go around the landslide, which would take hours; or walk across the rocky surface. Below me the snow-fed river, with it's whirlpool is still high and…
Nice to have you here as guest editor, K Ramesh Sir!!