THE HAIBUN GALLERY: January 8, 2026. Shloka Shankar - Guest Editor
- Kala Ramesh
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
editors on haikuKATHA: Shalini Pattabiraman, Vidya Shankar, Firdaus Parvez and Kala Ramesh
Lorraine Haig has stepped down from being a mentor for this forum. Triveni Haikai India and The Haibun Gallery are grateful for her exceptional feedback and responses over the last few years.
Guest Editor: Shloka Shanker
Featured Poet: Joshua St. Claire
A Thursday Feature
January 8, 2026
Pease Say “Present” When I Call Your Name
Joshua St. Claire
Ashlyn
Ashton
Braxton
Brooklyn
Caitlyn with a c
Creston
Cresslyn
Eastton with two t’s
Eeston with two e’s
Evelyn
Jazlyn
Kaitlyn with a k
K8lyn with an 8
Kingston
Lynton
Packston with a k—sorry—with a ck
Pakston with just a k
Paxton with an x
Qaitlyn with a q
Quinnlyn
Quenton
Quinton
Remington with an i
Rem‽ngton with an exclamation point—sorry—an interrobang
Rem!ngton with an exclamation point
Southeaston
Tonlyn
Tracelyn
Trenton with just an o
Trentön with an o with an umlaut
Westlyn
Weston
Zayton with a just a z
and double-z Zzayton
mock orange blossoms
keeping up
the Joneses
— The Other Bunny, June 10, 2024
Commentary:
This haibun by Joshua St. Claire casts a comical light on how keeping up with the Joneses can sometimes border on the ludicrous. The senryu holds the key to understanding our tendency to keep up appearances and chase every trend that comes along—but at what cost? Can you imagine someone in real life using an interrobang in the spelling of their name? Or, for that matter, a numeral? And why stop there?
Prompt:
Think of the role of social media and the impact of influencers on the younger generation. Write a haibun inspired by meme culture, doomscrolling, or the absurdity of reels. What writing style will you employ to best suit the content?
***
Another excellent haibun, and I'm positive all our members are going to enjoy this haibun thoroughly. Thank you, Shloka, for sharing this piece with us. Nice challenge.
And, thank you for being with us through this month!
_kala
The Haibun Gallery continues as is.
We will be having editors and prompts, and your sharing …
#1
Melting Point
What do you mean, you missed the post? ◌ It was clearly there for all to see. ◌ Life just got in your way. ◌ Stop being so unreasonable. ◌ Carving my letters in snow has a certain charm wouldn’t you say? ◌ What’s that? ≈◊◊
Snow unbecoming fills the skyline…I feel you aren’t spending enough time on my muse… ҉҈ ** *shaken again
a snow globe’s tilt ***
within my palm
Joanna Ashwell
UK
Feedback welcome
Beech Path
A walk through the beech forest. Towering, naked branches reach for the sky. Cold gusts of wind have long since chased away the leaves. The trees, swaying steadily, point the way. I follow winding, narrow paths; with every step, an earthy scent rises. Then it hits me: this is but a short reel of my life—everything around begins to spin.
rustling leaves
a childhood frame
beneath my feet
Artur Zielinski/Poland
feedback welcome
Beech Path
A walk through the beech forest. Towering, naked branches reach for the sky. Cold gusts of wind have long since chased away the leaves. The trees, swaying steadily, point the way. I follow winding, narrow paths; with every step, an earthy scent rises. Then…
What a creative way of writing a haibun. Thanks, Shloka, for showing us such variety. To emulate this is not easy, but let's see, our members may try something innovative in their own way.
ecnarongi
?srecneulfni ?sleer ?semem era tahw
?gnillorcsmood si tahw
The days, weeks, years pass by, absorbed in gardening, cooking, reading & listening to the old classics. Blissfully stuck in the days of yore.
sunshine
Porgy and Bess on the turntable
Cobb salad on my plate
Dinah Power, Israel
comments welcomed
Beautiful Haibun!