thinkALONG 17 March, 2026

A TUESDAY FEATURE

hosts: Padma Rajeswari, K. Ramesh

guest editor: Jenny Shepherd

Only the unpublished poems (that are never published on any social media platform/journals/anthologies) posted here for each prompt will be considered for Triveni Haikai India's monthly journal -- haikuKATHA, each month.

Poets are requested to post poems (haiku/senryu) that adhere to the prompts/exercises given.

Only 1 poem to be posted in 24 hours. Total 2 poems per poet are allowed each week (numbered 1,2). So, revise your poems till 'words obey your call'.

Responses are usually a mixture of grain and chaff. The poet has to be discerning about what to take for the final version of the poem or the unedited version will be picked up for the journal.

The final version should be on top of the original version for selection.

Poetry is a serious business. Give you best attempt to feature in haikuKATHA !!

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I have chosen St Patrick’s Day, even though I am not Irish or Catholic, but simply because I love the idea of dyeing a river green!

Saint Patrick's Day is a religious and cultural holiday held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. 385–c. 461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland. 

This saint’s day is celebrated in more countries than any other national festival, especially in places with a large, Irish diaspora community, such as Great Britain, Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. 

One of most famous markings of the day is Chicago’s favourite, St. Patrick’s Day traditions:  the dyeing green of the Chicago River, which started in 1962.  The dyeing always occurs the Saturday before the holiday (except when March 17 falls on a Saturday), and the event draws thousands of spectators.  Using several boats, the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union pours and spreads 40 pounds of vegetable-based dye into the river, until it’s a bright shade of green. 

slick beauty

technicolor rivert

hrough town

               -     Charles Harper, ‘Haiku Dialogue: Mountain and River – Rivers’, April 2, 2025

This week, I invite you to pick any festival of your choice, which doesn’t have to be in March, and write a haiku/senryu about it, so we can all share and learn about diverse cultural celebrations.