thinkALONG! 5 August, 2025

A TUESDAY FEATURE

hosts: Padma Rajeswari, K. Ramesh

guest editor: Lakshmi Iyer

Only the unpublished poems (that are never published on any social media platform/journals/anthologies) posted here for each prompt will be considered for Triveni Haikai India's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

If a poet wants feedback, then the poet must mention 'feedback welcome' below each poem that is being posted.

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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At the outset, I would like to thank the thinkALONG team for allowing me to sail in their boat of Triveni Haikai India, to Kala Ramesh, to Padma and to K. Ramesh.

Well, I would like to start my conversation with perhaps on a different note. 

The Journey of a Soul: The Poem and its Poet

Since my aksharaabhysa in haiku that rolled on in 2017, I wasn’t keen on taking up haiku as my hobby or part of my housewife curriculum! But, later I had the good fortune to be in the first zoom online workshop of Haiku in 2020 by Kala Ramesh. It was the Corona Year, a blessing in disguise. That was when I tried a few recipes.

I read and over the years, the acquaintance with many good poets helped me with my haiku journey. Amidst the gems, I find Rachael Sutcliffe’s poems quite fascinating. We shouldn’t get influenced but learn the nuances and the process thereby.

autumn sunset

the last swallow splits

a leafless sky

                    Rachael Sutcliffe (1977 – 2019) (UK)

                   Chanokeburi blog, Selected Poems, November 15th, 2017   

The above poem is a delight; the words - last swallow, splits, leafless sky!

It is autumn and yet the usage of leafless. Why?

What is last? Autumn? Swallow? Or the poet’s journey?

It is purely Wabi-sabi!

Well friends, we have many such past and present poets who must have surely crossed your way and touched your hearts. Just pick that soul and a poem and see if you can match that experience in your words.

Thank you!         

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