HAIKUsutradhar: 9th February 2024 Keiko Izawa

A FRIDAY FEATURE

Host: Kala Ramesh Prompter for February: Keiko Izawa

OUR MISSION

1. To provide a new poetry workshop each Friday, along with a prompt.

2. To select haiku, senryu, and haiga each month for the journal, haikuKATHA. Each issue will select poems that were posted in this forum from the 3rd of the previous month to the 2nd of the current month.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

1. Post a maximum of two verses per week, from Friday to Friday, numbered 1 & 2. Post only one haiku in a day, in 24 hours.

2. Only post unpublished verses --- nothing that has appeared in peer-reviewed or edited

journals, anthologies, your webpage, social media, etc.

3. Only post original verses.

4. For each poem you post, comment on one other person’s poem.

5. Give feedback only to those poets who have requested it.

6. Do not post a variety of drafts, along with a request for readers to choose which they like most. Only one poem is to appear in each original post.

7. Post each revision, if you have any, above the original. The top version will be your submission to haikuKATHA. Do not delete the original post.

8. Do not submit found poetry or split sequences.

9. Do not post photos, except for haiga.

10. haikuKATHA will only consider haiga that showcase original artwork or photos.

Post details re: the source of the visual image. If you team up with an artist or photographer, make sure that it’s their original work and that they are not restricted

by other publications to share it. We won't be responsible for any copyright issues.

11. Put your name, followed by your country, below each poem, even after revisions.

Poems that do not follow the guidelines may be deleted.

Founder/Managing Editor of haikuKATHA Monthly Journal: Kala Ramesh

Associate Editors: Ashish Narain Firdaus Parvez Priti Aisola Sanjuktaa Asopa Shalini Pattabiraman Suraja Menon Roychowdhury Vandana Parashar Vidya Shankar

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PROMPT:

9th February.

In the northern hemisphere, January or February is usually considered the coldest month. On such cold days, whether you are at home or outside, it is essential to have something to keep you warm.  For the first two weeks of this month, I’d like you to focus on the things that warm your body and heart at this time of the season.

Week 2:  Woollens

During the winter, woollens are indispensable to life.  In your childhood, your mother might’ve knitted a sweater for you; or in your youth, your girlfriend might’ve knitted a muffler, gloves, etc.  Write about your memories or anything else related to woollens.

Example:

セーターにもぐりもう出られぬかもしれぬ

sētā ni moguri mou derarenukamo shirenu

slipping into a sweater i may not be able to get out

Sumiko Ikeda

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I'm looking forward to your poems. Keiko