Autumn 2017 Showcase

“There is something I would like you all to do for me,” said the editor, looking at the assembled group of regular contributors. “Your challenge is to go out and find someone new for me, a new ‘name’, someone who has never had any work published here at the zen space. Find more than one person, if you wish, but make it someone whose poetry in the modes we publish here is to your liking. As a reward, I will feature your name beside theirs in the zen space – ‘introduced by Josephine Bloggs’, like that.”

I love my regulars, and, yes, I should be scouting for new talent myself, but I want you to do it this time.

What should the new ‘names’ write about? Anything that catches their attention and will catch ours. I can make a suggestion, though. Next Showcase will be ‘Winter’; but I am well aware that in many parts of the world it will be Summer. And in many other parts of the world these seasonal names mean nothing. Newcomers could write me something that strikes them when this is on their mind – a sudden sight, sound, or smell that banishes or reinforces the thought, perhaps.

Beyond that, anything you like! Email me at thezenspace{a}googlemail.com.

In this particular Showcase I’ve included some longer poetry for a change. I included it because as I read it I became aware that it was possible to read each stanza as a stand-alone piece. I dare say the poet didn’t intend that, but never mind – the beauty of poetry is the instant way it takes a reader. I’ve also included some often-featured poets, for the reason that I have some of their autumnal pieces in my archive. I don’t always chose work that is appropriate to the season up here, but I like to throw one or two garnets onto a cream linen cloth…

Oh, by the way, let’s have some art work by our ‘resident’ Marie Taylor again. I’ve had these sitting around for a while. I don’t think we’ve seen them before, but if we have, let’s see them again.

Marie Marshall
editor
the zen space

PS. I have never bothered to find out whether there is a limit to the number of ‘pages’ a WordPress web/blog site can have. This Showcase is the 25^th page to have ‘Experience’ as its ‘parent’ page. If there is some kind of limit, I expect that either other pages will suddenly start to disappear, or all kinds of bells and whistles and flashing lights will appear on my screen, and I’ll have to delete something myself. Whatever the case may be, why not take the opportunity to wander through the archives of previous Showcases while they exist? Click ‘like’ to show you have visited. And now on to the poetry…

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Ann Christine Tabaka

trees –
tell secrets
in braille

wind in trees
leaves dance to
a grand ballet

a gray dawn
falling from the sky
plucked feathers

morning sunlight
through open window
dust motes dance gaily

rain puddles
reflect illusions
of sad eyes

__________

John Rafetto

Wooden wheelbarrow
Filled with terra cotta pots
Each with a chrysanthemum

Greenhouse door opens
Adjust steam pip temperature
Scent of hyacinth

__________

Keith Polette

gray dawn—
the train’s intention:
to eat up the track

preying mantis preys
with five eyes—
I pray for one less I

summer night . . .
the ceiling fan
cooling my thoughts

spring cleaning—
I cannot wipe this face
from the mirror

looking through
this opaque window—
smears of color until dark

holding the stone
from the stream
listening for breath

I call it ‘oak’
while I go about
nameless . . .

__________

Bruce England

Autumn evening
“should I turn on
the lights?”
says someone
nearby

__________

Diarmuid Fitzgerald

early autumn walk —
distant rain
over the island

:
rushing through the street
a beggar tells me
to calm the f**k down

beach —
a broken ribbon of sea weed
the aftertaste of a wave

:
sakura petals falling
into the lantern —
pink glow

children catch cherry blossom petals

their palms full

height of summer —

a white wisp across the blue sky

gnats chase each other over the stream

drinking in the evening heat

__________

Martha Magenta

you left silently
while I slept
following the moon path
to a cold gray winter
your pillow still warm next to mine

__________

Michael Pugliese

all lanes blocked-
through the sunroof
she blows soap bubbles

white geese
facing west-
drift east

changing lanes-
on the divider
the homeless stands

the old man sits
one seat in from the aisle-
she liked the aisle

fireworks
below the redeye-
July 4th

on thin legs
a crow bobs
to a red mound

__________

Rachel Sutcliffe

early autumn
mother starts
to stoop

wafting wood smoke dampness in the air

morning frost
I follow
your words

__________

M. Von Taren

Poetry:
:

Eternal moment

The sky flows through me,
A river filled with blueness,
My life grows into the sky,
A vine void of colors,

I reach for the stars,
They escape deeper into the darkness,
I pray for their return,
Dark side of the moon,
I give up,
Eternal stars explode behind closed eyes.

The Enlightened Man

He is always on a voyage,
Although he walks the path unwalked,
That path is his home,
The roadless road his destination.

He is always a stranger,
Even though he knows them all,
Those strangers are his family,
He loves them like himself.

He is always so poor,
Because he desires nothing,
That desire prospers him,
Makes him richer than the others.

He is always afraid,
That he forgets not to be scared,
That fear keeps him happy,
Free from imaginary worries.

He is always a she,
Inside his manly dress,
That freedom awaits her,
Seduces her to him.

He is always so proud,
For the good deeds that he has done,
That pride makes him humble,
And compels him to serve.

He is always alone,
Without recognizing the other,
That loneliness awakes him,
To the company of all.

He is always at war,
Spreading calmness of love,
That war is for the peace,
The peace that ends all the wars.

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NEWS

Whenever you get in touch with any of the people or publications in the news, please mention that you were alerted to them by the zen space. Thank you.

the cherita

More editions, more publications! Click here.

Inheriting the War

Inheriting the War is a new anthology of poetry written by descendants of veterans and refugees from the Vietnam War – American, Vietnamese, Vietnamese Diaspora, Hmong, Australian, and others – confronting the war and its aftermath. The editor is Laren McClung of New York University. Find out about it here.

Contemporary Haibun Online

There’s a brand new issue of Contemporary Haibun Online just out! Find out about it here.

Templar Poetry

Too much news to mention – competitions, events, more – click here!

Earthshine

Earthshine is a collection of poetry by Chuck Brickley that “transforms the ordinary into the magical.” It’s published by Snapshot Press. Find out about it here.

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The next Showcase at the zen space will be Winter 2018 which will be released, subject to karma, on 1st January 2018.

Please note that the copyright of all written work and images used in this Showcase and elsewhere in the zen space is held by the creating author/artist, even when not explicitly stated, and may not be used elsewhere without permission.