We’re living in rather strange times. The world is holding its breath, people are experiencing each moment like never before.
This is going to be a short Showcase. Put the word out, I want some new names. I am very grateful to all my faithful submitters of work, and I have “banked” your contributions gratefully, but I am looking for newcomers as well. Show me that you can write haiku and other things whilst practising social isolation.
Illustrations this time are all monochrome, and all are contact mines from World War II. Shame on you if you thought they were anything else. Apologies for one or two formatting issues – the platform has a mind of its own.
Stay safe, everyone. Next Showcase will be bigger and the world will be better.
I hope.
Marie Marshall
editor
the zen space
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Michael H. Lester
Tanka sequence: A Cultural Renaissance
on this starry night
we experiment with fire
in our cave
illuminating the walls
a spectacular red-orange
:
my man
has painted the walls
with figures
of saber-tooth tigers
and flying dinosaurs
:
he is feared
by the other tribesmen
for his intellect
and his uncommon strength
he chose me as his woman
:
we join our bodies
many times every day
but now
as moons come and go
my stomach grows larger
:
soon he will emerge
this child of our lovemaking
a boy, I think
I will name our child
something mysterious and bold
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William C. Thwing
Haiku with Han Shan
Her translucent skin
Glowing in the setting sun
The fun has just begun!
:
Our ancestors bones
Cry out to us from the dust
“Where the hell are you?”
:
Rocking and rolling
Music comes from the Jade Hall
Pounding all night long!
:
Lovebirds in their cage
Bickering the whole day long
Side by side each night
:
Packed in like sardines
Thousands of cemeteries
Graves with names worn off
:
Death awaits us all
At the end of our journey
I doddle along
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Philmore Place
snow moon
wind playing with
stray dog hair
:
taking home
pie warm
between the palms
:
night conversation
somehow suddenly flew
youth
:
dead season
bartender at the table
with open book
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Christina Chin
hediondilla
a scent of creosote
after the rain
:
muted bronze
beyond the saguaro hill
a cougar’s roar
:
deeper–
in the orchid
a butterfly
:
spring rain
a flood of red desert
superbloom
:
Monet colours
in the lily pond
swishing koi
:
mesmerising
the rhythmic rock
of a soju fountain
__________
Asni Amin
sound of water
made by this frog
is still heard today
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Jon Baldwin
ocean
whale leaps
s p l o s h
__________
MariJay Cardenas
the word “bee”
buzzing on my lips
– in passing
:
the first day of spring
how few people on the streets
– the flowers talking
:
sitting on the bed
as the dawn birds interrupt
– where’s my other shoe?
:
my back’s feeling
the warmth of my brother’s back
– that’s still solitude
:
this round stone
talks about water
in my hand
:
round about dawn
the scratch of a dogs claws
at the pavement
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The next Showcase at the zen space will be Summer 2020 which will be released, subject to karma, on 1st July 2020.
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.
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the zen space 
Wonderful!
Thank you.