Spring 2024 Showcase is now published…

… but it contains a sincere apology to my regular contributors, whom I admire so much for the quantity and quality of their work.

Anyhow, there are some wonderful words and images for you this time. In order to visit, please hover your cursor patiently over the “Experience” tab, and scroll downwards until you reach the bottom. The less adventurous amongst you may click here.

I’ve just realised – this is the FIFTIETH Showcase. Wow! Should I have a fanfare?

Ajmer Gate in Jaipur, by Yoshida Hiroshi, 1931

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Apologies: Winter 2024 Showcase

I am sorry to greet the New Year with bad news, but I do not have enough fresh material on hand to bring out the Winter 2024 Showcase here at the zen space. This is the first time in more than a decade that this has happened. I am truly sorry.

However, if you keep submitting and, more importantly, tell all your friends who write short-burst, in-the-moment pieces about the zen space, I am sure I will have enough for the Spring 2024 issue.

I told you recently that I was stepping down as editor. Unfortunately (or fortunately, look at it whichever way you want to) no one else has stepped up. So for now I’m continuing. As always, I shall do my best, the current problem notwithstanding.

We have received a couple of important emails from Jim Kacian, who is looking for material for the Red Moon Anthology and for the next edition of Haiku in English. Now, before you all get excited and start reaching for the “Compose” button in your email account, he has asked for my help, along with the help of other editors, to do it. In short, if I can get an opportunity to do so, I will be nominating work by some of you for both of these. The unpleasant part of this task, from my point of view, is having to leave 99% of you out. I know how you will feel – time and time again during my life I have missed out on stuff and been fed the mimeographed line that my efforts and talents were nevertheless appreciated. It always felt thin, and I’m sorry that it will feel thin to you too, when I say it. When it comes to writing, whether it be poetry, fiction, haiku, essays, whatever, I fall back on the advice of my own literary agent; he says the greatest achievement is always the finished work. I can assure you that over the years during which I have been editing the zen space I have truly appreciated every single contribution.

May I wish everyone a happy 2024, and especially may I wish you all a peaceful one, wherever and whoever you may be.

I am going to leave you with a haiga by John Hawkhead, as a New Year treat.

Marie Marshall
editor
the zen space

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Standing down as editor

The Winter 2024 Showcase of the zen space will be number 50.

I set up the zen space when I got into an argument with an editor of a haiku magazine who accepted some of my haiku, then wanted me to change words, then displayed zero knowledge of what haiku actually was. So I decided to start an e-zine of my own. I could easily have filled the zen space with my own work, but I realised straight away that this would have been a vainglorious idea. I decided on the simple policy of publishing work as it was submitted. Let’s face it, you can’t go back into the moment the words of a haiku occurred  to you!

I also decided to be liberal as to what I would accept. Strict 5-7-5 arrangements would always be welcome, but shorter or longer poetry would not be rejected. The main criterion was that it should convey that momentary vision, that instant of enlightenment.

I have just published Showcase number 48. I guess that means I’ve been editor for twelve years! I never thought the zen space would last this long. I like to think that it has acquired something of a reputation in that time. However, I’m getting old, and I think it’s about time I should hand over to someone else. I have a target of retiring after fifty Showcases – and maybe after publishing an edited anthology? – but I would like to see the zen space continue.

Its continuing means that I will have to look for a new editor. Could that be you?

I am now actively looking for someone who would be able to commit to bringing out four Showcases a year. I know that the zen space will change under your hand, but I am looking for someone who understands what I have been trying to do here. Knowledge of WordPress would be good, so feel free to practice by setting up your own blog/website and having a play with it, if you are not already familiar with the platform – I guess if you’re reading this then you must be. I can give you a run-down of how things work, if need be.

Think about how you would go about attracting fresh talent whilst making sure “regulars” do not feel undervalued. Think about how you would attract new artwork, and how you would scour public domain for images in the absence of submitted artwork. Think about how you might like to see the zen space develop…

When you have done that, get in touch. Pitch yourself to me, tell me why it should be you who takes over. Email me at thezenspace{a}googlemail.com. Please don’t worry if you don’t hear anything for a while after I acknowledge receipt.

Looking forward to hearing from you. This is kinda sad but exciting as well.

MM

Editor

the zen space

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The standing stones at Callanish, Isle of Lewis, by Grant Hugh Jones.

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“Heads-up” about the Summer Showcase

You’ll be used to my saying this by now, but I think I’m going to be late with this. Again! This is due to circumstances beyond my control, and I apologise in advance. Let’s see how I manage…

MM
editor

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As usual, ignore all adverts!

The Spring 2023 Showcase is now published!

Better late (again!) than never.

After several hitches and domestic pitfalls, the zen space has a new Showcase, and there is some lovely stuff from an international gathering of spring blooms. To visit, hover your cursor over the “Experience” tab and scroll down – that’s the way to visit all our Showcases so far, by the way, so feel free to browse too.

Or if you’re in a hurry, click here.

I hope you enjoy the Showcase.

Marie Marshall

editor

the zen space

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Spring 2023 Showcase – Late, but on its way!

Sorry about this – karma sometimes throws a rock at one’s feet.

(Karma also sometimes places ads in my posts – pay no attention, they’re spam.)

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Hello, I must be going…

You know, it occurred to me the other day that I have been editing the zen space since 2011. I actually founded it. I had never done anything like this in my life before. Well, that’s not entirely true, as I had been an assistant editor on a couple of magazines, but never before run something single-handed.

How was it for you?

It has come into my mind that I ought to plan a couple of things over the coming year. One is to step down as editor. I will need to find someone else to take over, or lay the whole thing down. Those are the choices. The other is to put together an anthology of poems from this site, and get it published. I think if I can do that, then I can leave with my head held high.

So, I haven’t quite gone yet. But it’ll happen. Hence my Groucho Marx quote, “Hello, I must be going.”

Meanwhile thank you for all the new haiku and in-the-moment poetry that is still coming in. May I renew my plea for original artwork, however? It is nice to look for public domain Ukiyo-e prints and suchlike, but it always pleases me when something original comes my way. It seems a long time, for example, since I have heard from our “resident” artist Marie Taylor. Perhaps that’s my fault for not getting in touch with her. I shall remedy that. But who else is out there, I should like to know, who is prepared to let me have something for a Showcase?

As I said, I haven’t gone yet, and a departure must be carefully planned. The joys of having been somewhere always add to the poignancy of the parting. I am almost looking forward to saying Sayonara which, I am told, actually means “Since it must be so…”

Marie Marshall
still editor for now
the zen space

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… aaaand as usual, any adverts spoiling the mood are entirely the fault of the platform.

The Winter 2023 Showcase is now published!

A few day’s late, but we got there!

We’re looking forward to your visits and comments. The collection of haiku and other short and in-the-moment poetry is very fine on this occasion. As it always is – our contributors are very talented!

To visit the Showcase, hover your pointer over the “Experience” tab and scroll carefully down. If you wish to skip that discipline (tut tut!) you can feel free to click here. No one is looking over your shoulder!

I am always on the lookout for new names, so please pass on the message to any writers of quick-fire poetry and haiku that you happen to know of. the zen space is basically an English language publication, but I will consider work in other languages, if submitted with an English translation. Guidelines can be found on the “Submission” page.

I’m also looking out for original artwork to compliment the poetry. In the past we have featured everything from cartoons to mandalas!

If you are a new reader, please feel free to browse (all!) our other Showcases!

Meanwhile have a sunrise to prepare you for the sunsets in the Showcase…

MM
editor

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Apologies

The Winter 2023 Showcase is delayed, due to various circumstances beyond my control. I will try to get it published as soon as I am able to. Please stay tuned.

MM
editor

A Matter of Life and Death

The Japanese poem associated with leaving life behind is called Jisei. It does not necessarily follow the haiku form, but always seems to capture a moment, and evoke the writer’s preparedness for the passing away of life. Or indeed their reluctance – whatever that transient moment says to them.

What I need from contributors this time is poetry that reflects two things –

Firstly the transience of life, and that acceptance of its passing away expressed by Jisei. Secondly, a full-throated celebration of life, which always seems to continue regardless of individual consciousness.

Can you do that for me?

I especially would like to hear from new “names,” and I am also looking for artwork to feature. Please do get in touch.

MM.

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