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

Adverts below this line, and elsewhere in the zen space, are products of the platform and do not imply any endorsement by the editor.

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The Autumn 2023 Showcase is published

Our foxy feature is go! WordPress is being a complete pain, but at least we have a Showcase! To go there, hover your cursor over the “experience” tab and scroll down the menu, or, if you’re feeling lazy, click here.

The Summer 2023 Showcase is now live!

Midsummer sunrise at Kirkwall, Orkney. Photo by Jane Reid.

Publishing a Showcase here at the zen space often involves fighting the platform. I ought to be used to WordPress by now – how long have I been doing this? – but I still find it not so much user unfriendly as occasionally petulant for no good reason. Anyhow, the good news is that I have managed to produce a Showcase, and only six days late! To view it, hover your pointer over the “Experience” and scroll to the bottom of the drop-down list. Alternatively, you can by-pass the zen discipline and simply click here. The result will be much the same, although you might want to give a thought to karma! j/k.

MM

Editor

the zen space

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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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Ignore any adverts – they’re spam.

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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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Please ignore all the adverts that appear on these pages – they’re spam.

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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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Any advertisement on this page is a feature of the platform and is not to be taken as an endorsement by the editor.

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The Autumn 2022 Showcase is now published!

Utagawa Hiroshige – Red fish

You know, this is such a simple journal, and yet the technical headaches of putting together a Showcase can quickly develop into a migraine. Our new Autumn Showcase has been published, and I am sure you will uncover glitches that I have missed. Nevertheless, I hope you will enjoy it. Hover your pointer over the “Experience” tab and scroll down to find this and previous Showcases. Or, if you are feeling lazy, you can simply go here!

Of course I am still looking for new talent, both in words and illustrations. Be in touch!

Marie Marshall

editor

the zen space

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Adverts have nothing to do with me – they’re just an annoying feature of the platform!

The Autumn Showcase draws near…

Weeping willow and swallows, attrib. Rakusan Tsuchiya

Swallows, swifts, all fork-tailed birds here in Scotland, leave us at this time of year. But they arrive somewhere else. So it goes.

I’m aiming to publish the next Showcase on 1st October. It will arrive, like a migrating swallow, wherever you are…

MM