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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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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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

If ever a time did not feel right to call for poetry…

Image: AP/Gerald Herbert

If ever a time did not feel right to call for poetry, if ever poetry felt like a privilege, that time is now. Nevertheless I am still aiming for a publication date of 1st July for the next Showcase here, and to that end I’m putting out a last call for submissions.

As always I am especially hoping to hear from “new voices.”

Oh how I would love for those new voices to be those of the habitually unheard. But one can’t go seeking, or it would seem like unsolicited patronage. All I can say is that this door is open.

It is as open to new artwork as it is to haiku and other short-burst poetry. Habitually I scavenge the internet for artwork. I would very much like to feature more original visual material. Please, bring it to me.

Thank you.

MM
editor

The Winter 2020 Showcase is now published!

Another new year is upon us, and with it another showcase.

Readers, spread the word. I’m looking – always looking – for new names for the Showcases. I want anyone who can write haiku or other short forms that are in-the-moment. See the “Submission” tab for how to put forward your work.

Anyhow, this Showcase… hover your cursor over the “Experience” tab and scroll down the list until you get to the bottom. Or, if you want an easy ride, click here.

May your year be filled with moments. Well, you can hardly avoid ’em.

Marie Marshall

editor

the zen space

A few suggestions for the next Showcase…

1. The wind
2. Numbers
3. A young woman in a dress the colour of sunrise

As always, I welcome new names and new voices, and original artwork.

And while you’re here, this is my latest 4-5-6 piece.

There’s less than a week to go…

… to the new Showcase, and I haven’t a clue what I’m going to do!

Guest editor looking for new “names”

A detail from one of Daniel’s Korea photos.

The Guest Editor for the next Showcase is the inestimable, incomparable poet Daniel Paul Marshall (no relation). Daniel says of himself:

After eight years in Korea, I find myself returned to England in the throes of Brexit; a jobless, semi-alien seeking reorientation after what has perhaps been a warring absence. I am shamelessly, indomitably a poet, but now unemployment has me under consideration.

How could the zen space fail to offer him if not employment then at least a way to spend a little of his time? He comes to us in full culture-shock mode, after having been immersed in the life and times of a land half-way around the hemisphere, which had front-loaded him with so much inspiration to write, and then having arrived in the UK in winter, to find the country upping anchor and sailing further away from the coast of Europe. Interesting times.

As always in the case of a Guest Editor, Daniel is looking for new talent. Can you write haiku, senryu, and so on? Or short-burst poetry shimmering in the moment? If so, then get in touch with Daniel at danielpaulmarshall85@gmail.com

On this occasion please do not submit via the usual channel, but use the email address above. Go to it!

The Summer 2018 Showcase is published

One week behind schedule, but it’s here!

This time, as well as new names providing the words, we have the wonderful photography of Elan Mudrow. Can you see a face in the picture below?

The words are amazing, diverse, surprising. In order to find out more either hover your cursor over the ‘Experience’ tab and scroll down to the bottom, or alternatively click here.

Late again…

… but have no fear, I intend to turn this lateness into an opportunity. I’m delaying the publication of the Summer 2018 Showcase here at the zen space for a week, while I sort out some issues (I won’t bore you with them).

This means that you have an extra week in which to contribute! I am especially looking for new ‘names’ – people who have not had anything published here before. So if you are new to our Showcases please contribute (as per the instructions under the ‘Submission’ tab). And if you happen to know of anyone else who may be new to us, please pass this invitation on to them.

What I am looking for is haiku of course, but not just haiku. I like to feature any short, in-the-moment poems and poem-like words. Let me see what you’ve got.

the zen space has now been published since 2011, which is actually a lot longer than I had expected. I would like to say thank you to the many people who contribute, and also to those who read the Showcases. I hope you will all continue to support this little venture – and don’t forget to pass the word along.

Once again, in case you missed it above, I’m delaying publication of the Summer 2018 Showcase, and extending the deadline for submissions. You have an extra week!

MM.
editor.