A rustic broom

a rustic broom

scenting our hearth and home

with cinnamon …

less sweet, the year's debris

I ought to sweep away

—Mariposa, spring/summer 2016

H A P P Y  N E W  Y E A R

Well, it's finally gotten cold here again. And now the heating system (including the backup heater) appears to be broken once more. So, maybe not the best way to end 2016! But the good news: it's supposed to warm up this weekend for a little while.

Announcement: Haibun Today Submissions

Reminder for Tanka Prose Writers: Haibun Today is currently accepting submissions for the March issue. To be considered for that issue, please submit your polished tanka prose pieces to me by January 15. See the guidelines on the website.

A stream of warmth

a stream of warmth

from this vent in the floor ...

the people

from all my winters

who still hold onto me

—GUSTS, 24, Fall 2016 

Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings
from my small corner to yours!

The clink

the clink

as I drop each pine cone

into the bucket—

keeping the pretty ones,

isn't that the way it is

—Ripples in the Sand, 2017 TSA Members' Anthology

Tanka Pair

Eiderdown

curling up

on this old mattress

bony knee

on top of bony knee

I search for softness

expansive,

this quilted cover

of clouds    

…..patches of darkness
threaded with light

—Skylark, Winter 2016

As a child

as a child

I dreamed of writing books …

my feet small

in these sidewalk prints

cast by Thomas Wolfe

—Frameless Sky, issue 3

Asheville, North Carolina

Announcement: Haibun Today Changes

Thought I'd let readers of twigs&stones know I've taken on a new poetry job. Wish me luck! Effective December 1, I became the editor of the tanka prose section of Haibun Today, an online journal familiar to poets/writers in the haiku and tanka communities. Of course, that unfortunately means that the ever-so-talented and passionate Claire Everett has stepped down from her role as tanka prose editor, to pursue other endeavors. Jeffrey Woodward, founder and owner of HT, as well as a leading expert (or perhaps more accurately the premier expert) in the field of English-language tanka prose (not to mention haibun), also has stepped down. The contributions of Jeffrey and Claire have been immeasurable.

See the new issue of HT here.