welcome to #75 of hedgerow. thanks everyone, for simply being here! enjoy…

with love & kindness,

caroline skanne
founding editor

a poet at dawn…
the rooster first
to find his voice

.

her garden
the daisies
untouched

Elmedin Kadric was born in Novi Pazar, Serbia, but writes out of Helsingborg, Sweden. A student of both longer and shorter forms of poetry, and an avid observer of everything else.

Haiga by Pris Campbell have been published in numerous journals over the years. A former clinical psychologist, she lives in the Greater West Palm Beach, FL.

rock pools
the refreshing chill
after sundown

.

gray sea
I search each day
for traces of you

.

silvery moon
baby and I asleep
on the rocking chair

Christina Sng is a poet, writer, and artist. Visit her online at christinasng.com.

the old yard
once full of scrap
and rust
now home to
a myriad violets

.

the day
the fools gather
in the circle
I kick off my shoe
and join the dance

.

a distant echo
of mad loon songs
my spirit
left sleeping
under northern skies

Joy McCall lives in Norwich, England, growing older but not much wiser. Most of her books are available on Amazon.

Haiga by Pris Campbell have been published in numerous journals over the years. A former clinical psychologist, she lives in the Greater West Palm Beach, FL.

It took me years
       of lacework classes
to make the runner
on my dining table

but you – light-footed,
      eight-eyed spinner –
have simply tiptoed
the night, tracing

a garland
       across my window.

(First published in The Dawntreader, Indigo Dreams Publishing.)

Valerie Morton is a UK based poet who lives beside a river and enjoys writing poetry about the natural world. She has taught at a mental health charity. She hosts workshops at her home and from January 2016 has been Poet in Residence at the Clinton-Baker Pinetum in Hertfordshire, UK.

.

between
thunderstorms…
eyes closed
we breathe every
scent of the calm

Pat Geyer lives in East Brunswick, NJ, USA. Her home is surrounded by the parks and lakes where she finds her inspiration in Nature. Published in several journals, she is an amateur photographer and poet.

a flower
so secret
she blooms
in loneliness
and silence

(a found poem using Henrietta Dumont’s 1851 book The Language of Flowers)

Ed Bremson lives in Raleigh, NC, USA, where he writes poetry, watches movies, and just generally tries to stay out of trouble.

staggering
across the crosswalk–
a butterfly

Gabriel Patterson (@GabePatterson77) lives in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) with his family. He escapes the city’s neon lights by writing poetry.

Haiga by Pris Campbell have been published in numerous journals over the years. A former clinical psychologist, she lives in the Greater West Palm Beach, FL.

wind from the northeast
he moves their wedding pics
into the cloud

.

after months apart
they talk about this and that
(not the other thing)

.

packed waiting room
I can barely hear
The Sounds of Silence

Ian Willey is an American social scientist now living in Japan. He hopes to someday see senryu and haiku on the backs of cereal boxes.

welcome to the latest issue of hedgerow. as always, grateful to readers & contributors alike. this week features artwork by Debbie Strange. you can follow her blog here — debbiemstrange.blogspot.ca 

with love & kindness,

caroline skanne
founding editor

blowing
in all directions…
east wind

Pat Geyer lives in East Brunswick, NJ, USA. Her home is surrounded by the parks and lakes where she finds her inspiration in Nature.  She is an amateur photographer and poet.

(poem only appeared in Gems Anthology)

the budding oak
full then empty
of grackles

Ben Moeller-Gaa is the author of two haiku chapbooks, the Pushcart nominated Wasp Shadows (Folded Word Press 2014) and Blowing on a Hot Soup Spoon (poor metaphor design 2014). Learn more about Ben at www.benmoellergaa.com.

night rain fills the
skip i hide
in shallow
thoughts

.

creature ex-husband my religion lunch-belt

Brendan Slater is a father and a writer of small poems. He was born and lives in Stoke-On-Trent, England, but he spent four years living in The Netherlands in a small village called Slagharen. He co-edits the E-zine Moongarlic (www.moongarlic.org) and is one of the partners at Yet To Be Named Free Press (www.yettobenamedfreepress.org).

warm spring rain…
this canvas needs
more paint

.

shifting clouds…
my psychiatrist prescribes
more sunlight

Elizabeth Alford is a magna cum laude graduate of California State University, East Bay (B.A. English, 2014). She lives in Hayward, California with her fiancé and mother and co-hosts the reading group Poetry Express, based in Berkeley. Follow her poetry adventures @ http://www.facebook.com/ElizabethAlfordPoetry

(poem only appeared in Undertow Tanka Review)

having observed you
closely
your imaginary friend
draws you a rose
with blue thorns

Elmedin Kadric was born in Novi Pazar, Serbia, but writes out of Helsingborg, Sweden. A student of both longer and shorter forms of poetry, and an avid observer of everything else.

blessing the tide
sending it out again
shepherd moon

Julie Warther (@JulieWarther) serves as Midwest Regional Coordinator for the Haiku Society of America. (www.hsa-haiku.org)

starlit campsite
winds fluting
like Pan

Anna Cates is an award-winning short form poet and writer who lives in Ohio with her two cats and teaches English and education online.

distant waterfall–
her gray hair swings
with spring breeze

Pravat Kumar Padhy hails from India. His latest essay, “Haiku : The Art of Words” is published in ‘The Living Haiku Anthology’.

(poem only appeared in Bright Stars Tanka Anthologies)

follow me–
down the track
native grasses
will brush our bare arms
with soft sunlight
and we will just keep going

.

through my veins
all those
well worn places

Robyn Cairns is a Melbourne Poet who loves nature and riding her bike through her industrial inner west neighbourhood. Robyn loves the way poetry translates through sensory connections she makes with her surrounding environment. Robyn posts short form poetry and photos on her twitter account @robbiepoet

(poem only appeared in Bright Stars Tanka Anthologies)

the art in this issue was brought to you by Debbie Strange, you can read more about her here — https://hedgerowpoems.wordpress.com/poet-artist-in-conversation/

welcome to #73 hedgerow. as always, grateful to readers & contributors alike! enjoy…

with love & kindness,

caroline skanne

founding editor

after our quarrel
the frog resumes
his croaking

Julie Warther (@JulieWarther) serves as Midwest Regional Coordinator for the Haiku Society of America.

playing together
police siren
and the ice cream truck’s song

Elmedin Kadric was born in Novi Pazar, Serbia, but writes out of Helsingborg, Sweden. A student of both longer and shorter forms of poetry, and an avid observer of everything else.

Nika is the pen name of Jim Force. He lives in Victoria, BC CANADA. He writes collaboratively with Heron’s Quill and is a member of Haiku Arbutus.

grief
the slow thaw
of the frozen lake

.

a pale sun
seeing my pain
in your eyes

Rachel Sutcliffe, from Yorkshire, UK, has suffered from a serious immune disorder for the past 15 years, throughout this time writing has been her therapy, it’s what keeps her from going insane!

something green
when we talk
beach glass

Dan Schwerin is Wisconsin born and has enjoyed its cities, farms and rivers.  He has been a perpetual novice poet for over twenty years.

Kathy Cotton is a southern Illinois poet and digital collage artist. Her newest creative love is haiga and the practice of capturing beautiful moments in a few words and pictures.

midday sun
he steps around
dad’s shadow

Dave Read is a Canadian poet. You can find his work on his blog, davereadpoetry.blogspot.ca.

No matter where he was,
she spoke expecting him to hear.

          Forever, she whispered to the moon.

The sound bounced off its cratered surface.
He listened for it
on the other side of the world.

Alan Toltzis is the author of The Last Commandment and the founder of The Psalm Project, which teaches poetry to kids in middle and high school. Alan lives and works in Bucks County, PA. Find him online at alantoltzis.com.

Kathy Cotton is a southern Illinois poet and digital collage artist. Her newest creative love is haiga and the practice of capturing beautiful moments in a few words and pictures.

welcome to the latest issue of hedgerow. as always, grateful to contributors & readers alike. excited to have a new poet added to spotlight page, have a peek here –

https://hedgerowpoems.wordpress.com/poet-artist-spotlight/

also, thrilled to share the news that wildflower poetry press will be publishing a new title called ‘wild voices: an anthology of small poems & art by women’. if this is something that appeals to you, you can find submissions guidelines here —

https://wildflowerpoetrypress.wordpress.com/2016/03/08/call-for-submissions/

https://www.facebook.com/wildflowerpoetrypress/

with love & kindness,

caroline skanne
founding editor

too early
here anyway
woodpecker

.

those days
even washing dishes
was a dance

Perry L. Powell lives in College Park, Georgia, USA.  He works as a systems analyst and writes poetry out of love in the evening.

leftovers again—
dinnertime call
from the ex-wife

.

magpie treasures—
dining hall salt shakers
fill grandma’s purse

.

mom’s lab results—
beneath the early snow
pumpkins

Carol Ann Palomba lives in the part of New Jersey where you check for bears before going outside and hikers occasionally get lost in her yard.

passing a flask
of broken dreams
half empty moon

Julie Warther (@JulieWarther) serves as Midwest Regional Coordinator for the Haiku Society of America. (http://www.hsa-haiku.org)

Pamela A. Babusci is an internationally award-winning haiku/tanka & haiga artist, living in Rochester, NY. She loves writing tanka/haiku poetry, haiga, sumi-e painting, abstract painting, making jewelry, pressing flowers/leaves/ferns, Japanese calligraphy and most recently making clay sculptures.

my mother’s pearls—
remnants of exotic seas
she’s never seen

.

he calls her his shooting star
she thinks, How fleeting

Elizabeth Alford is a college grad with a B.A. in English and a PhD in caffeine addiction. She lives in California, USA with her loving fiancé, mother, and two dopey dogs. Her favorite things include yerba mate, sushi, loud music on long drives, staring at the stars, and short poetry. Follow her poetry adventures @http://www.facebook.com/ElizabethAlfordPoetry

At 30,000 Feet

On snack menu:

“Buddha Bowl”

          organic popcorn,
          popped in
          raw coconut oil,
          Himalayan Pink Salt

          veggie option
          gluten free

I ponder …

if the Buddha sat
in this seat,

would he beg for a bowl?

or would Chex Mix
be his way?

Nancy Cross Dunham lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband, Michael.  She writes poetry to try to figure out what she’s learning about herself, the world and the other people in it.

low tide
first breath of sunset
on the gull’s wings

Mamta Madhavan‘s oeuvre includes web content writing, book reviews, interviews, articles, and poetry. Much of the latter may be found at her blog www.gravidmoon@wordpress.com and her poetry collection ‘connecting the dots’. She incorporates vivid imagery into her writings influenced by nature, mysticism and spirituality. Her style of writing is mainly free verse.

her silhouette
against the summer sun …
if only
she had the wings of a bird
so I could see her fly

Susan Constable lives on the west coast of Canada, where she’s been writing mainly haiku and tanka for the past ten years. She is currently the tanka editor for the online journal, A Hundred Gourds.

starless sky
I search for you
in vain

.

the old scarecrows
in barren fields
these dreams

Rachel Sutcliffe, from Yorkshire, UK, has suffered from a serious immune disorder for the past 15 years, throughout this time writing has been her therapy, it’s what keeps her from going insane! featured spotlight poet here –– https://hedgerowpoems.wordpress.com/poet-artist-spotlight/

welcome to this week’s issue of hedgerow! as always, grateful to contributors & readers alike. the art in this issue was brought to you by Alexis Rotella & Debbie Strange. you can read more about our resident artists here – https://hedgerowpoems.wordpress.com/poet-artist-in-conversation/

with love & kindness.

caroline skanne

founding editor

(for new book releases & more–)

https://wildflowerpoetrypress.wordpress.com

(for news & announcements–)

https://www.facebook.com/hedgerowpoems/

one star enough winter darkness

.

deeper into the woods
less and less
to say

Julie Warther (@JulieWarther) serves as Midwest Regional Coordinator for the Haiku Society of America. (http://www.hsa-haiku.org)

Debbie Strange

after the wedding ring cold white halo

Elmedin Kadric was born in Novi Pazar, Serbia, but writes out of Helsingborg, Sweden. A student of both longer and shorter forms of poetry, and an avid observer of everything else.

Debbie Strange

knowing now
what we couldn’t know then
forsythia buds

.

sun-warmed stones
for the skink and me
early spring

Marietta McGregor is an Australian botanist and writer who has spent much of her life explaining scientific concepts. She now tries to let things explain themselves through an early love, haiku. She lives in Canberra and hopes to capture a sense of the bush, mountains and ocean in her work.

Debbie Strange

she
is so tiny
I hold
her red body
tighter

.

playful fingers
grasp for my nose
my chin
oh how perfect
the crescent moon

Joann Grisetti grew up in Sasebo Japan and eighteen other places. She now lives in Florida with her husband and two sons. Her poetry, photos and stories have appeared in a number of print and online journals. her latest book DARK MAROON JACKET is available from amazon. for a signed copy contact Joann directly at — gneissmom@aol.com

Alexis Rotella

How well can babies see? As far as the shadows moving across the white wall. As far as the elephant mobile spinning slowly in the breeze from an open window. As far as the wasp buzzing lazily against the glass. As far as her own fingers which reach out and grasp empty air when the door downstairs slams. As far as the unseen grandmother spirits hovering around her cot. Babies see things we’ve forgotten to notice. They don’t see what is unnecessary. They see what they need to see. Movement. Faces. Love.

Jo Waterworth has lived in Glastonbury, UK for thirty years. She writes, sings with a community choir and is studying part-time for a degree in Creative Arts, including ceramics. She sometimes runs creative writing groups. Find her blogs at  https://jowaterworth23.wordpress.com/ and https://jowaterworthwriter.wordpress.com/

Alexis Rotella

in the words
between gaps
shade

in the gaps
between words
light

in the tapestries
of light and shade
meaning

David J Kelly (@motto_sakura) lives and works in Dublin, Ireland, where he finds scientific and artistic inspiration in the natural world.

Alexis Rotella

beech forest
a sharp shade
of acid green

my friend’s dog pushes me
back to the group  

—

silent walk 
only our footsteps 
and my beating heart 

along the frozen path
everything already said

—

melting ice 
some sunflower seeds sprout 
among the black leaves 

you brush a strand of hair
away from my face

—

evening sky
among ancient ruins
clematis

my daydream entangled 
in the wilderness of you 

Marcus Liljedahl and Anna Maris are Swedish haiku poets, who write in their native language and in English. Marcus works as a singer with the Gothenburg Opera and Anna is a writer and educator. They are both published individually in international haiku journals and are also engaged in the running of the Swedish Haiku Society. Together the write TanRenga and other forms of linked verse.

publication note —

the individual poems (without the art) by Debbie Strange were published in Gems in 2014.