Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Back to blogging

The last day of the first month in 2017; NaHaiWriMo on Facebook, which has become an annual ritual for me over the years, is going to begin in less than 24 hours and logging in to my forgotten blog after ages, I find my last blog post was written 366 days ago!! That says it all. About how the last year went. At least haikuwise.

I had been crazy busy with the editing and compiling of naad anunaad : an anthology of contemporary world haiku, for the greater part of 2016 and also 2015. It was Kala Ramesh's dream project; she is the chief editor and worked really hard to bring it all together; but we, too, had put in a ridiculous amount of work. Especially doing the pub credits freaked me out totally.However, the book was finished and launched in Pune in September last year. It has been an enriching experience, but it also took away a large chunk of time, leaving me with none at all to pursue my own writing.Even after September, I haven't been able to pick up the pen and write anything; or if I have written, I don't remember it at least. Vinay Ravindranath was the prompter for NaHaiWriMo in January and I had intended to do the month as a sort of warming up for the event in February, but there also I drew a blank.So here I am, set to take the plunge in NaHaiWriMo from tomorrow, like I do every year,but this time with a lot of misgivings and a severe lack of self-confidence that comes with days and days of non-writing. Something tells me this year it's going to be a struggle; a rattling journey. So wish me luck, folks, that is,if anybody is still following my blog.


sipping 
from a chipped china cup
winter rain


Sunday, January 31, 2016

That time

Once I used to write a  small stone every day in January and haikued to NaHaiWriMo prompts all throughout February each year.Apart from participating in activities, sometimes month-long, on others' blogs.  I also tried to meet most of the deadlines in many of the journals. These days I struggle to merely put pen to paper and can only rarely stir myself enough to submit my work anywhere. I know all this has got to change,but when? Can I clear the clutter from my mind? Can I shake myself out of this stupor to take on the NaHaiWriMo challenge on Facebook starting tomorrow?

scent of sea-
down the winding path
the crab and me


Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Shiki kukai October 2015

Just as I had become almost resigned to playing the bridesmaid in Shiki kukai contest, out of the blue came this recent kukai results and to my (first)utter disbelief and (later) delight, I find my name as the winner in the free format section!! So, finally...

And this was the winning entry in the FF section, the topic was "SPARK".

last sparks
from the dying embers...
my hand in his



Thursday, September 10, 2015

Shiki kukai August, 2015

This was my entry in the shiki kukai kigo section last month and managed to get a fifth place.
The prompt was : starlit night.


starlit night...
no longer looking
for words

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Shiki kukai July 2015


And also the ku that was placed third in the Kigo section.
The prompt was : Tropical night/summer night


the faint curve
of a bare shoulder-
tropical night

July 2015 shiki kukai

The verse that managed to get only 4 points in the free format section.

 The theme was "quiet".


rolling wheat fields...
the fragrance of noonday
quiet

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Shiki kukai, June 2015

From Shiki kukai ,free format section.
The subject was "insect metamorphosis".




a cicada shell
full of night...the emptiness
 that lingers

June 2015