Proletaria, 21 November 2019
Hi everyone,
Back in the summer, I decided to try my hand at monoku (one-line haiku), a form I’d been interested in for some time. I enjoyed the challenge and produced three monoku which I’m delighted to tell you have today been published in Proletaria, that excellent online journal specialising in one-liners. So huge thanks to the editor for that.
Here’s a link, if you’d like to check them out:
https://proletaria.org/2019/11/21/three-monoku-by-paul-beech/
Cheers,
Paul
Copyright © Paul Beech 2019
Grandy's Landing 
Clever!
Many thanks, John. I must say I’m delighted with the way Proletaria have paired my monoku with Dmitry Bayer’s gorgeously atmospheric lapping tide photograph. The effect is akin to that of shahai (photo-haiga).
Best always,
Paul
Three monoku by my darling Paul, each monoku related to the other, and the gorgeous photo by Dmitry Bayer
With all my love, Maureen xxx
Thank you, my darling Maureen.
As you’ll remember, my monoku were written shortly following our move here, to Halkyn Mountain, whilst we were still getting straight. This was the trigger, and yes, they do form a loosely linked sequence on the theme of letting go of the past and moving on. They were challenging to write, cathartic too, and I’m so glad you like them – this means everything to me.
All my love always,
Paul xxx
Thank you my Paul.
All my love,
Maureen XXX
wind-blown in exile my plum tree
Dear Paul,
wind-blown in exile my plum tree
Many elements come together in this magnetic north of a poem: Asian culture and sense of time passing, the wind, the exile i the wind, the comfort of the companion plum tree. Takes my breath away with its economy, restraint, register, rhythm. Bravo, congratulations and thank you for such joy.
Your friend,
Donna
Dear Donna,
I’m thrilled my monoku worked so well for you.
With haiku, it’s all about what is left unsaid, isn’t it? Imaginative participation is required of the reader for full enjoyment. This is most especially so with one-line haiku of course: monoku. Here the poet has just a few syllables in which to create a meaningful and aesthetically pleasing poem.
Thank you for your imaginative participation in my monoku and wonderful comment. Being told one’s work brings joy is surely the highest prize for any poet.
Take care,
Your friend,
Paul
Hello, Liked your monoku a lot. especially the third one…’ dusk falling the mountain speaks’. Mine was published on 24th October in Proletaria.
Thank you so much, Padmini, and welcome to my blog. I really like your monoku in Proletaria, 24th October. Such vital themes: war and the plight of refugees.
With very best wishes from Halkyn Mountain, North Wales.
Paul
Thank you, Paul. Though I have always mailed editors like Ray Rasmussen, Kala Ramesh, and others, this is the first time I am communicating with a fellow haiku writer. Thank you for liking my haiku and responding to my message
Hi Padmini,
I’m lucky, I guess. My partner Maureen Weldon, a former professional ballet dancer, has been a widely published poet since the latter 80s. She writes across a range of genres including haiku from time to time. In fact she’s a member of the British Haiku Society, as I am. We’re also both members of Chester Poets and Cross-Border Poets (committee members of the latter) and have many poet friends. Poetry is very much a way of life for us, woven into our normal everyday conversation.
That said, I’m the only haibun writer in our circle!
So good to be in contact with you.
Loved your “war-torn land” haiku on Charlotte Digregorio’s Daily Haiku yesterday. Maureen loved it too.
My very best,
Paul
That is so nice to hear. I started with writing haibun in CHO and Haibun Today. Later, I moved to write haiku, poems, and short fiction.
Hi Padmini,
Yes, being a storyteller at heart, I love writing haibun.
My latest are both about my wonderful Grandad Dawson, who died in 1975 aged 82. ‘The Mason’ is in the December 2019 issue of Failed Haiku, a Haibun Special, guest-edited by Sonam Chhoki. And ‘Flood Rescue’ is in the current issue of Blithe Spirit, The Journal of the British Haiku Society, edited by Caroline Skanne.
I also write short fiction like you!
Take care,
Paul
Hi Paul, It is lovely to know about your haibun published in Failed Haiku and Blithe. Do you need to be a member of the British Haiku Society to be considered in Blithe Spirit? I have collaborated with Sonam Chhoki on a few of my haibun in Cattails. She is wonderful and constantly provides suggestions on improvement.
Hi Padmini,
Great to hear from you, as always.
Yes, full membership of the British Haiku Society is required for the submission of poems to the Society’s quarterly journal Blithe Spirit. This generally applies to the submission of articles too though occasional articles are accepted from non-members.
I personally find membership very rewarding indeed.
Here’s a link to the relevant page on the BHS website, if you’d like to check it out:
Take care,
Paul