#69

welcome to #69 of hedgerow. as always, grateful to contributors & readers alike! the art in this issue was brought to you by Debbie Strange. read more about her here (https://hedgerowpoems.wordpress.com/poet-artist-in-conversation/). thank you & enjoy!

 

if you missed this last week–

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 the guidelines here —

 

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

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

 

with love & kindness,

caroline skanne

founding editor

 

 

 

 

 

 

crack by crack
the sound of spring
on the pond

.

somersault
not the words
I was expecting

.

first thaw
a single shoot bathes
in sunlight

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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ides of March
celebrating the return
of buzzards
.

midday drift more and more of me slows the river

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

thelengthofmyshadow
thelengthofmyfathersshadow
spring day

Emmanuel Jessie Kalusian is a young haiku writer from Nigeria. He is the co-founder of Africa Haiku Network.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

these poems by Debbie Strange previously appeared in The Bamboo Hut Press in 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In memory of my first husband

chill drives
away the lingering birds
his body
so shockingly shrunken,
my prince of lost dreams

 

blackbird
already in flight
the worst part
is not being able to say
words he’ll now never hear

 

love letters
fading in the chest
tomorrow
the flag will fold over
memories of ‘Nam’

 

cradle moon
fading near daybreak
i wonder
if he rode it last night
for one last farewell

 

he slides
through a slice in time
a soft touch
halts tears, shows me hope
in the afterglow of absence

Pris Campbell, of West Palm Beach, FL, U.S. , writes both short forms and free verse.  Both have been published widely.  A former Clinical Psychologist and avid sailer, she was sidelined by ME/CFS in 1990 and now leads a far quieter life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

dormant buds
on the fingertips of branches
the moment of hope
before I leave
darkness behind

.

spring cherry branches the promise of pink

Kat Lehmann (Connecticut, USA) is a poet and a scientist who enjoys exploring the grandiose captured within the minute. Her full length poetry book, Moon Full of Moons (2015), describes the personal transformation of finding happiness after sadness. Visit her on twitter (@SongsOfKat).

 

 

 

 

 

 

the faintest hint
of a breeze
among the blossoms —
that’s how I imagine
your lips against my skin

.

I’ll hold you
in my heart
if not
in my arms —
spring moon

Paul Smith is a poet from Worcester in the UK. Alongside poetry Paul enjoys Japanese style ink painting, building cigar box guitars and playing old time blues.