Our Wolves, my Red Riding Hood poetry chapbook, was reviewed by fantasy and science fiction writer D. (Diana) Wallace Peach for her October Book Reviews: https://mythsofthemirror.com/2023/10/31/october-book-reviews-2/. I love her review. She says,  “these are thoughtful and provocative poems that I found stirring, raw, and deeply insightful. They’re also beautifully written with gorgeous but accessible language, providing glimmers into the lives and stories of girls everywhere.”

Diana posted the review on Amazon where it is keeping company with another new and fabulous review by writer Wilma Kahn: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R31IC9DU4DZING/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0BTKNP31D. The ending of her review is so cool: “Love the poetry. Embrace the shock.”

It feels so rewarding to have readers take the time to write reviews for my books. Makes me happy.

On the same subject of poetry, I read a hilarious article in The Onion, a master of satire. It’s the funniEST if you know that most poets make nothing from their books as the costs of promotion in both money and time outweigh the royalties. https://www.theonion.com/sellout-poet-made-over-150-in-2023-alone-1851012377

For #TankaTuesday, Colleen Chesebro challenged poets to write three tankas using specific kigo as either first lines or pivot lines.
#1: “the first month with sleet”
#2: “late winter garden”
#3: “blanket by the fire”

Here are mine. It took a little weirdness since we still have gorgeous weather in Arizona.

the first month with sleet

and a howling, freezing wind

first weeks of snowfalls

that melt even as they touch

the earth not yet full-frozen

*

outside I linger

among the curling petals

late winter garden

a place for thoughts of the past

a place for wishes to come

*

in Arizona

we look ahead to winter

blanket by the fire

both cuddling with the kitties

will it come or will fall stay

###

I also wrote a tanka about the contrast of our Arizona weather and my family’s Michigan weather.

[Beginning of Winter in Arizona versus Michigan]

A fall breeze upset

my skirt on my daily walk.

Lone sign of winter.

My brother in Michigan

raked fallen leaves for hours.

###

My kigo is fallen leaves and fall breeze (instead of autumn wind).