Submissions to Haiku for Soulmates are now closed. Heartfelt thanks to each of you for sharing your beautiful haiku and your creative spirit with us. Literary Revelations is deeply grateful for your participation. In mid-March, we will send out letters of acceptance or gentle rejections. We will do our best to honor as many voices as possible. Our tentative publication date is the end of March or the beginning of April, and we can’t wait to share this collection with you.
Gabriela Marie Milton Author, founder, editor in chief
Petals of Haiku, Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku, Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art; Full Moon Confessions – books published by Literary Revelations, officially accepted in the Museum of Contemporary Japanese Poetry, Tanka and Haiku (Japan)
My Dearest Subscribers and Followers,
I am thrilled to share some exciting news: Literary Revelations Anthologies of Haiku and Tanka have officially been included in the prestigious Museum of Contemporary Japanese Poetry, Tanka and Haiku, which boasts one of the world’s most remarkable poetry collections.
The following are now part of this prestigious museum.
Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony, and Power in Japanese Art By Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton
Full Moon Confessions by Tracey Anne
We are honored that these volumes, including the moving Full Moon Confessions by Tracey Anne, will be showcased among such prestigious literary treasures.
Hikari, our fabulous Artist in Residence send us from Japan the following message:
“I am absolutely thrilled to share that I had the honor of meeting Director of the museum Mr. Mutsuo Takano (้ซ้ใ ใใชๆฐ) in person today.
Meeting such a master of the Haiku world was an unforgettable and deeply moving experience for me.
โRegarding your publisher’s poetry books, the museum has officially accepted them into their permanent collection.
Mr. Takano and Deputy Director Toyoizumi shared some very profound words with me that I would like to pass on to you:
โ”Since poetry books are often published in limited numbers, they are at high risk of being forgotten over time if not properly preserved. However, by being housed here in this museum, your books will be preserved and will remain for generations to come.
Please give our best regards to Ms Gabriela Marie Milton and haiku poets from around the worldโ.
Mr. Takano said, โIt is especially gratifying to see haiku spreading overseas.
I sincerely hope all of you will continue to share haiku with the world.โ
As he leafed through “Petals of Haiku: An Anthology” and “Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku”โboth collections featuring contributions from more than two hundred writersโhe seemed genuinely moved by the growing presence of haiku abroad.
He was also surprised to learn that “Full Moon Confessions”(by Tracey Anne) had become a bestseller in Japan.
In particular, he showed a strong interest in “Lull, Harmony, and Power in Japanese Art.”
โIt is truly fascinating,โ he remarked, โto see an attempt to create a collaboration between tanka and haiku inspired by a single painting. I very much hope that, through such cooperative efforts, more haiku, tanka, and poetry will be created. I wholeheartedly support all those overseas who are dedicated to this kind of work.โ
โKnowing that the books we created together will now live on forever in the “holy place” of Japanese poetry is the greatest reward I could imagine.
Thank you so much for giving me this wonderful opportunity.
Hikari
โปIntroduction of Mr Takano Mutsuo-้ซ้ใ ใใชๆฐ-
Takano Mutsuo (born 1947 in Miyagi Prefecture) is one of the leading voices in contemporary Japanese haiku.
Today, Mr.Takano serves as President of the Modern Haiku Association and Director of “the Museum of Contemporary Japanese Poetry, Tanka and Haiku”.
His work is widely regarded for its emotional depth, imagistic intensity, and its ability to transform personal and regional experience into universal poetic expression.
After experiencing the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake firsthand, Mr Takano composed a series of powerful โdisaster haikuโ that confronted loss, trauma, and resilience with unflinching clarity.
These poems were collected in his acclaimed volume “Yorozu no Hane -่ฌใฎ็ฟ -“(Ten Thousand Wings), which received major literary honors including the Yomiuri Prize for Literature and the Dakotsu Prize-่็ฌ่ณ-.
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All the photographs I am sending have been approved for posting on your website by the museum director.
Hikari
Mr. Takano is looking through our books.
Mr. Takano and Hikari.
Please remember that Petals of Haiku and Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku are also included in the Museum of Haiku Literature in Tokyo.
Literary Revelations promised you that we would create legacies. We are doing it.
Thank you to our fabulous Artist in Residence Hikari!
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Please continue to submit to Haiku for Soulmates
We invite you to keep submitting to Literary Revelationsโ upcoming anthology, Haiku for Soulmates. We hope this collection will also find its place in esteemed museums.
To participate, please submit five haiku to literaryrevelations@pm.me with the email subject clearly labeled as โHaiku for Soulmates.โ Please be aware that unlabeled submissions may be misplaced and not read. The deadline for submissions is February 26. Kindly note that your five haiku will be reviewed as a set and accepted or rejected as a whole.
Thank you for your continued support and inspiration. ๐
Gabriela Marie Milton Author, Founder, and Editor-in -Chief at Literary Revelations
Happy February from Literary Revelations. May this month bring you happiness and success. Stay safe!
Haiku for Soulmates – Front Cover Reveal
Literary Revelations is thrilled to reveal the front cover of Haiku for Soulmates. I hope you like it. Please let us know.
The art on the cover belongs to our Artist-in-Residence, the Japanese painter Hikari. Cover design: Iuliana Irimia.
In the meantime, please continue to submit. The deadline for Submission is February 25. Send 5 haiku to literaryrevelations@pm.me. Please make sure to label your submission “Haiku for Soulmates”. We will have an answer for you around March 1. If you have any questions, please let us know. One question I want to clarify: Literary Revelations accepts traditional as well as non-traditional haiku.
Hainka – Just for you – Please do not submit Hainka, but you can try your pen after submitting to Haiku for Soulmates.
Hainka is a modern poetic form created by Pravat Kumar Padhy that merges the objective, nature-focused imagery of a 5-7-5 syllable haiku with the subjective, emotional depth of a 5-7-5-7-7 tanka. It is typically structured as a 48-syllable piece (5-7-5, 5-7-5-7-7) that uses the haiku as a pivotal, bridging image for the following tanka.
Key Aspects of Hainka:
Structure: Follows a 5-7-5 (haiku) and 5-7-5-7-7 (tanka) structure, totaling 48 syllables.
Pivot/Linking: The first part (haiku) acts as a pivot, and the second part (tanka) develops the imagery, with a necessary thematic, or sometimes, lyrical link between them.
Themes: Often explores nature, emotions, love, and humor.
Origin: Created by Pravat Kumar Padhy to fuse the two Japanese forms, notes Tanka Tuesday and All Poetry.
Presentation: A small, distinct gap is recommended between the haiku and the tanka for the reader to absorb the imagery.
It is an exciting form of poetry that has taken off, and it’s discussed in various outlets, such as Writer’s Digest. On ALL POETRY, the largest platform for poetry writers, HAINKA is highly appreciated. We do not yet have non-traditional forms of hainka, as we do for haiku.
Pravat Kumar Padhy: widely published and anthologized including โContemporary Indian English Love Poetryโ. Literary work referred in Spectrum History of Indian Literature in English, Alienation in Contemporary Indian English Poetry etc. Short Poems, Haiku and Tanka appeared in number of literary journals (both print and web) in India, USA, UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Africa including Poetry Time, Poet, Creative Forum, Poetcrit, Kritya, World Haiku Review, LYNX, Akita International Haiku Network, Poetry Pages, The Notes From the Gean, The Four Seasons of Haiku, Poetbay, Anglo-Japanese Society (Tanka Online), Ambrosia, Sketchbook , Atlas Poetica, Kokako, Berry Blue Haiku, Simply Haiku, The Houston Literary Review and others.
Literary Revelationsis thrilled to announce an open call for submissions for our upcoming anthology, Haiku for Soulmates. Whether you have a soulmate and wish to celebrate your connection, or you dream of finding one, we invite you to share your poetic voice. If you have a soulmate, please compose five haiku for him or her. If you do not, let your imagination shape five haiku that describe the soulmate you hope to meet.
To participate, please submit your five haiku to literaryrevelations@pm.me and clearly label your email subject as Haiku for Soulmates. Please note that unlabeled submissions may be misplaced and not read. The submission deadline is February 25. Your five haiku will be accepted or rejected as a block.
Grace the pages of our forthcoming anthology with your fantastic writing. The cover art will feature the work of our fabulous Artist in Residence, Japanese painter Hikari. We look forward to receiving your beautiful haiku and celebrating the magic of soulmates together.
Before you submit, please visit our website on the about page โ terms and conditions.
Now in eBook format, Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art
My dear followers and subscribers, Literary Revelations is thrilled to announce that Literary Revelations’ bestseller Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony, and Power in Japanese Art by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton is now available in eBook format.
Own 87 original Japanese paintings done by our Fabulous Hikari!
Experience the enchanting collaboration between Japanese artist Hikari and American poet Gabriela Marie Milton in Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art. This stunning poetry and art album gracefully bridges Eastern and Western sensibilities, inviting readers on a vivid journey through tradition, perspective, and creative imagination.
Hikariโs masterful paintings immerse you in the splendor of Japanese art, each brushstroke echoing the beauty of cultural heritage and the depth of historical narrative. Her tanka, deeply rooted in Japanese traditions, transports readers to landscapes and moments of spiritual introspection.
In contrast, Gabriela Marie Miltonโs evocative haiku offers a fresh, Western perspectiveโcrafted in direct response to Hikariโs artwork. Her concise yet profound verses highlight the magnificence and subtlety captured on canvas, creating a dialogue between image and word that transcends borders. This unique approach allows readers to view the same artwork through two distinct cultural lenses, underscoring the rich possibilities of artistic perspectivism.
Upcoming call for submission
The call for submissions for Literary Revelations’ upcoming haiku anthology, Haiku for Soulmates, is coming up tomorrow. Please stay tuned.
Featured picture Hikari. This art will be used to create the cover.
Wishing all my followers around the world a wonderful weekend! May magic, love, and peace be with you.
Poetry in English and Basque & A Quick Reminder.
Poetry in English and Basque
I am who I am, and who I am breathes in the hush between desire and devotion โ hidden in the tears that slide down the cracked face of an iconoclastโs old church, glistening like skin after rain.
My essence stirs in the murmur of the waves that caress Bilbaoโs restless shore. There, beneath the trembling light, I unfold โ a secret pulse, a body made of memory and prayers, aching to be touched by the world again.
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Ni naizena naiz, eta naizena arnasa hartzen du desioaren eta debozioaren arteko isilunean โ ikonoklasta baten eliza zaharraren aurpegi pitzatuaren gainetik behera irristatzen diren malkoetan ezkutatuta, euriaren ondoren larruazal bezain distiratsu.
Nire esentzia mugitzen da Bilboko itsasertze bizkorra laztantzen duten olatuen xuxurlan. Han, dardarka dabilen argiaren azpian, zabaltzen naiz โ taupada sekretu bat, oroitzapen eta otoitzaz egindako gorputz bat, munduak berriro ukitzeko gogo biziz.
Haiku and Tanka, Lull Harmony and Power in Japanese art by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton in now #1 Top Release in Canada
After being the #1 Top Release in the USA and still a bestseller, the #1 Amazon Bestseller in Japan, Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art, published by Literary Revelations, is now a #1 Top Seller in Canada too. Australia, how are we doing? Thank you to everyone who bought our book.
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A Reminder
Please do not forget to check my new #1 Amazon Bestselling book, co-authored with the fabulous Japanese painter Hikari, Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art.
I am thrilled to let you know that Literary Revelations’ new poetry and art album Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art is #1 Top Release on Amazon in the US and #1 Bestseller in Japan ! The book is authored by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton (me)
Please check the book here:
Thank you to everyone who helped us.
I realize it is not cheap, but it’s an art album, and we cannot lower the price because of production costs.
All my love
Gabriela Marie Milton
PS. I am very sorry I cannot like your posts. WordPress banned me from giving likes on the day of the launch, right after I posted.
Exciting News: Upcoming Release of โHaiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Artโ
A Beautiful Collaboration Arrives Just in Time for the Holidays
Dear friends and followers,
I am thrilled to announce that Literary Revelations will soon publish a very special album: โHaiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power.โ This splendid collection will be available in early Decemberโjust in time to make the perfect Christmas gift for literature and art lovers alike!
The album is a true collectorโs piece. It features exquisite paintings and tanka poetry by Hikari, expressing traditional Japanese art. Alongside her stunning artwork, youโll find my own interpretations of her paintings, illustrated in my haiku. This collaboration celebrates the harmony between visual art and poetry, offering a unique journey through both mediums.
We understand the importance of accessibility, so Literary Revelations will make every effort to keep the price as low as possible. Our goal is to ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy this remarkable album.
Stay tuned for more updates and details. Thank you all for your continued supportโI canโt wait for you to experience this extraordinary release!
With excitement, gratitude, and deep thanks for your continued support!
This video is optimized for IG. On your blog, the image may appear slightly blurred. My apologies.
My dearest followers, I wish you a beautiful and magical November.
The purpose of this post is two fold:
A poem by me
An exciting update on Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony, and Power in Japanese art by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton.
Let’s start:
November Hues by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton
Somewhere in Northern Europe – My Photo
In Novemberโs breath, the law of beauty sleeps โ a hush of gold dissolving into dusk. Even the dying light adorns the world, as if farewell itself was made of grace.
An update on Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony, and Power in Japanese art.
Literary Revelations is pleased to announce that Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony, and Power in Japanese Art by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton is scheduled for publication at the beginning of December, just in time for Christmas presents. Please read more about the book and perspectivism in art HERE. If you go to that post, you will also have the possibility to write haiku or tanka on a new fabulous picture by Hikari.
This post will explain what to expect from Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony, and Power in Japanese Art by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton, forthcoming from Literary Revelations.
I want to make it clear from the beginning: Hikariโs fabulous contribution is much bigger than mine. She painted the art and wrote the tanka. I only wrote the foreword and corresponding haiku, approaching her paintings from a different point of view.
So letโs start, because at the end I have a surprise for you.
Lull, Harmony, and Power in Japanese Art by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton
Trim: 8X10 inches Text: English-Japanese Amazon premium paper glossy Foreword and bios in English and Japanese Hardcover and paperback
The novelty brought by the book – Different interpretations of the same image
Hikariโs vibrant brushstrokes capture emotions and moments in time, while her tanka adds layers of meaning that resonate deeply with each piece. My haiku serves as a reflective lens, offering a different perspective on the same visual stimuli. This interplay between our approaches shows how art can be perceived through varied lenses, highlighting the beauty and meaning of our individual interpretations.
In 2003, when my publishing house, Literary Revelations, was still in its infancy, fate brought me to Hikari through a dear friend. The moment I laid eyes on her paintings; I was utterly captivated; they were a breathtaking homage to Japanese art. Each piece resonated with an ethereal beautyโpastels blending seamlessly with the elegance of fans and the grace of swords. It felt as though time stood still for those few seconds as I absorbed the profound artistry before me. Hikariโs work transcends mere aesthetics; it tells stories steeped in tradition and culture, inviting viewers and readers of tanka into a world where every brushstroke holds meaning.
This encounter ignited a spark within me โ a desire to collaborate on a project that would not only showcase Hikariโs incredible talent but also convey my unique vision of the art of haiku. Hikari is Japanese, and she spent her young years in Europe. I am a European who now lives in the US. Together, we decided to create something extraordinary that honors both her heritage and my interpretations of the art of haiku.
In the name of our friendship, HAIKU AND TANKA: LULL, HARMONY AND POWER IN JAPANESE ART was born.
[from the foreword]
When you open the book, here is what you will find [the margins will not be there]
English translation of my haiku: Naoki Kimura.
Surprise
Hikari has painted a new fabulous piece for you and written a new tanka. I just wrote a corresponding haiku. Those pieces will not be included in the book.
