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!
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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.
Basque Lore – Witch (Sorginak)-Short Prose – Poetic Prose by Gabriela Marie Milton
Amaia moved as if the earth itself exhaled her name. The cup before her shimmered with fern, salt, and a shard of the seaโs first boneโthe one that once wrapped around her ankles like a lover unwilling to let go. She broke the root of a tree between her fingers, and the scent of sap rose, thick and sweet as memory.
Her dress slipped from her shoulders, pooling at her feet like dusk surrendering to night. Naked, she began to danceโslowly at first, then with the rhythm of wind through stone, of rivers through veins. The air bent toward her, the mountains listening. Mist gathered around her skin, luminous and alive, her hair trailing down her thighs like spilled ink.
We were children, hidden beneath the bed, breathless. Through the slats, we saw her summon the world back to itselfโone movement, one whisper, one trembling note at a time.
Reminder
Please do not forget that in November Literary Revelations will bring you a splendid art album (7X10) by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton.
Title, Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony, and Power in Japanese Art
Authors, Hikari: Paintings and Tanka.
Gabriela Marie Milton: Haiku
To those of you who are my friends here, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your likes, comments, and support. Love you.
Sacred Autumn – short prose, poetic prose by Gabriela Marie Milton
Those nights of autumnโwhen the chill did not wound but healed, when the air itself seemed to breathe through us, cooling the fever of our restless hearts. Our eyes, heavy with the weight of constellations, closed like petals surrendering to the dusk. The city stirred beneath our footsteps, its silence trembling awake, its shadows turning to watch us pass.
Your lips traced, in the tender blindness of night, the outline of my fingers as though reading a forgotten scripture.
And in those evenings, we learned what few ever doโthat desire, once it transcends the body, becomes sacred. We had crossed that invisible threshold where touch dissolves into essence, and what we shared was no longer flesh, but the luminous echo of it.
Reminder
Please do not forget that in November Literary Revelations will bring you a splendid art album (7X10) by Hikari and Gabriela Marie Milton.
Title, Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony, and Power in Japanese Art
Authors, Hikari: Paintings and Tanka.
Gabriela Marie Milton: Haiku
To those of you who are my friends here, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your likes, comments, and support. Love you.
The streets remember you, every cobblestone etched with the memory of your footsteps, as if the earth itself had been branded by your presence. It’s been three years, yet the imprint of your steps lingers, a haunting echo that refuses to fade. I recall the way we’d dance in the empty streets, lost in the mystic glow of a sunset that unraveled itself just for us. The world melted away, leaving only the soft whisper of our footsteps and the fading light.
You vanished around the corner, turning left into the fading light, and I followed, my heart racing. But when I turned the street was deserted, the silence palpable. Yet, I could still feel the resonance of your steps, the vibrations of your presence lingering in the air. The distant chime of church bells pierced the evening air, and as the darkness gathered, it felt like the very shadows were alive, swirling around me like a shroud. In that moment, I was consumed by the ache of your absence, the longing to be reunited with the ghost of our past.
My publishing house, Literary Revelations, is excited to announce the forthcoming release of its new album, which highlights the beauty of Japanese art and poetry. This unique collection, entitled HAIKU AND TANKA: LULL, HARMONY AND POWER IN JAPANESE ART, by Japanese Artist Hikari and Poet Gabriela Marie Milton, will showcase evocative haiku and tanka, and absolutely stunning paintings by Hikari, offering readers an immersive journey through the timeless elegance of Japanese poetic traditions and art.
JAPANESE TITLE:
ART ON THE COVER – HIKARI
IN LIEU OF A FOREWORD
In 2023, 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 – a desire to collaborate on a project that would not only showcase Hikari’s 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.
HAIKU AND TANKA: LULL, HARMONY AND POWER IN JAPANESE ART is an exceptional art album and at the same time a beautiful book of poetry. Hikari and I embarked on a unique and fantastic artistic journey that intertwines her superb paintings with her evocative tanka poetry, and my interpretations of her paintings expressed through haiku. This collaboration is an unbelievable exhibition of art and poetry, and at the same time, it is an experiment that invites you, the readers, to witness the confluence of two distinct creative rivers flowing calmly together and whispering different stories.
Hikari’s 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.
As you turn each page, you’ll discover how our voices harmonize and divergeโan exploration of creativity that encourages you to reflect on your own interpretations. Join us in this artistic dialogue and experience that shows firsthand how two souls can connect through the universal language of art. My haiku included in this art album is translated into Japanese by aclamed fine-art photographer and poet Naoki Kimura.
Gabriela Marie Milton Editor-in Chief and Founder of Literary Revelations
Announcements:
Please stay tuned for more info. Visit Literary Revelations, Hikari and I on our social media:
@lr_publisher on X and IG @gabriela_marie_milton on IG and @shortprose1 on X Hikari on IG and X @hikari2162554
Si ha decidido no visitarme mรกs, porque se imagina que no quiero responderle a sus preguntas, no actรบa bien. Llega un tiempo de madurez para cada uno de nosotros.Estamos aquรญ, o en otra parte, eso nunca le queda claro a ninguno de nosotros. Me acuerdo de cierta maรฑana, un aรฑo antes de que muriera el Capitรกn, cuando recorrรญa sola las calles de la Ciudad. Habรญa pasado la noche anterior atormentรกndome con preguntas. Los rayos del sol se deslizaban al lado, cerca de mรญ, y tenรญa la impresiรณn de que me evitaban a propรณsito, como si me hubieran retirado hasta el derecho a sus caricias. Me resonaba todavรญa en los oรญdos la voz del Capitรกn, en la noche. ยกTe irรกs acostumbrando, mi amor, te irรกs acostumbrando! Claro, a todo nos acostumbramos. Pero no a nosotros, sino a nuestro doble que cada uno lleva dentro de sรญ mismo y utilizamos como un escudo, en contra de todos los males. Me habรญa detenido en la Gran Avenida frente a una tienda de cosmรฉticos, mirando al azar decenas de matices de creyones de labios, de cremas, rimmel. De pronto me pasaron por la mente sombras, miles de sombras, sombras de las mujeres que utilizaban cosas parecidas a las que estaba contemplando. Miro el escaparate de la tienda vecina, que pertenecรญa a una compaรฑรญa de turismo. Fotos bonitas de varias partes del continente. Se podรญa obtener descuento de precios, habitaciones en los hoteles mรกs fascinantes y una cantidad de chucherรญas gratuitas. Un mundo absurdo, aberrante. Fotos estupendas, en las que ninguno de nosotros nos encentrarรญamos alguna vez; porque la pelรญcula fotogrรกfica no puede sorprender nuestra alma. Me vino a la mente la figura del ministro del interior…..
And a surprise for my wonderful followers and subscribers:
Hidden in Childhood (Literary Revelations, 2023) is now available in audio format for free.
From authors featured on NPR, BBC, and the New York Times, and from emerging poets, comes a monumental anthology in which every poem sends shivers down your spine. Childhoodโs joy and trauma expressed – with stunning talent and sincerity – by over 150 poets in more than 280 poems. Childhood spaces magnified by the human memory, populated by good and bad, by trips to hell and heaven, in an almost Hieronymus Bosch type of atmosphere. Over 150 voices call you to read this book. Read it. You will learn that childhood never goes away. You will be reminded of the beauty of the seraphim and the need to protect children from any form of abuse. 150 voices knock on your door. Open the door. A chorus of childhoods will tell you that our children need love.
My publishing house, Literary Revelations, and I are thrilled beyond words to share some incredible news with you. The eBook edition of Fine Art Photography: Lullscapes in Light and Shadow by acclaimed Japanese artist Naoki Kimura has soared to the #1 Bestseller spot in Japan! Equally exciting, the book is currently the #1 Bestseller in the USA too.
This journey would not be possible without your unwavering support and appreciation for the art of photography and poetry. Each page of this collection is a tribute to quiet beauty, gentle illumination, and the delicate dance of shadows and wordsโa treasure designed to enrich the souls of all who encounter it.
From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank you for being part of this artistic adventure. Your enthusiasm inspires us every day, and we sincerely hope you continue to enjoy and share our eBook with others. With your help, this digital masterpiece can find its way to even more art lovers around the world.
May this book bring light and serenity to your days. Thank you for making this moment possible.
As I shared in a previous post, I have completed a novel in Spanish that has stirred my soul. The exhilarating journey of translating it into English has already begun, igniting my excitement. Whether you read it in English or Spanish, my hope is that this heartfelt novel will captivate readers like you next year. Till then, an excerpt in Spanish for you:
Excerpt in Spanish
โAnastasia, querida, Jezabel me contรณ una noche que en aquellos cinco aรฑos habรญa estado enamorada de un joven cientรญfico, que trabajaba en uno de los laboratorios de bioquรญmica de la Ciudad. Creo que vivรญa en un barrio antiguo, por la Calle Robbia. Una sola vez, segรบn sus palabras, Jezabel habrรญa subido las escaleras estrechas y oscuras que llevaban al departamento de รฉl. Me dijo que el hombre la habรญa agarrado en sus brazos y se habรญan quedado asรญ, uno junto al otro, tendidos en la cama, mirรกndose a los ojo largo rato. La cama se encontraba pegada a la pared, en la parte derecha de la habitaciรณn; encima habรญa una ventana sin cortinas. En la parte izquierda se hallaba un escritorio y frente a la puerta habรญa estantes llenos de libros.
La mujer se detuvo un momento de su silbido, tomรณ un trago de agua y continuรณ.
โJezabel desabotonรณ la camisa del hombre lentamente. El cual llevaba una camisa negra, de una seda pesada, como la del Continente, con botones diminutos, de color nรกcar. Se quedaron un rato mรกs callados, despuรฉs Jezabel se incorporรณ, abandonando la cama cubierta con una manta amarillenta, y se fue.
โยฟY?
โY nada, Anastasia, esto es todo.
Anastasia la mirรณ, consternada. ยกAl infierno con Lady Swartley y con todo! ยกEsta mujer le estaba tomando el pelo! ยฟQuรฉ es lo que querรญa decir, en realidad? ยกY cรณmo era posible que Jezabel conversara con otra mujer sobre el material de que estaban hechos los botones que apenas habรญa desabrochado de la camisa del pecho de su amante! ยฟY cรณmo podรญa conocer Lady Swartley la ubicaciรณn exacta del mueble en aquel cuarto, como si ella misma lo hubiera arreglado? Su propia pregunta la dejรณ frรญa. Quizรกs la propia inglesa haya arreglado el mueble del cuarto de la Calle Robbia. No, no podรญa ser, iba demasiado lejos en sus suposiciones. Si habรญa algo verdadero en esta historia, entonces Lady Swartley debiรณ haber protagonizado la escena aquella y no Jezabel. Pero รฉsta siguiรณ, masticando papas fritas.
