ETERNAL: Tan-Ku Sequences & Sets II by Mariko Kitakubo and Deborah P Kolodji (forthcoming)
Eternal is a poignant tribute to the late Deborah P Kolodji, a renowned haiku poet who passed away in July 2024. This collection, compiled by her soul sister Mariko Kitakubo, showcases their unique collaboration in the form of Tan-Ku, a genre they co-founded that interweaves tanka and haiku, and pushed the boundaries of what was possible in short-form poetry. The book not only celebrates Kolodji's literary legacy but also explores the enduring connection between the two poets, transcending physical boundaries. Through this project, Kitakubo finds solace and strength, feeling Kolodji's comforting presence guiding her work. Eternal promises to be a touching exploration of friendship, creativity, and the power of poetry to preserve memories and love beyond life itself. ―Iliyana Stoyanova, President of the British Haiku Society.
“Tanka poetry in Japan grew out of poetic communication in the Imperial Court. Similarly, haiku grew out of poetic collaboration in linked verse. It is no wonder that haiku and tanka should now be speaking to each other, as is the case with this book. Mariko Kitakubo and Deborah P Kolodji are superlative at this sort of collaboration, alternating tanka and haiku in surprising and energetic conversations they call Tan-Ku. Eternal is a fine follow-up to their previous Tan-Ku book, inviting you to explore their continued synergy with each other through their chosen forms of poetic expression.” —Michael Dylan Welch, founder and president of the Tanka Society of America
“Tanka poetry in Japan grew out of poetic communication in the Imperial Court. Similarly, haiku grew out of poetic collaboration in linked verse. It is no wonder that haiku and tanka should now be speaking to each other, as is the case with this book. Mariko Kitakubo and Deborah P Kolodji are superlative at this sort of collaboration, alternating tanka and haiku in surprising and energetic conversations they call Tan-Ku. Eternal is a fine follow-up to their previous Tan-Ku book, inviting you to explore their continued synergy with each other through their chosen forms of poetic expression.” —Michael Dylan Welch, founder and president of the Tanka Society of America
Deborah P Kolodji was the Moderator of the Southern California Haiku Study Group, the California Regional Coordinator for the Haiku Society of America, and a member of the board of directors for Haiku North America. Deborah was the honorary president of the Tan-Ku Association (which she co-founded). She had a degree in mathematics from the University of Southern California. With over 1000 published haiku to her name, her first full-length book of haiku and senryu, highway of sleeping towns, from Shabda Press, was awarded a Touchstone Distinguished Book Award from The Haiku Foundation. Her e-chapbook, tug of a black hole, won 2nd Place in the Elgin Awards from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association. In 2023 she published the first Tan-Ku collection with Mariko Kitakubo, titled DISTANCE from Shabda Press. Her newest book, Vital Signs, featuring haiku glimpses of moments in her cancer journey, was published in 2024 by Cuttlefish Books. In Vital Signs, Deborah saw the condor come back from extinction as a metaphor for the cancer patient fighting for one's own survival.
Deborah P Kolodji passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 21, 2024 after a long struggle with cancer.
Mariko Kitakubo was born in Tokyo, and she lives in Mitaka-city, Tokyo. Mariko is the president of the Tan-Ku Association (which she co-founded). She is a member of the Japan Writers' Association, Japan PEN Club, Association of Contemporary Tanka Poets, Japan Tanka Poets' Society, Kokoro-No-Hana, and the Tanka Society of America. Mariko has published six books of tanka including three bilingual ones, On This Same Star, Cicada Forest and INDIGO. In 2023 she published the first Tan-Ku collection with Deborah P Kolodji, titled DISTANCE. Mariko is an experienced performer who has presented her poetry on at least 260 occasions, 203 of which occurred during overseas and international events (July 2024).
She has performed in 54 cities around the world, including Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, UK, and USA.
Mariko hopes to encourage more poetry lovers worldwide to appreciate the practice of tanka and Tan-Ku.
URL: https://www.en.kitakubo.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565293782799
Deborah P Kolodji passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 21, 2024 after a long struggle with cancer.
Mariko Kitakubo was born in Tokyo, and she lives in Mitaka-city, Tokyo. Mariko is the president of the Tan-Ku Association (which she co-founded). She is a member of the Japan Writers' Association, Japan PEN Club, Association of Contemporary Tanka Poets, Japan Tanka Poets' Society, Kokoro-No-Hana, and the Tanka Society of America. Mariko has published six books of tanka including three bilingual ones, On This Same Star, Cicada Forest and INDIGO. In 2023 she published the first Tan-Ku collection with Deborah P Kolodji, titled DISTANCE. Mariko is an experienced performer who has presented her poetry on at least 260 occasions, 203 of which occurred during overseas and international events (July 2024).
She has performed in 54 cities around the world, including Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, UK, and USA.
Mariko hopes to encourage more poetry lovers worldwide to appreciate the practice of tanka and Tan-Ku.
URL: https://www.en.kitakubo.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565293782799
Deborah P Kolodji and Mariko Kitakubo
DISTANCE: Tan-Ku Sequences & Sets by Mariko Kitakubo and Deborah P Kolodji
ISBN: 978-1-7377113-6-0
$18 ORDER on Amazon https://a.co/d/ekhsTUt
“Dynamic, lyrical, and nuanced, this collection is simply delightful. The twin functions of poetry as intimate dialogue and a form of play between friends are both deeply rooted in the tanka as well as the haiku. In these sequences, we are able to enjoy the interplay as two masters of their respective forms explore the rich intersection between the two genres, creating something that is both familiar and entirely new.” --Clayton Beach, Co-editor of Heliosparrow Poetry Journal
"By linking tanka and haiku together in Distance, Kitakubo and Kolodji blow the doors open to all the possibilities. In combining these two long-standing literary traditions, the two authors have explored the depth and scope of how the forms can build upon each other to create something fresh and new. While staying true to the spirit of each form, Kitakubo and Kolodji link and explore not just their poems, but their lives and their friendship." --Bryan Rickert, President, Haiku Society of America
Mariko Kitakubo is a tanka poet/tanka reading performer born in Tokyo (4, Oct. 1959) and living in Mitaka-city, Tokyo. Mariko has published six books of tanka including three bilingual ones, On This Same Star, Cicada Forest and INDIGO. She has also produced a CD of her tanka titled “Messages.” Mariko is an experienced performer who has presented her poetry on at least 238 occasions, 181 of them overseas (April 2023) in 54 cities around the world, including the US, Canada, Australia, India, France, Germany, Portugal, UK, Tanzania, Switzerland, Bulgaria, and Sweden. Mariko hopes to encourage more poetry lovers worldwide to appreciate and practice tanka. URL: https://www.en.kitakubo.com
Deborah P Kolodji is the Moderator of the Southern California Haiku Study Group, the California Regional Coordinator for the Haiku Society of America, and a member of the board of directors for Haiku North America. She has a degree in mathematics from the University of Southern California. With over 1000 published haiku to her name, her first full-length book of haiku and senryu, highway of sleeping towns, from Shabda Press, was awarded a Touchstone Distinguished Book Award from The Haiku Foundation. Her e-chapbook, tug of a black hole, won 2nd Place in the Elgin Awards from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association. She finds inspiration in the beaches, mountains, deserts, gardens, and urban life of Los Angeles County.
$18 ORDER on Amazon https://a.co/d/ekhsTUt
“Dynamic, lyrical, and nuanced, this collection is simply delightful. The twin functions of poetry as intimate dialogue and a form of play between friends are both deeply rooted in the tanka as well as the haiku. In these sequences, we are able to enjoy the interplay as two masters of their respective forms explore the rich intersection between the two genres, creating something that is both familiar and entirely new.” --Clayton Beach, Co-editor of Heliosparrow Poetry Journal
"By linking tanka and haiku together in Distance, Kitakubo and Kolodji blow the doors open to all the possibilities. In combining these two long-standing literary traditions, the two authors have explored the depth and scope of how the forms can build upon each other to create something fresh and new. While staying true to the spirit of each form, Kitakubo and Kolodji link and explore not just their poems, but their lives and their friendship." --Bryan Rickert, President, Haiku Society of America
Mariko Kitakubo is a tanka poet/tanka reading performer born in Tokyo (4, Oct. 1959) and living in Mitaka-city, Tokyo. Mariko has published six books of tanka including three bilingual ones, On This Same Star, Cicada Forest and INDIGO. She has also produced a CD of her tanka titled “Messages.” Mariko is an experienced performer who has presented her poetry on at least 238 occasions, 181 of them overseas (April 2023) in 54 cities around the world, including the US, Canada, Australia, India, France, Germany, Portugal, UK, Tanzania, Switzerland, Bulgaria, and Sweden. Mariko hopes to encourage more poetry lovers worldwide to appreciate and practice tanka. URL: https://www.en.kitakubo.com
Deborah P Kolodji is the Moderator of the Southern California Haiku Study Group, the California Regional Coordinator for the Haiku Society of America, and a member of the board of directors for Haiku North America. She has a degree in mathematics from the University of Southern California. With over 1000 published haiku to her name, her first full-length book of haiku and senryu, highway of sleeping towns, from Shabda Press, was awarded a Touchstone Distinguished Book Award from The Haiku Foundation. Her e-chapbook, tug of a black hole, won 2nd Place in the Elgin Awards from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association. She finds inspiration in the beaches, mountains, deserts, gardens, and urban life of Los Angeles County.
