Moonbathing: a journal of women’s tanka, premiere issue edited by Pamela A. Babusci and Cathy Drinkwater Better. Black Cat Press, 613 Okemo Drive, Eldersburg, Maryland 21784, USA. Autumn 2009/Winter 2010. 21 pp. US/Canada 5.00; Overseas: US$7.00. Reviewed by Patricia Prime
The first tanka, by Karen Cesar is the first “moonbathing” contest winner:
moonbathing
this autumn eve
my body
and mind float free
in a river of stars
Following the first tanka is a page devoted to the Japanese poet Fumi Takemura:
seasonal flowers
at the florist’s shop
waving . . .
I gaze at them
feeling quiet
If you read tanka, you’ll know that both editors are experienced poets and enthusiastic women who strive to encourage women to both read and write tanka. Too many writers are included here to list them all in full, but the collection includes such luminaries in the field as Marjorie A. Buettner, Margaret Chula, Amelia Fielden, Kathy Kituai, Giselle Mays and many more. The poets are presented in alphabetical order. This is a full-immersion read with a total emphasis on the poems.
Zofia Barisas explores the dreamy gaze of a young woman admiring her growing figure:
Reflected in the old mirror
her dreamy gaze
lingers
on the soft mounds
of her emerging breasts
While Cherie Hunter Day gazes into the distance:
at thirty miles
the distant coastline is just
a blue suggestion
it’s been years since I could
move in any direction
and Margaret Grace writes about the ageing process:
awaken this goddess
trapped in the labyrinth
of ageing
never having known dew
or moonlight on bare skin
The snappy format throughout the book encourages dipping in and out. The writers are experienced in the art of tanka, so it’s a useful introduction to new writers of the form.
The premier issue of Moonbathing is edited by Pamela A. Babusci and Cathy Drinwater Better. Following issues will be edited solely by Pamela and all submissions should be e-mailed to her: moongate44@gmail.com. Please no attachments – next deadline May 1st 2010 (spring/summer or non seasonal themes) any questions about submission fees, etc. please contact Pamela. Woman tanka poets to strongly encouraged to submit and subscribe to Moonbathing.
