A Haiku Bouquet of Marigolds
Open afresh your rounds of starry folds, Ye ardent Marigolds.
—John Keats
evening prayer fades
the dust of marigold
in my palms
faded marigold —
the bride’s father lingers
at the doorway
marigolds . . .
a girl skipping
down the lane
moving day—
on the dining table
wilted marigolds
marigolds —
grandma knits
another jumper
descending winter
a yellow marigold stem
scoops the earth
blooms of marigold
in the temple courtyard
reminding me
soft smile of Ma
tending her garden
Anish is an Indian doctor and poet writing about life and love as they unfold in ordinary moments. His work listens closely to what it means to be human.
Vaishnavi Ramaswamy is a lover of poetry, languages, nature, wildlife and crystals.
Keiko lives on a hilltop in Yokohama, Japan with her husband and two cats. She enjoys watching foreign ships come in and out of port.
Hifsa Ashraf is an award-winning multilingual poet, author, editor, and social activist from Rawalpindi, Pakistan. She is the author of six individual and four collaborative micropoetry books. She received the Touchstone Award (2021) and Honourable Mentions in the Touchstone Distinguished Books Award (2020) and Haiku Society of America Merit Book Award (2021).
Martina Matijević is a poet from Croatia whose short poetry has been published in Modern Haiku, Acorn, Autumn Moon Haiku Journal, and other journals.
Bombay-born, US-educated, Vishal Prabhu has since taken time off to stand and stare. He lives in the Himalayas.
Shiva is a doctor by profession, surgeon by passion and a mother at heart. She loves to wonder and ponder at small and big miracles of nature which transcend as life.
Editorial Note – Issue 1
Welcome to the inaugural issue of The Bougainvillea Journal 🌸
Spring has arrived and slowly, steadily we will step into summers. Flowers are blooming, skies are clear yet the chaos at present in world can feel overwhelming!
As we know, literature has always been a mirror to us of society, of our own selves as well as one of the greatest solace for humanity. It opens the door to possibilities, dreams, and often the much-needed warmth and peace we seek.
With this journal, I hope to take a small step forward with a vision of warmth, love, and optimism as what the world of literature and arts have always been for me.
In this marigold-themed issue there is a special small haiku bouquet of marigolds for you, honoring the lovely flowers existing around us in all forms of joy, love and grief, connoting different shades of memories and moments.
And also, do read the wonderful literary reflections at the end with this issue. Such extraordinary, beautiful writing.
I am grateful to each one of you for trusting me with your beautiful work. May these poems offer space to dwell for a moment when life feels too fleeting.
— Bhawana Rathore