tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56864314317560629862024-03-13T12:46:49.231-04:00The Happy AmateurLive for the Love of itSasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.comBlogger600125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-54220123628848521042022-07-01T10:24:00.000-04:002022-07-01T10:24:03.401-04:00THF June 2022 Kukai, first prize<div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This poem I wrote, won first prize in the Haiku Foundation's June contest:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://thehaikufoundation.org/thf-monthly-kukai-july-2022/" target="_blank">canning day</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://thehaikufoundation.org/thf-monthly-kukai-july-2022/" target="_blank">mason jars filled</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://thehaikufoundation.org/thf-monthly-kukai-july-2022/" target="_blank">with sunshine </a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Thank you very much to all who voted for my haiku, and to Dee Evetts for his commentary. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Live for the Love of it,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</span></div>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-50615076094066819412022-06-02T10:54:00.001-04:002022-06-02T10:54:51.738-04:00THF May 2022 Kukai, first prize<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This monoku I wrote, won first prize in the Haiku Foundation's May haiku contest:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://thehaikufoundation.org/thf-monthly-kukai-june-2022/" target="_blank">spent blossoms falling softly out of love</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Thank you very much to all who voted for my poem, and to Dee Evetts for his commentary. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Live for the Love of it,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-72733607026672498592022-04-25T11:34:00.002-04:002022-04-25T11:34:45.186-04:00Touchstone Award, Commentary from the Panel<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBh05WBXkDqI3gJiMfWZkQr0TlZ-cWWiEPWVi2bUk8qr-9kkngFGMMzcp_h7hBbUo8j3XHwfqtmI6I3rAYehkGl46wYBxsyY7P5o0pry7obHUxbMmKW7sq7rJdFIqqgzKGTOROlxZM6tRVw2PC1FBkbHVyBVAK8vrzXT2OKY1K-quLE8jOXCNLymXww/s1228/THF-Touchstone-Awards-Post-Category-Images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="1228" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBh05WBXkDqI3gJiMfWZkQr0TlZ-cWWiEPWVi2bUk8qr-9kkngFGMMzcp_h7hBbUo8j3XHwfqtmI6I3rAYehkGl46wYBxsyY7P5o0pry7obHUxbMmKW7sq7rJdFIqqgzKGTOROlxZM6tRVw2PC1FBkbHVyBVAK8vrzXT2OKY1K-quLE8jOXCNLymXww/s320/THF-Touchstone-Awards-Post-Category-Images-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Very grateful to The Haiku Foundation panel for choosing my poem, and taking the time to write </span><a href="https://thehaikufoundation.org/sasha-a-palmer-touchstone-award-for-individual-poems-winner-2021/" style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">this wonderful thoughtful commentary</a><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Live for the Love of it,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</span></div><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></div></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><div></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-27295220066715280962022-04-18T16:18:00.000-04:002022-04-18T16:18:37.769-04:00"beneath the blossoms..."<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwx75y2riyx-G9CkTcITI1_5qjZTugzWF0a4n0zZUOOXwFL7t-zpTQzHUFUcjPV5ofDCqzgpc16QlczfvCikDv_zBLIsHe5q8HKw1NI48cczJjNTeFfg6zsefCvGeWoXQXopk2toZjPB8LeBUT6_K6EoFIenhI8rWcJwrkpKET9hQTX9xPZ2J2yhYuOQ/s1228/THF-Touchstone-Awards-Post-Category-Images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="1228" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwx75y2riyx-G9CkTcITI1_5qjZTugzWF0a4n0zZUOOXwFL7t-zpTQzHUFUcjPV5ofDCqzgpc16QlczfvCikDv_zBLIsHe5q8HKw1NI48cczJjNTeFfg6zsefCvGeWoXQXopk2toZjPB8LeBUT6_K6EoFIenhI8rWcJwrkpKET9hQTX9xPZ2J2yhYuOQ/s320/THF-Touchstone-Awards-Post-Category-Images-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />beneath the blossoms<p></p><p>she counts her years</p><p>on one hand</p><p><br /></p><p>Happy and grateful that this haiku, which originally won second place in the inaugural Japan Fair international haiku contest, is one of the six winners of <a href="https://thehaikufoundation.org/touchstone-awards-for-individual-poems-2021/" target="_blank">The Haiku Foundation Touchstone awards for individual poems 2021</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>Live for the Love of it,</p><p>Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-7207087951995521232022-03-28T13:46:00.004-04:002022-03-28T13:46:37.865-04:00Publication: Collaborative Photo-Haiku <p>On behalf of photographer Nikolai Abramov and myself, author of haiku, I express gratitude to the Akita International Haiku Network for including our collaborative work (three photo-haiku) into the Network's official journal:</p><p><a href="https://akitahaiku.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/serow-vol.-5-spreads-2022.03.25.pdf" target="_blank">Serow, Volume 5</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Thank you.</p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-44162463045869400982022-03-17T10:29:00.000-04:002022-03-17T10:29:23.973-04:00Brief Haiku Publication Updates<p>March 8th:</p><p><a href="https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220224/p2g/00m/0su/069000c" target="_blank">My haiku appears in The Mainichi</a> </p><p>March 16th: </p><p><a href="https://akitahaiku.com/2022/03/16/world-haiku-series-2021-48-haiku-by-sasha-a-palmer/" target="_blank">My haiga and haiku (in English, and translated into Japanese by Hidenori Hiruta) are published on the website of Akita International Haiku Network</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Thank you</p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-27491165358509686192022-03-11T13:59:00.002-05:002022-03-11T14:00:10.567-05:00old poem<p>FALLEN</p><div>Lay them down in the fields </div><div>of sweet barley and rye,</div><div>let them pause for a bit </div><div>till they're ready to fly,</div><div>do not bend over them, </div><div>do not mourn, do not weep,</div><div><div>do not trouble their rest,</div><div>let them sleep, let them sleep.</div><div><br /></div><div>They will gather their strength</div><div>and together they'll rise,</div><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">all like one they'll take flight</span></div><div><div>to the still paradise,</div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">where the children await,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">where the wives of their own</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">they'll embrace at the gate,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">where the fields lie unmown.</span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfdfd; color: #202122; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif;">©</span> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">2012 Sasha A. Palmer</span></div>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-88857517027693120302022-02-05T12:55:00.000-05:002022-03-11T13:27:58.146-05:00Searching for Tussilago Farfara<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixMx7FuWMGPcD8K7MPut9AOQbvqi1s4vKh8uFDQ-Y4rEbj0_t3ex8wzd76HR2qe0haZEX76uu9FFC3_QKkhG4Iq203szPLXc_WR7rLOXpaB8DygKTJTIEPgsj_dKzcZaW5Juh8eQY9hLmFFS496ho-rSvXK6j-uXzN0TeMpOG6wCS3QY5LtN-q_SWihg=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixMx7FuWMGPcD8K7MPut9AOQbvqi1s4vKh8uFDQ-Y4rEbj0_t3ex8wzd76HR2qe0haZEX76uu9FFC3_QKkhG4Iq203szPLXc_WR7rLOXpaB8DygKTJTIEPgsj_dKzcZaW5Juh8eQY9hLmFFS496ho-rSvXK6j-uXzN0TeMpOG6wCS3QY5LtN-q_SWihg=s320" width="320" /></a></p><div><div>Like me, you're alien to this land.</div><div>You must be scarce, for I have not </div><div>Spotted you once, my long-lost friend,</div><div>in all these years...and I forgot </div><div>your heart-shaped leaves (that now I hear</div><div>look like colts' feet <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">–</span> no! hearts,) the gold</div><div>of yellow flowers that appear</div><div><div>before the leaves—out with the old</div><div>in with the new—heralds of spring,</div><div>anxious to bloom...I did forget</div><div>the suns I used to pick and bring</div><div>home, though they did not keep; and yet</div><div>I do recall the way it felt <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">–</span></div><div><div>your touch. My little fingers traced</div><div>your leaves' soft lining as I knelt</div><div>on warm earth, sunshine on my face.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Live for the Love of it,</div><div>Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</div><div><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>image: Pixabay</div><div><br /></div></div>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-40048661380128515662021-12-21T10:44:00.000-05:002021-12-21T10:44:01.241-05:00Almost-Christmas Quatrain <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRyMxv81LbmbgjqSxzd3q-ib1t07bGE-uKrHIIuo3HlBpUc_QOVIMNW3w1u_ww6sojIuBewX8ZbbudnyxUQNuU_847nmP96_AcjouQHW_yUpEhF8jlFvBsPuZ81hBh1aBoN8Oi28F9dUweQazzbPF1OdwcIjDkRPYKmLM4tfrwGmOs_jNTS1MfMYpCYw=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="800" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRyMxv81LbmbgjqSxzd3q-ib1t07bGE-uKrHIIuo3HlBpUc_QOVIMNW3w1u_ww6sojIuBewX8ZbbudnyxUQNuU_847nmP96_AcjouQHW_yUpEhF8jlFvBsPuZ81hBh1aBoN8Oi28F9dUweQazzbPF1OdwcIjDkRPYKmLM4tfrwGmOs_jNTS1MfMYpCYw=s320" width="320" /></a><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">No room, they were told, and away<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">They went as the cold night fell<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">To find a dark stable, wherein<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US">All—true Light within—was well.</span></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/wd-poetic-form-challenge-seadna" target="_blank">Prompted by WD Seadna poetic form challenge. </a></p><p><br /></p><p>image: The Evening before the birth of Christ, by Michael Rieser (1869)</p><p><br /></p><p>Live for the Love of it,</p><p>Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-71934490091160180282021-08-15T17:23:00.001-04:002021-08-15T17:51:36.497-04:002021 Korean Literature Review Contest<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O_qUPf827e4/YRmLhQBR2tI/AAAAAAAACQU/XlYhpN56HnU4dKEvDe6luf3hgiMyjSHSgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O_qUPf827e4/YRmLhQBR2tI/AAAAAAAACQU/XlYhpN56HnU4dKEvDe6luf3hgiMyjSHSgCLcBGAsYHQ/w260-h400/image.png" width="260" /></a></div><br />The 2021 Korean Literature Review Contest hosted by Literature Translation Institute of Korea, is accepting applications. Reviews of literary works by Korean authors may be submitted in a variety of formats. <p></p><p>See my review of Kim Soom's "One Left"</p><p>on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSmQ4ker1aV/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></p><p>and on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1383812365338316&set=a.1383812635338289" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://ow.ly/emV750FMhht" target="_blank">Learn more and enter the contest</a>. </p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-27979175619061913382021-08-05T21:31:00.000-04:002021-08-05T21:31:11.700-04:00Black & White Haiga<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6AUUA1y3aKw/YQyNk0B-USI/AAAAAAAACQI/Xhag3IJYPGwI9FEZQeP9Fyzhw68ALCJrACLcBGAsYHQ/s900/black%2Band%2Bwhite%2Bhaiga%252C%2Bby%2Bsasha%2Ba.%2Bpalmer%252C%2B600%2Bby%2B900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6AUUA1y3aKw/YQyNk0B-USI/AAAAAAAACQI/Xhag3IJYPGwI9FEZQeP9Fyzhw68ALCJrACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/black%2Band%2Bwhite%2Bhaiga%252C%2Bby%2Bsasha%2Ba.%2Bpalmer%252C%2B600%2Bby%2B900.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This black & white haiga was published today on <a href="https://ourbesthaiga.blogspot.com/2021/08/sasha-palmer.html" target="_blank">Lavana Kray's blog</a>. If you're into haiku, and photography or drawing, consider trying your hand at haiga. <div><br /></div><div>And if you're into black & white art, consider submitting your haiga to Lavana Kray at <a href="mailto:lavana13@gmail.com">lavana13@gmail.com</a> for a chance to be featured on her blog.<p></p><div><br /></div><div>Live for the Love of it,</div><div><br /></div><div>Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</div></div>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-36934180032642053962021-07-31T10:26:00.000-04:002021-07-31T10:26:29.799-04:00In Response to Traditionis Custodes, a sonnet<p>The Society of Classical Poets has published my <a href="https://classicalpoets.org/2021/07/30/on-the-traditional-latin-mass-by-sasha-a-palmer/" target="_blank">sonnet On the Traditional Latin Mass</a>.</p><p>The sonnet's written in response to <a href="https://www.ncregister.com/cna/breaking-pope-francis-issues-restrictions-on-extraordinary-form-masses-in-new-motu-proprio" target="_blank">Traditionis custodes ("Guardians of the tradition") - the new motu proprio issued by Pope Francis on July 16, 2021</a>.</p><p><br /></p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-61305484841363668942021-06-27T16:21:00.000-04:002021-06-27T16:21:48.184-04:00Happy Dance: My Haiku Wins 2nd Place in an International Contest<p> Happy to share the news: my haiku won 2nd place in the <a href="https://www.japanfairus.org/haiku-contest-results" target="_blank">Japan Fair 2021 International Haiku Contest</a>.</p><p>Grateful to Michael Dylan Welch for selecting my haiku, and to the Japan Fair for the opportunity.</p><p>Thank you.</p><p><br /></p><p>Live for the Love of it,</p><p>Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-89865374770341037672021-05-13T10:59:00.001-04:002021-05-13T11:01:57.522-04:00CONNECTED, my sonnet for Falun Gong, wins 1st place in FoFG poetry contest<p>On the World Falun Dafa Day, I'm honored that <a href="https://fofg.org/competitions/sasha-a-palmer-connected-1st-place-award/" target="_blank">my sonnet "Connected"</a> has won 1st place in the annual Friends of Falun Gong poetry contest. </p><p>Thank you, FoFG and Society of Classical Poets for choosing my poem. </p><p>Ever so grateful to Samantha Hopkins for giving "Connected" a powerful voice. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQNW2GstLCA" target="_blank">Watch Samantha recite "Connected" tonight at 9 pm EST</a>.</p><p>Congrats to the winners and honorable mentions!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-82131891967473140572021-04-10T09:59:00.002-04:002021-04-10T09:59:54.662-04:00The Ekphrastic Review: Poetry of Roman Khe in English Translation<p>Today in The Ekphrastic Review:</p><p><a href="https://www.ekphrastic.net/ekphrastic-journal/at-the-exhibition-of-japanese-ceramics-by-roman-khe-translated-from-russian-by-sasha-a-palmer" target="_blank">Roman Khe's original poem "At the Exhibition of Japanese Ceramics" and its English translation</a>.</p><p>Grateful to the journal, and grateful to Roman Khe for the honor to translate his poetry.</p><p><br /></p><p>Live for the Love of it,</p><p>Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-1083787271947967902021-04-06T11:15:00.000-04:002021-04-06T11:15:03.179-04:00Publication: "Memento Mori," a sonnet <p style="text-align: left;">Happy Easter!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Excited to have my sonnet published on The Society of Classical Poets site: </p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://classicalpoets.org/2021/04/06/we-stick-to-what-we-know-a-sonnet-by-sasha-a-palmer/" target="_blank">"Memento Mori."</a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Live for the Love of it,</p><p style="text-align: left;">Sasha A. Palmer</p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-15027171479057454842021-03-22T13:42:00.003-04:002021-03-22T13:42:33.900-04:00Bewildering Stories' First Quarterly Review<p> Excited to be published in <i><a href="http://www.bewilderingstories.com/anthologies/anthos2021/885-895_antho.html" target="_blank">Bewildering Stories’ First Quarterly Review, 2021</a>.</i></p><p>The Editors have chosen both my poem <a href="http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue885/medusa.html" target="_blank"><i>Medusa</i></a> (issue 885) and my short story <i><a href="http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue892/canis_familiaris.html" target="_blank">Canis Familiaris</a> </i>(issue 892). Thank you!</p><p><br /></p><p>Live for the love of it,</p><p>Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-51768525587530813992021-02-22T07:42:00.003-05:002021-02-22T07:42:54.863-05:00Publication: Canis Familiaris (short story)<p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g8LVJJLWWQ8/YDOmZU_-JhI/AAAAAAAACMU/XTVz4Wbbuuorgptk2QkeU1_ZgUbT3JtQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/stars-1246590_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g8LVJJLWWQ8/YDOmZU_-JhI/AAAAAAAACMU/XTVz4Wbbuuorgptk2QkeU1_ZgUbT3JtQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/stars-1246590_640.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /></p><p>As Perseverance lands on Mars, remember the unsung heroes of space exploration.</p><p>Check out my short story <a href="http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue892/canis_familiaris.html" target="_blank">Canis Familiaris</a> published on Bewildering Stories webzine.</p><p>Thank you</p><p><br /></p><p>Image: Pixabay</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-8059560541849422762021-01-23T17:11:00.000-05:002021-01-23T17:11:35.630-05:00My two cents<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_IxcDrIZzk/YAycIH8mKAI/AAAAAAAACKM/CkMYkOqWqoU6aJH6aiU5nAdPg_tcfRBtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/hillslope-99174_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_IxcDrIZzk/YAycIH8mKAI/AAAAAAAACKM/CkMYkOqWqoU6aJH6aiU5nAdPg_tcfRBtgCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/hillslope-99174_640.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><b>The Slope We Slide Down</b></p><div><div>It's not enough to quote Micah 4:4.</div><div>It takes more than a phrase </div><div><i>We seek harm to none</i></div><div>to erase the harm that is done<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">—</span> </div><div>being done<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">—</span>in the name of justice<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">.</span></div><div>Words don't cut it. It's a fact. It just is.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>How can we hope for the Light</div><div>when we delight in staring at our own reflection</div><div>thinking, "It might not be <i>perfection</i>, but it's close,</div><div>and those—the others—if only they could be</div><div>like us<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">–</span> righteous..."? How can we see</div><div>we are about to fall</div><div><div>when all we care for is mirrors?</div><div><br /></div><div>Careful <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">–</span> humans make errors<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">.</span></div><div>When you set forth ill-equipped with pride,</div><div>watch your step <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">–</span> it's slippery outside<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">.</span></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Live for the Love of it,</div><div>Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>prompted by <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/20/amanda-gormans-inaugural-poem-the-hill-we-climb-full-text.html" target="_blank">the inaugural poem</a></div><div>image: Pixabay</div>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-87824500731102135642021-01-20T08:50:00.000-05:002021-01-20T08:50:01.113-05:00Ekphrastic Poetry: Old Trees<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fn788RTyc6c/YAgyfzLW-JI/AAAAAAAACJw/2IZQyx6894k0GQ_toXt7-PhbYiDjB64DgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="136" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fn788RTyc6c/YAgyfzLW-JI/AAAAAAAACJw/2IZQyx6894k0GQ_toXt7-PhbYiDjB64DgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ekphrastic Review logo</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Happy dance: a publication! </p><p>Head over to The Ekphrastic Review to read <a href="https://www.ekphrastic.net/ekphrastic-journal/old-trees-by-sasha-a-palmer" target="_blank">my poem Old Trees</a></p><p>and see the beautiful photo that inspired it. <i>Thank you, Mark Windham!</i></p><p><br /></p><p>Live for the Love of it,</p><p>Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-62445563730371046342021-01-06T17:42:00.007-05:002021-01-06T18:59:47.265-05:00"Old & New" (Poem)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6twMHYrfis/X_Y8ECKvkEI/AAAAAAAACIk/q6UBMmRw4T0qnDwvmPgyrgsz7tMcWDwKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0372.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1886" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6twMHYrfis/X_Y8ECKvkEI/AAAAAAAACIk/q6UBMmRw4T0qnDwvmPgyrgsz7tMcWDwKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0372.jpg" /></a></div><p>Old & New</p><div style="text-align: left;">When standing at the threshold of</div><div style="text-align: left;">The vastness of another year </div><div style="text-align: left;">Wishing for happiness and love –</div><div style="text-align: left;">Would we not drop a single tear </div><div style="text-align: left;">Upon the moments come and gone,</div><div style="text-align: left;">The promise that once brightly shone?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The vastness of another year –</div><div style="text-align: left;">Chance x 365.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Would we not hold to what was dear—</div><div style="text-align: left;">For worse or better—in our lives</div><div style="text-align: left;">In 2020? Would we fail</div><div style="text-align: left;">At lifting the misfortune's veil?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Wishing for happiness and love,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Would—with a steady hand—we cast</div><div style="text-align: left;">Into the fire the treasure trove</div><div style="text-align: left;">Of love and happiness, the past </div><div style="text-align: left;">"Cursed" year has brought us? Would we see</div><div style="text-align: left;">Nothing but dread and misery?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Would we not drop a single tear,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Would we not bid a kind farewell</div><div style="text-align: left;">To the unchartered surreal year</div><div style="text-align: left;">Humanity could not foretell?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Would we reject the gift, neglect</div><div style="text-align: left;">To pause and quietly reflect</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Upon the moments come and gone,</div><div style="text-align: left;">The value, meaning of it all,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Uncertainty and fear, upon</div><div style="text-align: left;">The revelations, big and small, </div><div style="text-align: left;">Our brokenness, our strength, the way,</div><div style="text-align: left;">The souvenirs of yesterday?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The promise that once brightly shone –</div><div style="text-align: left;">Would we not let it shine anew</div><div style="text-align: left;">As we keep calm and carry on—</div><div style="text-align: left;">Rich with the old year, pulling through—</div><div style="text-align: left;">Pick ourselves up and turn the page,</div><div style="text-align: left;">As thankfulness takes center stage?</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Live for the Love of it,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">prompted by <a href="https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/wd-poetic-form-challenge-trenta-sei" target="_blank">WD Trenta-Sei Poetic Form Challenge</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p></div>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-57338301003429795082021-01-04T09:12:00.006-05:002021-01-04T09:36:25.026-05:00A Nod to "Metamorphoses": Poem "Medusa"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mzYVPO-zeF0/X_MmD-LMGPI/AAAAAAAACH8/jPucZLe16egE_tKRSywMMb0EhRm_aTZAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/medusa-1366362_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mzYVPO-zeF0/X_MmD-LMGPI/AAAAAAAACH8/jPucZLe16egE_tKRSywMMb0EhRm_aTZAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/medusa-1366362_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>My poem "Medusa" based on Ovid's version of this monster's (?) story is published! </p><p>Check out issue <a href="http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue885/palmer_welcome.html" target="_blank">885 of Bewildering Stories</a>.</p><p>This is my first work in BwS literary webzine, more coming up!</p><p><br /></p><p>Live for the love of it,</p><p>Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</p><p><br /></p><p>image credit: Pixabay</p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-1413035937454702612020-12-25T22:04:00.001-05:002020-12-25T22:04:24.614-05:00Christmas <p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XA_0fg8PHqs/X-ak49whNyI/AAAAAAAACHQ/9Pu3fMPFg2InmvOnErMA9Wo-qUTgVXG4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1176/800px-Caravaggio_-_Adorazione_dei_pastori.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XA_0fg8PHqs/X-ak49whNyI/AAAAAAAACHQ/9Pu3fMPFg2InmvOnErMA9Wo-qUTgVXG4QCLcBGAsYHQ/w273-h400/800px-Caravaggio_-_Adorazione_dei_pastori.jpg" width="273" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;">No angels, no trumpets</div><div style="text-align: center;">No marvelous light</div><div style="text-align: center;">A flickering candle</div><div style="text-align: center;">Amidst the cold night </div><div style="text-align: center;">A rickety shelter</div><div style="text-align: center;">A mind not at rest</div><div style="text-align: center;">A weary mother</div><div style="text-align: center;">A babe at her breast</div><div style="text-align: center;">A desperate whisper</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Be it unto me</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">The wood of the manger</div><div style="text-align: center;">The wood of the tree</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Live for the Love of it, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Image: Adoration of the Shepherds, by Caravaggio (1609)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-60105566520976193442020-12-01T10:49:00.002-05:002020-12-02T17:24:26.607-05:00Come Get Some "Plain Old Magic"! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EFvW_Bs3eBY/X8ZlQ_dTcXI/AAAAAAAACFc/mVjlP49pJ4M_WmwiWoqXq754BeJnwXIpACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Sasha%2BA.%2BPalmer%252C%2Bfavorite%2Bchair.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EFvW_Bs3eBY/X8ZlQ_dTcXI/AAAAAAAACFc/mVjlP49pJ4M_WmwiWoqXq754BeJnwXIpACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Sasha%2BA.%2BPalmer%252C%2Bfavorite%2Bchair.jpg" /></a></div><p>Happy dance! I'm one of the finalists of a flash suite contest.</p><p>A flash suite is a series of linked short fiction pieces. Mine is called "Plain Old Magic" and includes six parts. They are published daily, from Dec 1 through Dec 6.</p><p>Here's the schedule for "Plain Old Magic" (you can always play catch-up and read it from the beginning):</p><p>"Treasure" 12/1; "Julie" 12/2; "Liz" 12/3; "Jim" 12/4; "Mr. Cooper" 12/5; "Grace" 12/6</p><p>And here's the link:</p><p><a href="https://defenestrationism.net/plain-old-magic/">https://defenestrationism.net/plain-old-magic/</a></p><p>"Plain Old Magic" is short and sweet, enjoy!</p><p><br /></p><p>Live for the Love of it,</p><p>Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)</p><p><br /></p>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5686431431756062986.post-56698162507129283342020-08-14T21:12:00.001-04:002020-08-14T21:12:46.194-04:00Thanos (Keatsian sonnet)<p style="text-align: center;">Happy dance: my Keatsian sonnet received </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/spectator-competition-winners-keatsian-sonnets" target="_blank">an honorable mention in a Bout-rimés competition of The Spectator magazine!</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"> THANOS</p><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">You know not thirst or hunger, once you’re dead,</div></span><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">No more you’re blinded by the scorching sun</div></span><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">When tilling barren fields, no need to run</div></span><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">From friends turned foes. Death is the sweetest mead,</div></span><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">While life is bitter. Too much life will lead</div></span><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">To ruin. Believe, I dread what must be done,</div></span><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">I am no brute. I do not find it fun</div></span><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">To kill the wretched folk, I do not weed</div></span><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">The weak, imperfect ones. No, I would never</div></span><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Play God, I know my place. When morning frost</div></span><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Kills budding blooms, I cry. And when the shrills</div></span><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Of half the universe subside, then ever</div></span><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">So keenly I will feel all I have lost,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Alone, I’ll watch the sun set o’er the hills.</div></span><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Live for the Love of it,</p><p>Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy) </p><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Sasha A. Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11930602874359925520noreply@blogger.com2