Drifting Sands Haibun was formed in 2020 at the onset of the COVID epidemic when people were cloistered in their homes and feeling isolated. As it evolved, it blossomed into a community of poets (a loyal following) that has grown right up to this day. It not only gave people something to do, it provided an outlet for anxiety, frustration, and loneliness. It also gave people hope and a sense of purpose.
The amount of positive, supportive, thankful emails received during that period was almost overwhelming. It is our loyal following that has kept this journal afloat. When times were tough, it was their enthusiasm for the site that kept us (all the volunteers including the founder) motivated and committed to the journal.
The journal is an all volunteer effort with more that 20 guest editors and other volunteers contributing to the project at one point or another.
Drifting Sands Haibun is a labor of love. It features poets from all corners of the globe, and its readers are equally diverse. The journal publishes four times a year, and additionally holds an annual haibun contest. The journal focuses on English language variations of haibun and tanka prose poetry (both originally Japanese forms). These are small genre’s in the grand scheme of the poetry world but interest is growing worldwide. One of Drifting Sands Haibun’s goals is to promulgate these forms in the mainstream. Here’s a link to the site: