Theme for Issue 15—Poetry for Change—Submissions open April 1st, 2022)
At Drifting Sands, we believe in the power of poetry to change the world. While corporate America contemplates temporarily suspending the flow of hamburgers to an aggressor nation, the world stands on the brink of nuclear annihilation.
It is now clear that a nuclear arsenal in the hands of a power-hungry thug provides license to run roughshod over other nations. The message, "We better start cooperating to heal this dying planet" hasn't sunk in. And now, war is simply fueling the agendas of those with more great ideas to destroy the planet, such as drilling for oil on once-protected lands.
Rain forests are disappearing, ice caps are melting, the ozone layer is evaporating, yet here we stand, fighting over territory, resources, religion, and other things that have nothing to do with securing the future of the human race and other life on Earth.
Earth is not an inexhaustible resource. We need to do more than learn to share. We have to figure out how to preserve what is left and how to foster the planet's recovery from centuries of abuse and neglect.
So, the gloves are off. Drifting Sands has never been theme-based, but the next issue (submissions open April 1st) will be devoted to the topics above. We (I) will be accepting poems that speak out against the insanity of the human race and/or offer insights into a better way of marching into the future.
Outrage is not enough. We must offer real solutions for the dilemma of peace on Earth. Maybe that's as simple as watching the wind among autumn leaves for a change. Maybe it's as complex as learning how to reconcile our differences in productive ways. We are the voice of reason, compassion, and understanding. So, let 'er rip. Let's apply the power of poetry to the truth of the human condition.
Toward that end, the next issue of Drifting Sands will focus entirely on the following topic(s):
• The problems we face, including the future of the planet and our inability to get along with one another (from interpersonal relationships to international relations)
• Solutions for peace on Earth and restoring the planet.
I will be the editor for this issue (Issue 15) so send me your best poems: haibun, tanka prose, and now tanka sequences, haiku sequences, and rengay (everything must have a title) on these subjects. The planet is still here, so there's still time to write a good poem. I look forward to reading your thoughts on these crucially important matters.
With a head of steam,
Richard Grahn
founding collaborative artist
at drifting-sands-haibun.org (http://drifting-sands-haibun.org)