I’m delighted to announce that my poems “Moon Cows” and “In the Batter’s Box” have been published in the print journal Shō Poetry Journal. A photo of “In the Batter’s Box” appears below. Thank you editors Johnny Cordona and Dominique Ahkong for taking these pieces. The journal features work by such luminaries as Jack Bedell, Ariel Francisco, Arah Ko, Robert L. Penick, Sage Ravenwood and Jane Zwart, among others.
Note: My two poems are part of a series of hendecasyllabic poems (eleven-line poems, each line of which consists of eleven syllables) written since early September. Another in the series, “Trigger Alert,” was published by Stone Circle Review this past fall.
O at the Edges 
Much love to you and yours, Robert.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks very much, Bob. I’m feeling good! The treatment regimen has been remarkably effective. I can’t complain (though I may whine on occasion).😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a relief to hear, Robert. But we are all written on water, aren’t we. I so love your work, Robert.
I’m pretty sure that consciousness is the fundamental reality and that we simply rejoin the One. That’s a long discussion–my reasons for this suspicion. Thank you for your work. It is so worthy. May it last and last and last.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve been given the gift of more time. How much, no one can say. But I feel better than I’ve felt in a year. I hope to stain the water for a bit longer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
YES!!!! Joy to hear this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This grabs me, Bob, another batter in another box, watching the questions and answers go sliding by, not connecting with any of them
LikeLiked by 1 person
So good to hear from you, Dan. I was just thinking about you, and here you are! I must confess: I was never much of a batter, but I took my swings!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I was up at 4:44 am this morning with the ache that sometimes results in a poem. I wrote something and saw your post. So glad you are still swinging
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our stars aligned. I intend to go out swinging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic poem!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks very much, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A right on the nose poem – love it, Bob! And I’m happy to read above that you’re feeling so much better!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Lynne. The difference between how I feel today and how I felt last May is like night and day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So powerful
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Derrick. Much appreciated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great poem, Robert, and glad to hear you’re feeling better at the moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mick.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whoa, this is such a powerful poem. Congratulations on its well-deserved publication.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Liz. We watched a lot of baseball last summer!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Bob. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Baseball is the perfect metaphor for so many things–you can never go too far with it. Congratulations! (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
If the poem were longer, say a sestina, I believe I could have taken the metaphor way too far. Ha! At any rate, we’re looking forward to the upcoming season.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re a Braves fan? I’m a Mets fan (long suffering) but younger daughter is a huge Dbacks fan, so it was a good year anyway.
LikeLike
We like the Braves, and are also fans of Shohei Ohtani, so we’ll watch some Dodgers games this year. That will be a big improvement over the Angels.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It will!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d congratulate you… but it would almost seem like an insult to praise you for getting published as often as you do…. (like complimenting someone for breathing…, Lol!).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! 2023 was an odd year. While I was loitering at Death’s door, I didn’t write (nine long months!), and only submitted a relative handful of poems. 2024 will be different, I think. Thank you, M.D. Anderson!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s such a Japanese/ganbatte thing to do, “only” submit poems (!!) while fighting off Death! You are a master of Living…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations, Bob! Love the element of metapoetry in pieces like “In the Batter’s Box;” it creates an enjoyable and unexpected perspective shift from creation to creator. (Related, I think you took that metaphor just the right distance.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cate. The hendecasyllabic poem sequence may have run its course, but writing within those constraints was enjoyable, and ultimately fruitful. I wonder what’s next?
LikeLike
Hello Robert, wondrous poem. We are so glad to learn you are feeling better. Congratulations on this publication! Thank you for this poem that shows a way through a truly difficult place. Sending all the best wishes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much.
LikeLike
Congrats yet again. Your diligence in submissions almost as impressive as your poetry!
I just ordered the book to read the 2nd poem included. Really like the batter’s box association – applies to all of us aging, some to lesser degrees perhaps.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jazz. I think you’ll enjoy the issue. There’s some great poetry in it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations, Bob. Well deserved.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ken.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely to read new work by you, and this one particularly strikes me (intended metaphor?). I think of you each week and wish you the most possibilities.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Frank. The days have been kind, and we keep filling them with joy and laughter.
LikeLike
Dear Robert:
I hope this note finds you having a good day.
I am writing to you because your poem, In the Batter’s Box, resonated with me deeply. I wrote a poem in response to your poem. I feel it needs a title that references your poem and honors you, I hope as well. Before I proceed, certainly before I send it out as a submission anywhere, I wanted to write to you and ask if referencing you and your poem was ok with you. I hope it is. I attached my poem below, Note to Robert Okaji.
I don’t know if you remember an exchange we had a few years ago. You were doing a Micro Challenge to benefit, Brick Street,. I suggested a title for you to use, “If You Were to Make a Mask to Represent Me What Color Would It Be?” I ended up writing a poem with that title as well. It is also attached below and is a central poem to a series I am working on, Aphasia Built Its Kingdom In Our House.
Thank you for considering this question.
Best wishes always,
Karen Keefe-Guzikowski
LikeLike
Yes, of course I remember our exchange, and I still have the poem. I just dug it out and read it! Fantastic! I’m honored that you wish to reference my poem, so yes, feel free to do so in any way you see fit. Could you email your new poem to me? There were no attachments, alas. I hope you and Bob are doing well. Thanks for reaching out.
LikeLike
Hi Robert, thank you so much. What is your email address? I very much want you to see both poems!
Bob and I are doing well and also facing challenges. On the doing well side, Bob has a book coming out later this month with Uncollected Press. Titled, unwordly, it is a truly amazing book. The Aphasia Poems you read for him a long time ago are the heart of the book. The challenge is a recent diagnosis of prostate cancer. Treatment starts Wednesday. We learn the staging and more tomorrow. Very grateful for an excellent medical team and that it can all happen at a hospital near us.
We are both sending you love and all our prayers.
Hope the sun is shining where you are. After weeks of grey skies it is bright and blue skied here (upstate NY).
LikeLike
Hi Karen! I hope that Bob’s challenges are vanquished quickly. I replied to you, using the last email address I had for you. If that no longer works, I suppose you’ll let me know. I hope the sun continues shining for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person