Sanjukta Asopa is my guest today. Sanjukta lives in India, where she breathes life into the world she observes through a wonderful array of haiku and other short form poetry. You can find more of her work on her blog, Wild Berries, as well as in prestigious haiku journals like The Heron’s Nest–where she was third runner-up in the 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards for the following haunting poem:
shanty town —
the jagged edges
of moonlight
Why I write haiku?
“Haiku, for me, is a moment of serenity when everything else falls away and I am at one with the sounds and images of the world around me. Writing (and reading) haiku is my forever quest for that one moment. It not only calms my mind and senses, but it’s the only time I come close to any kind of spiritual practice.”
When did I start writing haiku?
“My haiku journey started in late 2006/early 2007, but I’ve been able to take it up seriously and wholeheartedly only since 2010. Though I drifted to haiku by chance when I attended a workshop on a poetry site, I became so enchanted with it that I stayed on.
“As I am writing this, it is raining here in my city; here are two poems, one haiku and one tanka, by me on the theme of rain.”
–Sanjukta Asopa
simmering rice grains
in the pot–
patter of rain
The Heron’s Nest, vol. 11, no. 4, December 2011
nowhere to go,
no dream to dream
this afternoon
only the murmur of rain
on the colocasia
Ribbons, vol. 7, no. 3, Fall 2011
[Sponsored by Couplets–the brainchild of Joanne Merriam of Upper Rubber Boot Books–this exchange is just one of many going on during this month-long celebration.]
Haiku-doodle 
Dear friend, Sanjukta, fine poet in whose hand the beautiful is filtered through the imperfections and even the hurtful all around, so much so that ‘jagged edges’ are always moonlit, where disparate worlds are juxtaposed against dreams. You so deserve your harvest of publications. You’ve enriched us who read your poetry. Wow, for both the haiku and tanka you’ve chosen to showcase here! Thanks so much!!!
Thank you, Margaret, mi hermana, for featuring Sanjukta! I’ve long admired her haiku since the first time I read her at NaHaiWriMo last year. A great-going friendship online through our poetry has since started. I feel so honored knowing her, even more so with her constant support of me. Gracias mil veces!
You are more than welcome, hermana. I too feel lucky to have gotten to know Sanjukta and her lovely work.
Dear Alee, I don’t know if i deserve all the praise you’ve showered upon me,but i am fortunate to have known you and have your support and encouragement always on this poetry path. .Grateful for your friendship and so I am to you, Margaret, for hosting me and being an inspiration!
Thanks for being here, Sanjukta. And for being my friend.