The early morning
in the quiet of the house
best time to just be.

A haiku in response to the prompt “Silent.”

Silent Darkness

Tasha Lane is a dog mom who walks around with her head in the clouds and spends her free time writing poetry, fiction, reading books and watching too much British television. You can read more of her poetry at Rainy Mondays and her book reviews at The Book Report. Sign up for her weekly newsletter here.

The warmth of your skin
quickly melts my ice-cold heart
and becalms my soul.

Haiku response to the prompt “Heat.”

Drowsy Afternoon

Tasha Lane is a dog mom who walks around with her head in the clouds and spends her free time writing poetry, fiction, reading books and watching too much British television. You can read more of her poetry at Rainy Mondays and her book reviews at The Book Report. Sign up for her weekly newsletter here.

The steady splatters
of winter rain is placid
and lulls me to sleep.

Tasha Lane is a dog mom who walks around with her head in the clouds and spends her free time writing poetry, fiction, reading books and watching too much British television. You can read more of her poetry at Rainy Mondays and her book reviews at The Book Report. Sign up for her weekly newsletter here.

• First Blossom
• Petals

Lullaby was originally published in Rainy Mondays on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Before I get to the books I read last month, I want to explain what I decided to do differently this year. One of the people I follow on Instagram and Goodreads started reading around a monthly theme. I thought it was a great idea. Reading around a monthly topic, as well as complete my various reading challenges (Goodreads, Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge, and The Reading Women Challenges), might allow me to get my TBR stack to a manageable number. Except for two months, I’ll be joining her in those reads. January’s challenge was to read authors of color. Here are the books I read, with a small description. (Head to my Goodreads account for more detailed reviews.)

1. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei This book is a graphic memoir depicting Mr. Takei’s experience in the Japanese internment camps during World War II. (ebook)
2. The Things She’s Seen by Ambelin Kwaymulina The ghost of a young girl killed in an accident helps her grieving father solve a mystery in rural New Zealand. The story references the horrible treatment of Aboriginal people during the Stolen Generation. (audiobook)
3. The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad This is a children’s picture book written Olympic fencing medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad explaining the beauty of the Hijab, pride, and the relationship between sisters. (ebook)
4. A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum The story of three generations of Palestinian women navigating through life in America while holding on to Arab traditions and beliefs and the role of men and women in their society. Reading this book infuriated me and broke my heart at the same time. (hardcover)
5. New Selected Poems by Shuntaro Tanikawa A translation of various poems, prose, satire, and narratives by the Japanese poet. (ebook)
6. The Vegetarian by Han Kang A chilling read about a married woman’s sudden decision to become vegetarian after a nightmare and how that decisions ultimately affect her husband, parents, and sister. (ebook)
7. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin A post-apocalyptic fantasy tale about varying races of people with deadly gifts to bring about the end of the word. It is the first book in series.

I didn’t read authors of color in the strictest sense. I read other books and listened to two audiobooks as well:

1. Bird’s Eye View (Lumberjanes Vol. 7) by Noelle Stevenson (ebook)
2. Over The Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love by Jonathan Van Ness (audiobook)
3. The Starless Sky by Erin Morgenstern (hardcover)
4. Anamoly by K.A. Emmons (ARC ebook)
5. The Queen: Aretha Franklin by Mikal Gilmore (audiobook)

I knocked off five books from my TBR shelf last month. Next month’s theme is ROMANCE. I usually don’t read romance novels, so February should be an interesting month for reading.

My Reads for January 2020 was originally published in The Book Report on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Knit and crochet shawls.
My soul and spirit weaved in yarn
and a prayer for you.

Tasha Lane is a dog mom who walks around with her head in the clouds and spends her free time writing poetry, fiction, reading books and watching too much British television. You can read more of her poetry at Rainy Mondays and her book reviews at The Book Report. Sign up for her weekly newsletter here.

• Petals
• Bliss

Prayers was originally published in The Partnered Pen on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

All of my poems
petals on dandelions
blown away and free.

Tasha Lane is a dog mom who walks around with her head in the clouds and spends her free time writing poetry, fiction, reading books and watching too much British television. You can read more of her poetry at Rainy Mondays and her book reviews at The Book Report. Sign up for her weekly newsletter here.

• First Blossom
• Bird of Juno

Petals was originally published in Rainy Mondays on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Me and you. Footprints
left behind in the dense snow.
Our first-morning walk.

Tasha Lane is a dog mom who walks around with her head in the clouds and spends her free time writing poetry, fiction, reading books and watching too much British television. You can read more of her poetry at Rainy Mondays and her book reviews at The Book Report. Sign up for her weekly newsletter here.

• She Dreams in Fiction
• Whisper

First Walk was originally published in Rainy Mondays on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

She wrote in verse
about beauteous places
and glamorous people
in the hopes that her life
would imitate art.

Tasha Lane is a dog mom who walks around with her head in the clouds and spends her free time writing poetry, fiction, reading books and watching too much British television. You can read more of her poetry at Rainy Mondays and her book reviews at The Book Report. Sign up for her weekly newsletter here.

• Infinity
• Deep

She Dreams in Fiction was originally published in Rainy Mondays on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The pain of a heartbreak.
I’m swimming in my own tears.
A pool of infinity.

Infinity was originally published in Rainy Mondays on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Music moves my soul
enough to bring to tears
and shout in exultation

Deep was originally published in The Partnered Pen on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.