Literary Revelations

Two breathtaking poems – tan-renga by Christina Chin/Uchechukwu Onyedikam

Bios

Christina Chin is a painter, haiku poet, and author of Japanese short form poetry books. Her book “First Day of the Rest” has achieved #1 Top New Release, #2 Best Seller in Haiku and Japanese Poetry, and #21 in Nature categories. She’s been nominated for the Pushcart Prize 2025 three times, Red Moon Anthology 2023, Touchstone Award 2024 & 2020 and for Best of the Net in 2023. Chin has been honoured as a four-time top 100 recipient in the mDAC Summit Contests, with her works displayed at the Palo Alto Art Center, California. She is the sole haiku contributor for Randall Vemer’s “MusArt” book, published by ArtReach in Portland, Oregon, and has two haiga showcases in THF Haiga Galleries. Her accolades include first prizes at the 34th Annual Cherry Blossom Sakura Festival 2020 Haiku Contest, the 8th Setouchi Matsuyama 2019 Photohaiku Contest, and two awards from City Soka Saitama’s 2020 haiku contests. Her work appears in numerous prestigious journals, multilingual publications, and anthologies, including Japan’s esteemed monthly Haikukai Magazine.

Uchechukwu Onyedikam is a Nigerian Poet/Photographer based in Lagos, Nigeria. BOTN, Pushcart Prize nominee. His poetry has appeared in Amsterdam Quarterly, Brittle Paper, Everscribe, Poetry Catalog, Sky Island Journal, Unlikely Stories Mark V, Spillwords, among other publications. He and Christina Chin has co-written and published two poetry chapbooks. He’s a contributor at Mad Swirl.

tan-renga

song of the peasants
carried across the fields
harvest time
ringing hosanna
at the market square

— Christina Chin/Uchechukwu Onyedikam

two bundles
on the shoulder yoke
yam stems
how it is fastened across
early in the morning

— Christina Chin/Uchechukwu Onyedikam

Reminder:

My dear followers, thank you again for submitting to Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku. Literary Revelations Publishing House will release the book in early April. We’d like to ask for your patience while we make the selection. You will hear from us soon.

With a cover design by award-winning Japanese Painter Hikari and artistic photos by award-winning Japanese Painter Naoki Kimura, this book will be an artful blend of great poetry and stunning art.

Visit our Testimonial Page

Our Books

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Updates about Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku, and Literary Revelations Publishing House’s Petals of Haiku: An Anthology presented at a famous fine art exhibition next to Matsumoto Castle, in Kyoto, Japan

My dear followers, thank you again for submitting to Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku. Literary Revelations Publishing House will release the book in late March or early April. We ask for your patience while we make the selection. With a cover design by award-winning Japanese Painter Hikari and artistic photos by award-winning Japanese Painter Naoki Kimura, this book will be an artful blend of great poetry and stunning art.

On a different note, I’m sorry for failing to inform you about something exciting. Petals of Haiku: An Anthology—Literary Revelations’ first haiku anthology—was featured at a renowned Asian art exhibition. Located next to Matsumoto Castle, Kyoto, in the
Nagano（–Prefecture), the venue attracts a diverse group of visitors, many of whom—according to Naoki Kimura, whose fine art photography was displayed, too—have shown great interest in English-language books.

We have no words to thank Naoki Kimura for his generosity and graciousness.

Naoki Kimura, in his own words, about the exhibition at Matsumoto Castle in December 2024:

“I have attached some exhibition photographs to give you a glimpse of the atmosphere. The traditional minka architecture of the venue lends a distinct charm, creating a unique harmony with the works on display. “

A glimpse into the exhibition. More photos and info are coming soon

Literary Revelations wishes you a beautiful new week.

All photos belong to fine art photographer Naoki Kimura. No replication allowed.

Visit our Testimonial Page

Our Books

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

SUBMISSIONS FOR OUR UPCOMING BOOK, TRANQUILITY: AN ANTHLOGY OF HAIKU, ARE NOW CLOSED – UPDATES

Literary Revelations Publishing House thanks everyone who submitted to our upcoming book Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku. There are many submissions from very talented poets. We hope to respond soon.

Please check for updates here or on social media on IG & X @LR_Publisher.

Poets who submitted their haiku will receive an email from us re: acceptance or rejection.

Cover Art – award-winning Japanese painter Hikari

Four photographs will be included in Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku, courtesy of award-winning artist Japanese photographer Naoki Kimura.

Naoki Kimura – Fine Art Photography

Naoki Kimura – Fine Art Photography

Naoki Kimura – Fine Art Photography

Naoki Kimura – Fine Art Photography

It’s going to be a fantastic anthology. You will love it!

We are thrilled to announce that we are now open for art submissions, inviting you to share your creativity and passion with us!

Visit our Testimonial Page

Our Books

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Excellent poetry by Gopal Lahiri

Bio:

Gopal Lahiri is a bilingual poet, critic, editor, writer, and translator with 31 published books, including eight solo/jointly edited books. His poetry and prose have been published globally in more than one hundred journals and anthologies. His poems have been translated into 18 languages and published in 16 countries. He has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize for poetry in 2021. He received the Setu Excellence Award in Pittsburgh, US, for poetry in 2020. He Indian English Writing. His collection of poems, ‘Alleys are Filled with Future Alphabets,’ has received Pan Asian Ukiyoto awards. First Prize Winner in Poetry Contest organised by 43^rd World Congress of Poets in 2024. Recent Credits: One Art Journal, Poetry Breakfast, Verse-Virtual Journal, Setu Journal, Kitaab Journal, Himalayan Diary, Dissident Voice, The Piker Press, Confluence, The Wise Owl Journal, MasticadoresUSA ezine, Literary Yard, Amethyst Review, Shot Glass Journal, and elsewhere.

Expanse

I sleep in a silence that whirrs and hums
but a thunderstorm is going to burst open soon.

Night opening to night- swells with higher notes
drawing me back to the misty verandah.

Your eyes are two blue moons, quiet and unsealed
your voice is losing the verve in time and distance.

Watching the plane lights swipe past the windows
and grey clouds fill up with timeworn memories.

The strong winds lift unheard voices from the star line,
you love to inhabit that recital, that litany!

I look up at the cloudy sky in search of the doorway
between our nights, our washed out old promises,

Whisper is always a secret language,
a hint that you always understand,

I whisper your name round and round in vain.

That window never stands for
personal epiphanies.

That window is more of yellow rose
than the red hibiscus

That window brings amber light
in every evening.

That window always waits for
a certain something.

That window records crows shout and
all the unpacked lies.

That window easily understand the
black coughs of the beggars.

That window can not yet recognize husky
calls from the pavement.

Reminders:

With a cover designed by our of award-winning Japanese artist Hikari, and with artistic photos by award-winning Japanese photographer Naoki Kimura included, please do not miss the chance to have your words grace the pages of our upcoming book, Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku. Email five haiku(s) at literaryrevelations@pm.me and label your submission 5 Haiku.

Submission closes February 28.

We are now open for art submission.

Visit our Testimonial Page

Our Books

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Naoki Kimura, Fine Art Photography – Photo Reveal for our Literary Revelations’ Upcoming Book Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku

Dear Followers,

We were excited to reveal the cover art for our upcoming book, Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku. The art is the work of award-winning artist Hikari and is a masterpiece. You can find it here.

Today, we are thrilled to reveal a second artistic photograph that will be included in Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku. The photo belongs to fine-art photographer and Japanese award-winning artist Naoki Kimura. It’s a stunning photo that encapsulates the meaning of Zen; an iconic work that reflects the spirit of Japan in all its splendor.

“While photography inherently gives the impression of being “real” or “existing in reality,” the essence of monochrome photography lies in creating scenes that do not actually exist. Through this abstraction, the universal characteristics and emotions of the subject are emphasized, bringing out a deeper sense of reality. If color photography can evoke individual emotions and meanings as realism, monochrome photography can be said to enable a universal empathy not influenced by color.

In summary, monochrome photography opens up new visual and emotional dimensions by stripping away color from reality and achieving a unique balance between reality and unreality. It is one of the methods that appeals to human perception and emotions, a means to explore the world “beyond of the surface” of the photograph.”

Naoki Kimura

The second photo reveal – The Glint of the Dragon- Naoki Kimura

The first photo (already revealed) – Mercy Blue – Naoki Kimura

Literary Revelations Publishing House is deeply grateful to both artists for their generosity.

Reminders:

Submission closes February 28.

We are now open for art submission.

Our Books

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Art Reveal for Literary Revelations’ Upcoming Book: Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku

Literary Revelations Publishing House is ecstatic to reveal the art cover for our upcoming book “Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku.” The cover, painted by award-winning Japanese painter Hikari is a stunning masterpiece that perfectly captures the essence of Japanese art with its captivating design. The delicate brush strokes and harmonious color palette set the tone for what promises to be a truly enchanting collection of haiku. We will offer you an anthology in which each haiku is a true poetic gem, revealing all readers a glimpse into moments of beauty amid our busy lives.

Hikari’s art has only heightened our excitement for the release of “Tranquility,” and we are eagerly counting down the days until we can hold this exquisite book in our hands.

Please remember that we will also include in our book Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku four splendid artistic photographs that are the work of Japanese award-winning artistic photographer Naoki Kimura. Only one will be revealed here.

Reminders:

Submission closes February 28.

We are now open for art submission.

Our Books

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Splendid Poetry by Lori Zybala

BIO

Lori A. Zybala is a Canadian -based writer passionate about the intertwining of human existence, nature, and the love of language. Poetry is her natural extension, a paper and pencil union of the conscious and subconscious mind. Her poetry has appeared in multiple on-line publications across the global writing community, including Free Verse Revolution, Kelp Literary Journal and Wingless Dreamer.

Sweet Alice: Before or After

Looking through; as the blank page questions.
“Were you here before or after?”

shadowed thoughts, unwritten characters
red velvet curtain never raised

Sweet Alice inevitably tumbled down a rabbit hole.
did the rest come before or after?

…

Mad hatter abruptly sits to the table,
green hat selected for the occasion
eyeing up the delectable morsels
saliva rolling off his questioning tongue.

Sweet Alice, do we dine before or after?

Twirling the sterling silver fork
queen of hearts heard sneering in the distance
royal clock stuck at six.

Cups of white bone China empty
Tea of empathy un-poured
bitter cookies dry of feeling
placed on silver trays crumble
tiny fractions of time, stacked as sugar cubes, in crystal bowls

Have I been here before or after? sticks on Alices dry tongue.

March Hare leans in, ears turn to answer
porcelain plate rolls of the proverbial table
eyes turn, royal clock remains stuck at six
glass of compassion empty
pitchers of liquid full
where are the humans that pour?

Mad hatter twists the linguist knife
eyes twinge in release
‘Oh, sweet Alice, where has your help gone?

…

Above ground, world revolving, humans come and go
dressed for the occasion, performing in the daily show

Eyes as empty glasses, dry to the touch
hearts; as Queen of diamonds, stone cold
Cheshire slick persona, rage against the machine
marching – marching, endless concrete scene

….

The White Rabbit, escaping the ‘normal’ world
re-enters – executing the correct time
busy, busy, must prepare, tea to be served at six
mustn’t keep the Queen waiting

…

Alice remains at the table, clock still stuck at six
compressing air – clamps the heart
prisoner or free? looking in – or looking out?
questions pour outside the looking glass

A change in position, required
leaning in, “may we switch seats” waking up Dormouse
recognizing the ease of negotiating with a mouse
creating a bold illusion

The impenetrable table position
between March Hare and Hatter
Alice slides into position
anticipating the hidden key lies there

Playing cards placed on the table
time to embrace the deck dealt
recognizing the proverbial mind cage
opens inside her true self

soft emerald eyes reopen
tree of life embraces the river’s bank
leaves rain down upon sweet Alice
mind over matter, sweet paradigm shift

Reminders:

Submission closes February 28.

We are now open for art submission. Please read on our website how to submit.

Our Books

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Monday poems – Andrew Cyr

BIO

Andrew grew up in The Evergreen State. He fell in love with writing short stories and poems in high school. He found writing cathartic through foster care. After high school, he served three years in the army. Andrew was stationed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He was a paratrooper, and the fragility of life grew his faith in God. After his contract, he returned to Washington and graduated college with a degree in general studies. He nearly completed a master’s degree. Among other things, Andrew is an avid runner, a self-published writer, and a pop-punk music enthusiast.

Coping with Loss: A Message Beyond Death

Death’s unknown gripped
my fear of leaving home.
Haley’d have laughed at me,
if it was me,
I’d have given her hell,
if she knew I was,
but I’m not today.

Afraid of death,
I’m not afraid, Haley.
If you can hear me,
I just wanted you to know.

If Haley knew I was
afraid to die,
she’d tease
me until I cried.

But the day Haley
departed this world,
without saying goodbye,
so like her,
warmth washed across
my heart.

I hope Haley knows,
I’d have fought the angels
before I’d let her go.

I’d have ripped Heaven
and Earth to save you.

I mean, isn’t that what
Jesus would do for you?

Haley said death isn’t the end.
She said a new beginning awaits
outside the vision of our world’s view.

I left Haley in God’s hands,
as though I had a choice.

God healed death’s sting,
and death isn’t afraid of me
and neither am I.

Nadia’s Paradox: Love, Lies, and Life Lessons

Nadia’s a narcissist,
her dad told me.

She’d find happiness
in a bottomless pit
of apathy, a passerby told me.

Nadia can’t have kids,
her mother told me.

She wasn’t the thinnest girl
in town, her grandmother said.

Nadia’s not the safest bet,
her best friend whispered.

She drinks wine
a little too early,
her ex-boyfriend said.

Nadia’s a coward,
her ex-mother-in-law said.

She’ll steal your heart
and jump until it bursts,
another ex-boyfriend said.

She’ll gaslight you until
you believe her lies,
her aunt told me.

Nadia’s not the thickest girl,
her nephew told me.

She’s an emotional anarchist,
her sister told me.

Nadia’s, I can’t put
my finger on it,
a neighbor told me.

She’s the craziest person
I ever met, her stalker told me.

Nadia thinks she’s cooler
than she is,
her cousin texted me.

Nadia’s the kind of girl
a mom tells you
to avoid like the plague,
her aunt told me.

Nadia restored my faith
in humanity with humility.

Reminders:

Submission closes February 28.

We are now open for art submission. Please read on our website how to submit.

We have received a great deal of poetry submission. Please be patient and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Our Books

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Sunday Feature – Two Excellent Poems by Ken Gierke

BIO

Transplanted from Western New York, Ken Gierke has lived in Missouri since 2012. His love for nature, fostered by the Niagara River, continues in Missouri and is often featured in his poetry. His writing has appeared as two micro-chapbooks from Origami Poems Project and is included in several anthologies. He has been featured by numerous online journals, including Literary Revelations Journal, As It Ought to Be, Poetry Breakfast, Amethyst Review, Silver Birch Press, and Ekphrastic Review. Two of his poetry collections have been published by Spartan Press – Glass Awash in 2022 and Heron Spirit in 2024. His poetry can also be found on his website, https://rivrvlogr.com/.

Driving Back to a Love Supreme

Layer upon layer of clouds holding
a snow that never materialized
deliver a gray light,
but there’s joyful anticipation at the start
of this long drive home like a pulse
of contentment. A love supreme.

Piano pulls me forward with resolve
when Coltrane comes in,
pursuing that love,
as drums urge me onward.

Like a psalm rolling through me,
clouds give way to blue sky,
the hint of home drawing me closer
on this long cold drive.

New Heights, with Coltrane

that voice, among a frenzied pulse
of voices in Ascension,
their window brief

each branch outreaching the next,
never reaching the eagle as it banks,
passing overhead

as the tires drone, alive
with a pulse that thrives,
even as it succumbs

to a pulse that rises
even as it falls,
no missed beat

as the eagle continues
to rise, never faltering,
even as the sun sets

Reminders:

Submission closes February 28.

We are now open for art submission. Please read on our website how to submit.

We have received a great deal of poetry submission. Please be patient and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Our Books

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Iuliana Irimia – one of Literary Revelations’ most beloved and wonderful artists

Dear Followers,

It is our pleasure to feature the second time in our journal one of Literary Revelations’ most beloved and wonderful artists: Iuliana Irimia. We hope you enjoy the feature.

Iuliana in her own words:

From as far back as I can remember, I’ve always loved drawing. I started by doodling on books, walls, post-its, and any scrap of paper I could find. At 14, I attended my first art class and decided to pursue Fine Arts at Dawson College in Montreal after finishing secondary school. My journey continued at Concordia University in the Painting and Drawing Program, but in 2013, I returned to Dawson to enroll in the Illustration and Design program, which felt like a better fit for my artistic aspirations.

Since graduating, I’ve taken on a variety of graphic design and illustration commissions and ventured into the world of mural painting. One of the highlights of my career came in March 2023, when I was commissioned by LNDMRK to execute a mural designed by Nalini Malani, one of India’s leading contemporary artists. Collaborating with such a distinguished artist was a deeply rewarding experience and an opportunity I’m profoundly grateful for. The mural was crafted using markers and charcoal—the latter also being a material I love and often incorporate into my own art.

I find the greatest joy in challenging myself to create more intricate and complex pieces. While I explore various mediums, I’ve learned that preparation is key. Creating a drawing or painting often takes many hours, so I take my time to thoroughly develop ideas before committing anything to paper. Yet, even after countless sketches, I frequently find myself making adjustments once I’ve started the piece.

Photo references play an essential role in my creative process. I enjoy dressing up in costumes and often enlist my spouse to help with taking pictures. Sometimes, he even becomes my model! Over the years, I’ve thrifted numerous outfits that now form my costume collection, which I use in these photoshoots.

Sometimes, my inspiration doesn’t begin with a fully formed idea. Instead, it sparks from the pictures I take of objects or scenes that catch my eye. During the summer, I love taking long walks, and it’s never too hard to find something inspiring along my path—whether it’s nature, manmade objects, animals, or the play of light. I also enjoy painting outdoors, in parks or on the streets, to capture the natural colors and essence of light directly, without the intermediary of a photograph. While I draw immense inspiration from the world around me, I also find the internet to be a treasure trove of breathtaking images of far-off places that would be impossible to explore in one lifetime. I save way too many pictures on my computer so I can go back to them and feel inspired all over again.

After absorbing as much inspiration as possible, I love blending the images in my mind into something entirely new. I’m particularly drawn to surrealism and enjoy capturing fleeting, dreamlike sensations onto paper or canvas.

Works by Iuliana Irimia

Iuliana Irimia & Nalini Malani – Mural Fest- Iuliana drew the middle and right figures, as well as the hands.

Toad Factory – Iuliana Irimia

Guardian in the Clouds – Iuliana Irimia

Pothole Rat – Iuliana Irimia

plainair – Iuliana Irimia

Celestial Perch – Iuliana Irimia

To Make a Queen – Iuliana Irimia

Reminders:

Submission closes February 28.

We are now open for art submission. Please read on our website how to submit.

We have received a great deal of poetry submission. Please be patient and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Our Books

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

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Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Subscribe

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Subscribe

Bio:

Expanse

Reminders:

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Subscribe

Reminders:

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Subscribe

Reminders:

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Subscribe

Reminders:

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Subscribe

Reminders:

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

Subscribe

BIO

Driving Back to a Love Supreme

New Heights, with Coltrane

Reminders:

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

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Iuliana in her own words:

Works by Iuliana Irimia

Reminders:

Exciting Success: All Books published by Literary Revelations have become #1 Amazon Top Releases and/or #1 Bestsellers!

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