1 November 2023
The Cherita and The Gembun
[22 June 1997] & [12 June 1997]
are both now 27 Years Old
with an ebullient Dua at their heels
*
the sandstorm
#7:6 of the cherita
edited by ai li
the sandstorm is our 80th book in the cherita series of storytelling books, with 90 virgin cherita of more timeless stories to hopefully inspire our readers and poets to join our caravanserai of storytellers.
This edition of the sandstorm showcases 90 fine cherita and cherita terbalik from writers and poets who hail from UK, USA, Singapore, Canada, Australia, Germany and India.
There’s one noticeable change, which started with October’s edition of the cherita, and which will be gradually be rolled out through to the gembun and dua anthologies. This edition, as with October’s edition, will now have 90 instead of 95 poems within. My plan is to slowly but surely ensure that all our publications adhere to 90 poems throughout. This will take some time to implement but the number of poems for every publication from the 1-2-3 press and the empty press will ultimately be the same throughout.
the sandstorm, currently 80th on the list, belongs to the ongoing the cherita series, as do my personal ongoing writing in one breath series of virgin Cherita, Cherita and Tanka, Cherita and Haiku, and Cherita, Tanka and Haiku books, and lastly my poems for inner rooms series with its 18 Tanka and Haiku books. All these editions are available in paperback and kindle on Amazon.
Two of my own books of virgin Gembun, the weight of rain and blank screen, and my two books of Dua, the journey east, dancing shoes and the light dying have all been added to my writing in one breath series.
I have edited this edition as I have all the other editions of the cherita, to be experienced two ways. It can be read as one storybook but also as an anthology of individual poems. Two reading experiences within one book, filled with stories of Life, Love, Loss and Renewal.
Cherita terbalik continues to capture the imagination of poets and there are again fine examples in this edition.
Featured Poets as they appear in this edition :-
ai li/ Joanna Ashwell/ Larry Kimmel/ Jan Stretch/ Stella Damarjati/ Kathabela Wilson/ Robert Horrobin/ Caroline Skanne/ Eva Joan/ Partha Sarkar/ Pitt Büerken/ Barry J. Vitcov/ Lisa Ann Sparaco/ Jackie Chou/ James Haddad/ Paulette Calasibetta/ Keitha Keyes/
Three sample Cherita from the sandstorm :-
in the silence
of the old
library
a child lost
between the leaves
of a book
Robert Horrobin
*
in the stillness
bringing
attention
back
to my
breath
Stella Damarjati
*
the clothes are in
as rain
arrives
the wash line
her window
horizon
ai li
*
the cherita lighthouse has been awarded to the following writers and poets in this edition for their timeless Cherita :
Joanna Ashwell/ Robert Horrobin/ Caroline Skanne/ Larry Kimmel/ Barry J. Vitcov/ Jackie Chou/ Kathabela Wilson/ Jan Stretch/
the sandstorm has been edited to be experienced two ways. It can be read as a storybook and as an anthology of individual poems.
*
I have enjoyed the challenge of selecting and collating for this edition of the cherita and hope that you will find the cherita within worthy of a campfire gathering and the sharing of meaningful stories.
If this new edition strikes a chord with you, please feel free to review, comment on Amazon or give feedback directly to me. Many thanks.
ai li
editor
creator of cherita, gembun, dua
and of 19 other unique and original linked forms
www.thecherita.com
storyteller oasis