About
confluence is a Japanese short-form journal centered on innovation and community. Our mission is to make a significant and lasting contribution to haiku, tanka, and related literary forms by:
- Publishing outstanding work that stretches the possibilities of the forms,
- Providing a venue for emerging poets to showcase a representative sample of their work and receive readership and recognition,
- Creating a vital, global community of poet Fellows, that collaborate together and engage deeply with one another’s work, and
- Introducing Japanese short-form poetry as a vibrant literary form to new readers and writers, outside the current niche of haiku and tanka poets.
Our community is growing across the globe:
Editors
confluence is edited by a team of six poets: Ryland Shengzhi Li, Rowan Beckett Minor, Matt Snyder, Margaret Walker, David Green, and Cynthia Bale. You can contact the editors at editor [at] confluencehaiku [dot] com.
Ryland Shengzhi Li
Editor in Chief
Ryland Shengzhi Li (李晟之) (he/him) is a poet and environmental lawyer living in Northern Virginia, USA. He got initiated into Japanese short form poetry through Towpath, a local haiku group in the National Capital Area. Poetry teaches him how to pay attention and to see the beauty and interdependence of all things. His favorite poets include Mary Oliver, Kahlil Gibran, and Jenny Ward Angyal, whose writings are beautiful, profound, and wise. In his free time, Ryland also enjoys being with loved ones, exploring America’s public lands, and capturing photos of exquisite and hidden things. Find out more about Ryland’s haiku journey at The Haiku Foundation.
Rowan Beckett Minor
Associate Editor
Rowan Beckett Minor (they/them) is a disabled Melungeon poet from Prince, WV who currently resides in Cleveland, OH. They are editor-in-chief of #FemkuMag, which they founded in 2018. Their work has been featured in: Mayfly, The Heron’s Nest, A New Resonance 12, as a confluence fellow for 2024-2025, as a presenter for Haiku North America (2019, 2021), and as co-judge for the HSA Brady Senryu Contest (2022). Rowan has been the recipient of several awards, including the Haiku Moment Award for Best of Autumn Moon Haiku Journal, Volume 7 and three winning poems in the 2023 Trailblazer Contest. They also served as the Haiku Society of America Midwest Regional Coordinator in 2024. When not utilizing poetry for healing and activism, Rowan can be found watching Twilight Zone and collecting ethically sourced oddities.
Matt Snyder
Associate Editor
Matt Snyder is a gardener, runner, poet, uncle, living in NC by way of DC from IN. He came to haiku by happy accident, and found community and inspiration in groups like Towpath and NC Haiku. Since taking up the pen, his work has appeared in a variety of journals, anthologies, and other places. Writing haiku helps Matt to be present, observant, and appreciative. More of his projects at Pittsboro Pine Press.
David Green
Associate Editor
David Green (he/him) is an elementary school teacher, occasional audio teacher and producer and haiku poet. His haiku journey began as a daily creative practice and quickly morphed into a passion. His haiku have appeared in Modern Haiku, Mayfly, The Heron’s Nest, the Wales Haiku Journal and other publications. David’s poems have won awards from the HSA Senryu Awards, NCPS Bloodroot Haiku Awards and the inaugural Atlanta Haiku Festival. He was also a confluence fellow in 2024-25. David has long been a poetry booster and thinks everybody should have more poetry in their life, especially given how poetry can offer respite and help foster compassion and community. When not sitting on his back porch in Chicago writing haiku while looking at an alley and power lines (also trees), David is probably practicing tai chi or reading just about anything.
Cynthia Bale
Associate Editor
Cynthia Bale (they/them) has had many occupations, including library page, Tarot reader, and adult literacy worker. Emily Dickinson first taught them how poetry opens windows into others' worlds; decades later, a used copy of Modern Japanese Tanka led them to the Inkstone Poetry Forum and a creative renaissance. They were a 2025-26 confluence Fellow whose work has appeared in publications spanning four continents. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Cynthia now lives on Treaty 6 territory in Edmonton, Alberta with their husband, two tweens, and a formidable stash of craft supplies, books, Tarot decks, and dice for tabletop role-playing games.
Margaret Walker
Associate Editor
Margaret Walker is a former school principal and special educator. Her work has been published in #FemkuMag, Blo͞o Outlier Journal, Failed Haiku, Human/Kind Journal, Kingfisher, Drifting Sands, haikuNetra Journal, Prune Juice, Stardust Haiku, Blithe Spirit, haikuKATHA, The Pan Haiku Review, confluence and whiptail. She is a Trailblazer Contest Winner 2023, and Pushcart Prize (haibun), Red Moon Anthology (haibun) and Touchstone Award (haiku), nominated and short-listed poet. She served as a judge in the Inaugural Trailblazer Contest (2021). She was also a confluence Fellow in 2025-26. A native of the South Carolina mountains and Lowcountry coast, she has lived for many years in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Senior Fellows
Once our poet Fellows successfully complete their fellowship year, they become Senior Fellows. Senior Fellows may remain an integral part of the confluence community, including by participating in collaborative writing events, nominating new Fellows, joining the editorial team, and more. Below are our Senior Fellows for each prior year.
2025-26
- Anthony Q. Rabang, Philippines
- Colleen M. Farrelly, USA
- Cynthia Bale, Canada
- Deborah Karl-Brandt, Germany
- Margaret Walker, USA
- Sam Renda, South Africa
- Sophia Conway, Canada
- Vidya Premkumar, India
2024-25
- Carissa Coane, USA
- Nicky Gutierrez, USA
- Rowan Beckett Minor, USA
- David Green, USA
- Lorraine A Padden, USA
- Daniel Shank Cruz, USA
- Vandana Parashar, India
Council
The confluence Council comprises leading Japanese short-form practitioners. Councilors support the community in various ways, such as by mentoring Fellows, leading workshops or craft seminars, and more. confluence is in the process of selecting new Councilors for 2026-27. Prior Councils include:
2025-26
Former Editors
We are grateful for our former editors who brought confluence to where it is today: Antoinette Cheung (2024-25) and Aidan Castle (2024). Like Senior Fellows, former editors also remain an integral part of the confluence community and may participate in our collaborative writing events, nominate new Fellows, and more.