Tan-Renga/Tanka Chapbook Series "Editor's Note: Book 9, beyond the guava tree, showcases collaborative writing from around the world, including 21 poets from nine countries (India, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Nigeria, Suriname, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States). It features five-line collaborative tan-renga or tanka in which one writer provides three lines, and the other responds with two lines to complete the poem. In this form, the responding poet adds to the poem in a way that expands, condenses, parallels, or opposes what the opening lines present. These poems combine the artistry of two individuals, where similar or dissimilar experiences and perspectives are interwoven into one entity or expression. After our thorough exploration of the form, I've decided this book will be the final installment in the series. The title line seemed fitting now that we can look beyond all we have accomplished here. I am reminded of how haiku has evolved to reach nearly every corner of the globe. Our efforts emphasize how the writers of modern haiku and its related forms are a community engaged in a continuous exchange of ideas. It is a conversation that we must continue having to celebrate the form and keep moving it forward as an intercultural phenomenon. Thank you for your contributions to the series and to the history of modern poetry. Let's keep writing!" Featuring: Amoolya Kamalnath (India), Andrew Brindle (UK/Taiwan), Barbara Olmtak (Suriname), Bryan Rickert (USA), C. X. Turner (UK), Christina Chin (Malaysia), Eavonka Ettinger (USA), Jerome Berglund (USA), John Hawkhead (UK), Kimberly Kuchar (USA), Kimberly Olmtak Gomes (Suriname), Lakshmi Iyer (India), M. R. Defibaugh (USA), Marjorie Pezzoli (USA), Patricia Hawkhead (UK), Paul Callus (Malta), petro c.k. (USA), Robert Kingston (UK), Shelley Krause (USA), Shoko Kanenari (Japan), and Uchechukwu Onyedikam (Nigeria). Tan-Renga / Tanka Chapbook Series Book 9, April 2024 ISSN 2833-7972 M. R. Defibaugh Haiku Poetry Chesterfield, VA mrdefibaugh@gmail.com