“The quarter of a century that I have spent in Guam seems like an extremely long time. At the same time, I feel that they passed so quickly,” she said. “Throughout my time here, I kept one idea in mind … that I should bloom where God has planted me.”

That idea inspired the subject matter of plumerias, which she associates with beauty, charm, and grace.

Excerpt from the book:

hibiscus is
a flaming flower like
scorching summers
plumeria is the flower that
blooms in a dignified blaze

Of her chosen form of poetry, Inoue-Smith said, “Tanka is an ideal form of poetry to express my feelings. Poetry is an art form expressing creativity and skills, in forms that offer a universal language — and thus, poetry has a unique power to inspire thoughts and to share feelings among people anywhere in the world.”

Inoue-Smith is a professor of educational psychology and research at the University of Guam.  

The book is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency, the government of Guam, and the Office of Governor of Guam.

Inoue-Smith’s other published tanka collections include:

• “Life with Goblin and PJ: A Collection of Tanka Poetry” (2019)
• “Winter Woods: My Journey into Tanka" (2019)
• “The Inescapable Seasons of Life: Expressing the Modern Soul in an Ancient Poetic Style" (2018)
• “Do Cats Dream?” (2018)
• "The Wail of Gaea" (2017)
• “A Shawl of Mist: Expressing the Modern Soul in an Ancient Poetic Style” (2012)

She has also authored and compiled books on educational topics, including:

• “Optimizing Higher Education Learning Through Activities and Assessments” (2020)
• “Faculty Roles and Changing Expectations in the New Age” (2019)
• “A Jungle Named Academia: Approaches to Self-Development and Growth” (2015)

Her works are available for purchase via Amazon and JustFiction.