Category Archives: Tanka

Christmas Mummer – December 18, 2017 (tanka)

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eventide
waltzing through the street
winter mummers*
twirling golden fairy lights
one for every season

gsk ’17

 

Mummer definition, a person who wears a mask or fantastic costume while merrymaking or taking part in a pantomime, especially at Christmas and other festive seasons.

An evening walk – A Story in Waka – October 16, 2016

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An evening walk – A Story in Waka

crossing Arco’s bridge
the gloaming paints the clouds
three broken street lamps
add to the skyline etching
how lovely shadows can be

cars whiz past
still the geraniums bloom
on the bridge railings

crossing the road
under shadowy clouds
through rushing traffic
how unlike the river Sarca
this modern flow of steel

under pools of gold
from lamplight to lamplight
this road leads home

the dark path

ahi – noisy dog
jumping and barking loudly
behind closed gates
whether challenge or welcome
it goes unheeded

old stone wall
silently guides lone footsteps
up this moonlit path

the stream is silent
under the wooden bridge
despite morning rains

Bolognano
the church bells strike eight
as I enter town
light spills from closed windows
bodiless voices drift by

I unlock my door
a cautious cat looks on
just beyond my reach

© Gsk ‘16

Autumn Thoughts – Waka – September 29, 2016

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fence

near the roadside
a weed covered fence
and old dead leaves
no warbling blackbird sings
smell the burning bond fires

the train passes
screeching iron on iron
the earth shakes
then silence fills the air
crashing waves of silence

old man and woman
passing in an autumn day
each lost in thought
memories of the days gone by
no thoughts for tomorrow

sidewalk cafe
drinking bitter espresso
here – a crying babe
there – shadows dance in the street
McCartney sings “Let it be”

© Gsk ‘16

 

Dreams of spring – Tanka – September 12, 2016

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Carpe Diem Special #218 Dolores’ 2nd “dreaming of spring”

This is the second special dedicated to Dolores of   “Ada’s Poetry Alcove”, a tanka about life’s cycle:

autumn
flowers drop their petals
summer gone
they sleep in cold earth
dreaming of spring

© Dolores

And here is our host’s lovely tanka:

a last leaf
fights with the fall storm
its color fades
struggling against the wind
it surrenders

© Chèvrefeuille

And now for my attempt:

leaf in wet grass

autumn
as two lovers kiss
on a park bench
even without blackbird song
spring dreams return

© Gsk ‘16

Carpe Diem Special for Dolores – September 8, 2016 – Tanka

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This month the featured haiku poetess on Carpe Diem Haiku Kai is Dolores from Ada’s Poetry Alcove. Dolores was the winner of the last kukai “prayers” with the following haiku:

autumn evening
like whispered prayers
leaves float away

© Dolores

For the first CD Special Chèvrefeuille has chosen a tanka for our inspiration. She created the tanka inspired by the music of Karunesh entitled Calling Wisdom.

paintbrush flowers
dancing on the hillside
wind blows over reeds
ancient chants resurrected
sights and sounds of summer

© Dolores

cacophony
shatters the evening calm
rushing home
I find refuge in silence
and the sound of wind chimes

© Gsk ‘16