The prompt for MTB: 5-Line Japanese Poetic Forms from Frank at dVerse Poets Pub is to write a tanka, kyoka, or gogyohka. Frank discusses each of the forms. I’ve tried to cover all three, in order. This series was a hard one to write.
bird with broken wing
beneath broken cedar branch
saved by helping hands
must be returned to the wild
before wild nature returns
broken clouds
in coming storm
offer hope
only an illusion
everything is gray
a soul is troubled
looking for escape
safe haven offered
troubles multiply
everyone suffers
Image source: Wikimedia Commons (edited here)
rivrvlogr 
An intriguing series of contrasts in your gogyohka sequence. I like the poignant images, especially “bird with broken wing” and “broken cloud.”
Don’t forget to add this post to Mister Linky! 😉
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Thank you, Frank. I’m glad you think so. “Broken” is key to this sequence.
And, yes. Linky!
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Nice work, Ken! It’s difficult to wed form with meaning. You accomplished both!
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Thank you, Barb. A lot of thought went into this.
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Polished like grandma’s silver!
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🙂
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You carried the theme through each poem masterfully …. well done.
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Thank you. I hoped that would come through.
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May all that suffering lead to brighter colors someday.
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One can hope. Thank you, Frank.
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You might have found this challenging but, Brother, you pulled it off masterfully!
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Thanks, Ron. I started with the gogyohka, but I wanted the rest to lead into it.
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What a lovely sequence, Ken. We all have birds dear in our hearts this week. ❤
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Thank you, Colleen. We have many wounded among us.
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That we do. ❤️
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You’ve eerily captured the atmosphere we find ourselves in. If only there were some safe place to “get away” to heal. Well done, Ken.
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Thank you, Lisa. This does apply to many situations. For the pandemic, many see the lock-down as a prison sentence. If only they understand that this could be far briefer if done right the first time.
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You are welcome, and you are right.
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Kudos to you for mastering all forms. Well done!
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Thank you, Beverly. 🙂
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The second one bridges the other two beautifully. Is there a refuge, a safe space on either side? We are caught in the grey. (K)
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Thank you, Kerfe. Starting with the third, I wanted all of them to express the same thought. I wasn’t trying to bridge the first and last, but I see now that’s exactly what I did. Thank you. 🙂
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All three interconnected and timely. Nicely done Ken.
Pat
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Thank you, Pat. I had one thought in mind when I wrote this. It’s nice to see other’s interpretaions, but then that’s poetry!
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This must have been difficult, Ken! Each stands alone, but can also form a sequence–and a metaphor for our current world situation.
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Difficult, but an enjoyable exercise. Thank you, Merril. 🙂
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Ditto Merril’s response.
Plus a personal perspective on “rescue” – of either injured bird or troubled human (either of which could be deemed a Soul) – the instinct to help is powerful, and always presents an opportunity. But it also draws the rescuer into a tango with forces beyond the obvious, which can radically reshape the rescuer (and may not benefit the rescued.) I follow my instincts, fingers crossed, eyes as open as I can get ’em.
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Thank you, Jazz. Yes, that tango. When should a trial for one be a trial for others? When is enough too much?
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