always around me ~ tanka

always around me
mine is the way of water
as it carries me
even as dust I will know
the pure state of beginning

A traditional Japanese death poem is most often written in the form of a tanka. Per Wikipedia: “The writing of a poem at the time of one’s death and reflecting on the nature of death in an impermanent, transitory world is unique to East Asian culture.” An excellent resource can be found in Japanese Death Poems, compiled by Yoel Hoffmann. While I do not dwell on this topic, I have considered it, and I’m sure that I have some in one form or another in my archives. I don’t plan on leaving any time soon, but here’s another.

Shared with Day Five at napowrimo.net (off prompt)

Anticipation ~ chōka & haiku

My initial reaction to Colleen’s Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 229 #SynonymsOnly, where the words offered are dawn and twilight (to be replaced with synonyms), was to write a haiku.

morning light
anticipated
with sunset

Instead, I decided to write a chōka.

Anticipation

morning lightsailboats at anchor
in the waning evening light
long day on the lake
lapping of waves against hulls
sound of buoys rings
air of anticipation
to feel wind in morning’s light

light of setting sun
brings a night of quiet rest
morning light arrives
waves ripple in reflection
as the cycle continues

Chōka, a Japanese long poem written primarily from the 6th to the 14th century. Chōka have alternating lines of 5 and 7 syllables and an indefinite length (from 7 to 149 lines), ending with an added 7 syllable line. So, 5-7-5-7-5-7-…7, and a length allowing greater themes.

Chōka often were followed by one or more short poems called hanka, or “envoys,” summarizing, supplementing, or elaborating on, the contents of the main poem. Sometimes, a tanka would serve as an envoy, and that is what I have written here.

Man’yōshū (“Collection of a Myriad Leaves”) is the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry (from some time after AD 759) and contains 4,536 waka (classical Japanese poetry). 265 of those are chōka (long poems). The 1940/1965 edition of The Man’yōshū: One Thousand Poems (a translation) is available for download as a PDF from Internet Archive and is some pretty interesting reading.

Image: sunset on the Niagara River at Lake Ontario, Youngstown, New York
                              (click image for larger view in new tab)

listen to the night ~tanka

listen to the night

listen to the night
as the tree frogs call out
children of the night
what music they make echos
a chorus that celebrates

Dancing Frogs

This tanka is my response to Poetics: “Go Ahead, Make My Day,” the prompt from Mish at dVerse ~ Poets Pub, which is to write a poem using one of several offered movie quotes. I chose “Listen to the night. Children of the night. What music they make.” from Dracula (1931).

Images
Missouri Department of Conservation – Gray Tree Frog
ukiyo-e.org – Dancing frogs, by Tokuriki Tomikichiro

pebble sinks ~ tanka

pebble sinkspebble sinks
as water rises
spring rain continues
another pebble
falls from my fingers

This tanka is my response to Eugi’s Weekly Prompt – Swirling – March 25th, 2021 which asks that we respond with any variation of the the prompt and/or image (above)
– and –
to MTB: Coming full circle, the prompt from Peter Frankis at dVerse ~ Poets Pub,
which asks that we write a poem that circles around
with a repeat or variation of the opening line.

Image source: Arek Socha (qumono) at Pixabay

Still Cold ~ solo renga

Still Cold

melting snow
in afternoon sun
nights still cold

breath in the crisp air
fogging my glasses

frosted panes
see only shadows
drifting by

waterfowl swimming
in ice-jammed river

dark shadows
stray geese overhead
seeking food

sparrows at feeder
still cold and hungry

This solo renga is my response to
Frank Tassone’s #Haikai Challenge #177: Still Cold.

Images ~ 18 February 2021
The Moreau River in Missouri (snow covered)
The Missouri River at Jefferson City, Missouri

early sunset ~ tanka

early sunset
harvest moon rising
dancing leaves
wonderful colors
a treat for the eyes

The first full moon (of two) this October is the harvest moon which typically
appears in late September.  Many places (particularly in the northeast US)
are reporting fall colors weeks ahead of the norm.

This tanka is my response to three different prompts:
Frank Tassone’s #Haikai Challenge #158: Harvest Moon
Carpe Diem – 8th Anniversary asks for a festive haiku or tanka.
Colleen’s Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge
No. 197, #SpecificForm: Tanka
Also shared with Open Link Night #275 at dVerse Poets Pub

Photos
Harvest Moon, 01 October 2020,
Full Moon with Missouri’s Capitol, Jefferson City, Missouri – 01 October 2020
The dome is bathed in red light to honor the firefighters
who gave their lives to serve our
community
(click on images for larger view in new tab)