blossoms fall,
tumbling in a stiff breeze;
on the ground
they form a purple shadow,
ignoring the sunlight
Spring Blossom Tanka
3
Tag Archives: tanka
Three Kyōka of Animal Aggression
I
three monkeys
look down from a high branch;
one throws a pit;
a tourist dodges left,
right into the pit’s path
II
a goose struts,
then wheels about – wings flaring –
Karate Kid,
but standing on both legs —
feint with foot, jab with beak
III
a llama
spits in some poor girl’s face
as if she
were Hitler or Kim Jong-Un
classy, Llama, real classy
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Three Rolling Hill Tanka
I
granite domes
bubble from the flat lands,
earthly zit, or
beauty marks written
in topography
II
the foothills
spread from the mountains
like ripples,
echoing from
the cordillera
III
four horses,
standing on the hilltop,
as if meeting,
but with no common
vision or purpose
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Three Closed Eye Tanka
I
rustling leaves,
i hear only chaos;
the blind man hears
a single leaf fall,
hitting others as it drops
II
the sunshine
glows on my eyelids,
warms my face;
i see movement in
shifting dark blotches
III
the city noise,
so chaotic when looking,
becomes ordered
when I close my eyes
and sit with the sound
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Mountain Trail Tanka
I
yellow flowers,
along the trailside,
wave in the breeze;
butterflies flit
with random purpose
II
grazing livestock
trim the trail corridor
golf course neat;
not even the steepest
parts grow out shaggy
III
hear the burble
of the flowing water
where’s the creek?
it’s marsh-like in the grass,
awaiting a naïve boot
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Three Ugly Kyōka
I
a gnarled branch
twists its sinewy limb
from a crag;
its grotesque beauty
reminds me of me
II
reflections
on the rice paddies
show the sky
in an angry gray,
but dampen its scowl
III
glacier melt
leaves a great scar
gouged in the earth;
the gray and brown wound
looks like man’s doing
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Three Tanka on Impermanence
I
grass growing
through the concrete cracks;
roots spreading
and loosening the stones —
nature’s transplant rejection
II
mossy roof,
a cabin in the woods,
nature swallows
and digests all intruders
if given enough time
III
every living thing
becomes food in due time;
i’m fungi food;
should a wolf crack my corpse bones,
who am i to complain?
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Stormy Shore Tanka
I
seas churn
under darkened skies
raindrops arrive
pelting the sandy shore
with wind-blown violence
II
the rocky shore
becomes a fierce fountain
as wave water
hits and shoots skyward
to be blown sideways
III
this storm lingers
as metaphorical storms
are known to do
natural storms are
always in motion
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A Trio of Tanka
I
beware the wolf
wearing sheep’s clothing,
but – more likely –
you’ll meet sheep wearing
wolf attire while talking shit
II
light green leaves,
in early amber light,
flare brightly,
drawing the eye from
mundane forest greens
III
a lone tree,
standing atop a hill
doesn’t feel lonely;
a nexus is assumed —
invisible or not
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Three Kyōka
I
the post-perched bird
remains still, but for its eyes,
which dart about —
below, fish shoot and jink,
thinking the post oddly shaped
II
the mountains reflect
off of that glassy lake
with such clarity;
all know which mountains are true
except for the fishes
III
behind the barracks,
some local women gather
to bath at the well.
he pretends not to look
they pretend not to be seen
Tiger Riding for Beginners 