—haiga published in Prune Juice, issue 11, Nov. 2013
"to woo me" first published in Fire Pearls 2, 2013
artwork courtesy of friend Karen A. Smith
Friday, May 30, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
When we arrive
when we arrive
…..a cover of ice
before we leave
…..a teal-colored lake
…..giving way to reflection
—A Hundred Gourds, 3:1, December 2013
This weekend we returned from a wonderful northeast cruise with friends—to Maine, then Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec, Canada. In the above tanka, however, I refer to Lake Louise in western Canada (Alberta). Literally, upon our arrival one May many years ago, the surface of the lake was still frozen, but within just a day or two, most of the ice had melted. A beautiful, fascinating transformation to witness.
…..a cover of ice
before we leave
…..a teal-colored lake
…..giving way to reflection
—A Hundred Gourds, 3:1, December 2013
This weekend we returned from a wonderful northeast cruise with friends—to Maine, then Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec, Canada. In the above tanka, however, I refer to Lake Louise in western Canada (Alberta). Literally, upon our arrival one May many years ago, the surface of the lake was still frozen, but within just a day or two, most of the ice had melted. A beautiful, fascinating transformation to witness.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Motionless; stiff blue string
motionless
on a gurney—
sky blue socks
with nonskid treads
to steady me
—Skylark, 1:2, Winter 2013
stiff blue string
knotted on my finger ...
the pain
that lasts long after
the stitches are removed
—Moonbathing, issue #9
The incident mentioned in the second poem occurred in May 2013. Was one ER visit too many for me. I still seem to have some scar tissue in my index finger, and I can't bend the finger as easily as "normal." But overall it seems to have healed up better than I was warned!
—Moonbathing, issue #9
The incident mentioned in the second poem occurred in May 2013. Was one ER visit too many for me. I still seem to have some scar tissue in my index finger, and I can't bend the finger as easily as "normal." But overall it seems to have healed up better than I was warned!
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Photo: a foot away
Thought I'd post this photo separately from the preceding tanka so you first could picture the eagle yourselves. I believe this eagle was caged because he (?) had been injured and needed to be cared for.
Friday, May 9, 2014
A foot away
a foot away
from a bald eagle—
in my photo
the image segmented
by a grid of steel
—A Hundred Gourds, June 2014
from a bald eagle—
in my photo
the image segmented
by a grid of steel
—A Hundred Gourds, June 2014
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Announcement: Submit now to TSA International Contest
A reminder for all English-language tanka poets: the submission window for the 15th annual Tanka Society of America International Contest is now open. Submit your finest unpublished tanka until June 30. Please carefully follow the contest instructions.
Friday, May 2, 2014
The mockingbird
the mockingbird
stands guard, shrieks at me;
she should know
I can't reach her nest,
that I never could quite fly
—Modern English Tanka, #3, Spring 2007
Now, reading this years later, I wonder, "Was I that sad?" Maybe. This week I was sad, because a creature, unable to fly, did reach the nest. My ecstasy of the bluebird house finally serving its intended purpose suddenly flew away. I should have realized what had happened as soon as we discovered the coiled-up rat snake napping under a pile of pruned limbs.
stands guard, shrieks at me;
she should know
I can't reach her nest,
that I never could quite fly
—Modern English Tanka, #3, Spring 2007
Now, reading this years later, I wonder, "Was I that sad?" Maybe. This week I was sad, because a creature, unable to fly, did reach the nest. My ecstasy of the bluebird house finally serving its intended purpose suddenly flew away. I should have realized what had happened as soon as we discovered the coiled-up rat snake napping under a pile of pruned limbs.
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