Tag Archives: tanka

A Haibun: Every Summer

Each summer, I gaze into the bright face of a sunflower and vow to plant some in my garden. Spring arrives… I ready my flowerbeds, go to the local nursery and buy the usual vegetables and annuals.  Deep summer arrives and I see sunflowers…  in somebody else’s garden. Faces shine brightly To rival the summerContinue reading “A Haibun: Every Summer”

Rocking Marshside

Smoldering heat quashed Submerged in cool marsh water‘Til distant sun dipsMidsummer darkness beckonsRocking fine waterside chair Shadows of the nightTall reeds silhouette againstStar sparkled waterNo cutting the grass out thereImmersed in protective brine Colleen’s 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 43 Sadje’s What do you see # 245

Family Picnic

Family visitshot summer celebrationsfor new beginnings and generations of oldbabies and great grandparents  Wished for swimming poolsexcessive heat comes in waveslocal lakes too warm Deftly prepped with lovechilled in refrigeratorwatermelon chunks for the family picnicsweet pink juice dribbling down chins Colleen’s 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 41 Colleen prompts us to incorporate the following kigo phrasesContinue reading “Family Picnic”

Hot Flash Summer

Sweat beneath the sheetsA different meaning wasHot summer bodiesEntwined deep into the nightNow forced apart with sheets thrown 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 40 Colleen asks us to use one of several proposed summer song lyrics to inspire our syllabic poetry. I chose “Summer heat, boy and girl / but oh, oh those summerContinue reading “Hot Flash Summer”

Figmental Firefly

Fairies flee to treesHot summer sun there drives themunder green leaf shadeThey recount storiesgenerations old folktales of the first fireflyTales of figmental beetlesthat emit light while flyingRainy season comesFairies flit between raindropsFireflies hide from view Colleen’s 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 38 dVerse Quadrille hosted by Lillian Image created with Copilot

April Blooms

Lone sidewalk cafeLacks appeal in winter coldWarm April sunlightSpring blooms wield their magic wandsThe spellbound fill cafe chairs W3 Prompt #103: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Heather, prompts us to write a poem about April. Colleen challenges us to write an ekphrastic poem this week for 24 Seasons Poetry Challenge No. 30, Part III.Continue reading “April Blooms”

A chōka: Fleeing South

Great snowstorms up northWinter’s wrath is upon usFleeing as a birdSeeking respite from the coldFrigid winds blow southSought warmth remains elusiveBare branches tauntingDefying the need for greenNo doubt I shall persevereSettled in deep southBiting northern winds muzzledCool breeze on bare skin Thawed in the warmth of the sunA gift of spring in winter Colleen’s 24Continue reading “A chōka: Fleeing South”