Falling in Love……With Tanka

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in the courtyard
at the nursing home
day lilies open
my mother wonders, again
what season it is

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june evening
a white-throated sparrow sings
my father’s whistle
calling me home for dinner
I’m eight again

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in the garden
the gentle sound
of cooing doves
my body leans into
the dawn music

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somewhere
between sunrise
and the heart
words rise up – teetering
on the edge of a poem

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long married
our conversation
happens
in the heart space
where no words are needed

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dove song
on the breeze
my desire
a morning scented rose
for you

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I have fallen in love with tanka and the sudden expansiveness of five lines after writing tight little haiku for so long. I like being able to put a bit of emotion into the poem too. These are a few I’ve written in the past month or so. What do you think?

Here is a link about getting started with tanka: Tanka On Line

I’m learning about tanka on a facebook page called ‘Tanka Poets On Site,’ where one can find wonderful poems and prompts written by many outstanding poets.