We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage / And swear that Beauty lives though lilies die, / We Poets of the proud old lineage / Who sing to find your hearts, we know not why ... (James Elroy Flecker)

23.2.21

Tanka on Tuesday Feb. '21

Tanka on Tuesday, Feb. '21



I resist

ways she might shape me

into herself –

then someone tells me

‘You’re so like your mother!’


2/2/21



phone-calls

with an old friend –

lately

when he talks politics

I change the subject

9/2/21 


just four today

in the healing circle —

two old women

one small black-and-white dog

one life-like baby doll


we send healing

to all the animals

all living things

and to one new infant

struggling to keep breathing


16/2/21



night noises –

I put a tiny gecko

back outside

(whew!) then all alone I find

an unknown book on my bed


23/2/21


What's Tanka on Tuesday? See here.

Sharing with Writers' Pantry #60 at Poets and Storytellers United.  

29 comments:

  1. I love this It feels like daily signpost with awareness and perceptions

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  2. It is amazing how your tanka allows the reader to visualize the scenes so well.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, I'm so glad of that. (And I wouldn't know it if you didn't tell me.)

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  3. Reading your tanka is like meeting a friend for a chat, Rosemary. The one about looking like your mother really resonates.

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  4. Lovely and vivid collection! I can't help but smile on reading the second one.

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  5. I feel like there's a thread of magic in all of these, even in the ones that don't seem overtly magical on the surface (transformation in the first piece, and a glamour for deflection in the second). I suppose I also have been thinking a lot about our every-day magic these days.

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  6. Lovely tanka verses. Happy Sunday

    Much💜love

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  7. Re the phone call: In these highly politicised days, really the only sane thing to do is change the subject!

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    1. Yes, I want to keep the friendship despite some radical differences of opinion in this one area.

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  8. I love these snippets that move through my mind like little movies!

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  9. it's like, the tanka let us know you a bit better. beautiful work.
    that gecko, i would have done the same, go outside, put it on another wall.

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    1. It was very little. I swept it up (gently!) in brush and pan and put it in the garden.

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  10. Your tankas always fascinate me, in that with so few words you skillfully bring a mental image to life!

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    1. Ah, that's the intent! Thank you; glad to know I'm succeeding.

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  11. 2/2/21 made me growl. 16/2/21 gave me shivers--I so hope the babe is doing well. And 23/2/21 left me full of curiosity!

    I'm really enjoying these series, Rosemary.

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    1. Alas, the baby was born with serious problems which will require operations. It's not certain yet if she will survive – but so far she is doing far better than expected, is home with her parents, much loved, and seems peaceful.

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    2. PS The mystery in the last one remains unsolved.

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  12. Such a joy to read your work ... Good grief, a gecko in your bed????

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    1. No no, the gecko was just running around the floor.

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  13. Great tanka verses, I enjoyed reading.

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  14. The wonder of poetry is being able to express what really matters in a few words. Your magic moments are memorable.

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    1. I do like the way the short forms force us to get to the essence. A friend of mine used to say he wrote poetry so as to make sure of remembering special moments.

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