Japanese Tanka game

[Susan Sonnen]

life moved steadily
same pace, same route, same faces.
comfortable days,
to the point of sheer boredom,
until she rode into town...


cat fight

[Il Penseroso]

Screeching in the dark
like ragged claws on tin plates,
nipping at my dreams,
the terrible duo howl
alike in vain collision.


Deadlines.

[Susan Sonnen]

sucking all pleasure
from family holiday,
deadline looms larger
requiring full attendance,
killing any hope of joy

first date

[Riesa]

too green for burning,
leave that to the last of the
autumn leaves that fall
in golden waves above dark
heads bent close, hearts taking note.

next: first kiss

[Susan Sonnen]

gentle waves of bliss
pass through...electrifying!
crescendoing beat
of two hearts pressed close, now one.
nothing will compare - first kiss

next: final embrace

[x894565256]

As she holds me for
one last time, I reflect and
remember love's days.
She knows not that I will be
changing the spin of her world.

Next topic: sunrise/sunset at the beach

[Susan Sonnen]

white sands shelter shells
as Sun stretches her strong rays
lovers long embrace
later returning
bid Sun good-bye, Moon hello


Next: sledding

[Il Penseroso]

Slick ice underbutt
buries the mantel of Spring's green
in glistering white
to charm the skidding children
whose wildness carves their course.



Sense of oneself upon approaching a black hole.

[Riesa]

okay, I'm getting rather tired of always saying :thumbs_up so just assume I always admire yours, and let's be done with it, k-o, IP? :p

quiet humming of
rushing veins packed in boundless
atmospheric chill;
succumb to the sucking draw
of ultimate emptiness



ignoring your conscience

[zanna]

just because I know
better doesn't mean I won't
do it anyway
stupid voices in my head
wish they'd just leave me alone


doing something courageous

[Il Penseroso]

Likewise Riesa, honestly (but I'll still point out what I really like :)).

The sky glows brighter
as with lanterns lit the lean
strike discord in streets;
a monarch grim sits on gold
given for distribution.



Waiting for the worms. (I'm listening to it now)

[Susan Sonnen]

staring across years
his gaze settles upon her
chestnut hair, green eyes
sparkling as she turns to leave.
dying, he waits for the worms...



sunshine belies the mood

[Riesa]

leaves of dismal gold
dangle wrinkled faces that
drain slow, summer’s blood
clotting in heaves and stops; a
false warmth, granting only chill

next: frost

[Il Penseroso]

Light freckles the lawn
in a glittering landscape
of dawn's drowsiness,
light sharpening to sustain
green under radiant garb.


Pigeons.

[Susan Sonnen]

she sits in the rain
observing sheltered pigeons,
wonders how they thrive
as she struggles through the days...
one more finds its own haven


at the ice skating rink

[Taliesin]

Really haven't been
here for times long enough to
forget everything.
So when I fly through the white
I forget all the pain in feet.


Winter being late.

[Il Penseroso]

Sudden waves of ice,
ground baren and chills within
the sky looms empty.
Geese spell overhead the chain,
but snow refuses to fall.


Drunk cosmonauts.

[Riesa]

getting drunk in space
spun out silver suits in streams
of vodka? depends
on which space station tonight’s
seeking heights higher than high



next: empty city streets on a windy day

[Il Penseroso]

Rotten teeth of cars,
cruel shadow flicker leaves,
howling broach of cold;
tossed discomfort and dismay
push of fickle feathertips.



The cataclysmic cushion of phobia.

[Il Penseroso]

Like Newton's theory,
objects of fear stay in fear
anxious like Prufrock,
casual blankets wrap the heart
desire hid like swaddled sons.


That was a tough one.

Disappearing snow.

[Susan Sonnen]

looking past paned glass
she contemplates life's meanings;
dreams coming loose in
tangled mysteries, silken webs -
vanishing with fallen snow


Next: anticipating the New Year

[Riesa]

that's beautiful, Susan.

breathing on cold glass
thin fingertips draw half-rounds,
a smile through which
to sweep up the falling year,
opening to hopes pristine

a unseasonably warm and shining day

[Riesa]

oooooohkay, I guess it's up to me to continue this thread as usual. where did you go IP?

a chill dismissed on
rigorous wandering roads
perched high, cloistered clouds
nuzzling greening mountaintops
early bees sing buzzjoy.

:p

umm.

an erupting volcano above a small village in Greece.

[Pendragon]

5-7-7-7-5

The Fire-God speaks anger,
Bitter rage gives way to pain—
Down the slopes his hot tears
Pour, streams of molten lava—
Our village is gone…


A wolf howling on a misty mountain

[Il Penseroso]

Pen, 5-7-5-7-7.

And Riesa, sorry but I tried like three times to write on that subject without any luck. Yours was brilliant as usual though.

Has anyone noticed the profusion of poems about warm winter weather lately?

Lost in heavy fog
searching with screams the unknown
wolves cry to the moon.
The glowing orb glimpsed dimly
as clouds sink to lull the wolves.


Beach scenery in winter.

[Pendragon]

Pen, 5-7-5-7-7. Thank you, IP! I guess the peolpe at Red Owl Magazine who published some of my Tanka, didn't realize the form no more than I. Que sera, sera.

The waves race shoreward,
Splashing onto a lonely beach—
The people are gone.
Home where fires are burning bright,
And warm blankets are waiting…


A Rainforest's animals.

[Riesa]

dripping hush, midnight
toucan's screech bend vines aside
as howler monkeys
cry like infants dreaming of
nests of hunting araneae


hey, IP you are too kind. :p

yay, that's good new Pen! Congrats.


an overly confident small dog

[Pendragon]

Bare your teeth and growl,
But since you are very tiny—
You expect I fear?
Oh, I see what you have done!
You only woke up big brother…


A skunk encounter unexpectedly...

[Il Penseroso]

Shouts and rotten scents
speak cataclysm in woods,
nervous lift of tale,
screech and howl by midnight moon
man the worse by nature's smell.



Natural light at play on aluminum.

[Pendragon]

Scales flash in the sun
As the fish rise up to be fed,
All in little rows
Like little school children
Who have just stopped by to watch…


Bats pouring from a cave at nightfall--

[Susan Sonnen]

cave purges itself
of flying inhabitants,
black wings dot the night.
showered in moonlight's soft glow,
they give no reason for fear.


next: a child's snowday, no school

[Pendragon]

Yay! No school! We’ll
Go sledding down the big hill
And build a snowman!
Give me a carrot for his nose,
And a red scarf for his neck!

A Chinese prayer garden...

[Susan Sonnen]

come to the garden.
it is not mine, but Nature's
own Utopia.
sit quietly and listen...
you may hear your Father's voice.


next: the touch of a lover's lips

[Riesa]

crimson subtly spiced,
drops of vanilla mangoes
rush in climbing vines
to free furtive mysteries
and pluck lightning harpsichords


next topic: sunbathing

[Triskele]

5-7-5-7-7

sitting quite alone
i don't know what i'm to do
confused about this
attempt to change shades of skin
who invented this idea?

next: lord of the rings

[Il Penseroso]

By tyrant design
he fashioned these hollow orbs,
mirrors of his prey.
Scattered as a dying breath
the rings mingle man to doom.



The Middle Passage.

[Pendragon]

We could not pass North
Snow and Ice turned vicious fang—
The South was cruel—
Far too near to Isengard—
The Dark Middle Passage waits…


The One Ring...

[Susan Sonnen]

the one ring binds us,
love's never ending circle.
this ring is not worn
outwardly, but is hidden
deep within our very souls.

next: sitting on the riverbank

[Susan Sonnen]

I remember us
sitting on the riverbank.
my head, your shoulder,
that's how this journey began.
And now - my head, your shoulder.

funeral

[Il Penseroso]

Dusk decrepit grey
shallow to the touch of wind,
gloom a surrounding
shield against the play abroad
of children who see no clouds.


The lengthening shadow of a slowly crawling bug.

[Pendragon]

Light strikes carapace,
As the insect lumbers past—
Heading for darkness
Behind its shadow lengthens—
Grotesque against the white tiles…



Spider weaves a web....

[Isagel]

waterdrops cling heavy
distorting silken pattern
a fragile prison
slowly, and with utmost care
the web weaves its´ spider

(from an African proverb)

coming home :-)

[Pendragon]

I can see the door.
The question is—what welcome
Will there be inside?
I have been gone so long now—
Am I more than memories?


Doves on wing...

[Riesa]

Silver procession
of fabled coos in mourning
unpretentious in
flight and demeanor yet with
their mild winging comes faith


charlie chaplin

[Il Penseroso]

Struts himself with cane,
silent monopoly fame
on a slapstick scale,
bouncing, shuffles from the stage
to the moving picture show.


(I really don't know much about Chaplin, so I hope this is at least somewhat correct - If not I plead poetic license.)


Tree platters carrying snow. (A Fitzgeraldism)

[Pendragon]

Evergreens are snowcapped,
Their branches carry loads of white—
Like bridesmaids bouquets—
Hoarfrost paints the silver hair,
Youthful maidens now grow old…


Send in the clowns...

[Susan Sonnen]

You walked far today
in search of your missing joy.
You set your love free
and now you request my aid?
Go home, I'll send in the clowns.

Okay, so this is not so hot. At all! It's 6am...I tried!

Next: wedding night bliss

[Liarue]

Strong, steady candles
Arranged in pairs for comfort;
Shadows on the wall
The guests left respect for us,
The candles stopped dancing first

Next: Tracing pictures

[Pendragon]

Images appear
As the fingers work the pen,
Along the papers—
The top paper is translucent,
Allowing him to see beneath…


playing "Chopsticks" on the piano

[Liarue]

She starts it slowly
My hands ,outstretched and baring
My index fingers
How I await the moment
Lithely dancing in my head

Next: Bees

[Il Penseroso]

Golden crossed with black,
they share the flower's beauty
to die in winter.
Softly floating tiplers sink
as frost gilds their tiny wings.



Snow slush.

[Pendragon]

“Slip slide in the way” playing—
Tires trying to bite—
Asphalt becomes a ski slope—
Minus the thrill of the ride—
Victory—agony—slush…


Amish barn with hex symbol

[Il Penseroso]

Boards planked and stripped
to fit a natural weave,
wood wrung raw by hand
placed by care in workman's sight,
their icon to industry.



The metabolism of an amoeba.

[Pendragon]

Single cell animal—
That is what they always said—
Microscopic glob
Makes a better description—
This one may divide in two…


Fox in the henhouse...

[Il Penseroso]

Just for the hell of it I wanted to do one out of turn, I rather liked my last topic. :)

Sliding feet react,
gelatinous rotation
in their liquid bite,
food submerged by pulsing taste
and suction scours one-celled life.




Feathers erupt like
ash from out volcanoes' mouths,
and sleep-roused hens rush
naked from the fox's jaws
that hover empty with heat.


The grinding workmanship of ironsmiths.

[Pendragon]

The rough grindstone spins,
Sparks light the smoky smithy
The sword must bite deep
Drink the blood of enemies—
Quench the Lust for Conquest's Prize

Trapped in a haunted house...

[Il Penseroso]

Eery smell of dust,
ruinous walls mirror our
eventual minds;
ghosts like faded memory
steal across the stairs in night.




A grazing cow impervious to his surroundings.

[Il Penseroso]

Munching grass to mulch
the tasty green collapses
in his piston teeth.
An engine of digestion
the ground his constant platter.



A dream broken by day.

[Il Penseroso]

Light paints specifics
on a cloud-surfaced pupil
fissured by the brain,
a beam spreads the marble sky,
men themselves make steel of day.




The jester picks his tone.

[Pendragon]

Guys, is this mike dead?
A funny thing happened on my…
Take my wife—please! Yep!
You might be a redneck if…
You can’t fix stupid… Here’s your sign…

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/AbsalomKane/Smilies/television_reporter.gif

A lead rock guitarist wails away

[Il Penseroso]

What happened to this thread's continuity? Where is everyone?


Word strumming shadows
on the first-song stage,
the break of twilight,
as phantoms split pantomimes
in audio rehearsal.



The percussion of a ragged suit.

[Pendragon]

Moths had a feast on
My best new suit, leaving holes:
Craters everywhere!
Dang little Kamikazes!
The suit is beat—moth-eaten!


The joy of finding a new penny

[Il Penseroso]

Metallic luster
glares its pigment asunder,
descends upward eyes
to stoop and let light sprinkle
flashes in reflected sun.



the cool hand of decay

[Pendragon]

Bony digits touch,
Caress my flushed countenance
Icy coldness grows
The scent of eggs long overlaid
Begins to rise, rancid fog


The Reaper sharpens his scythe...

[Il Penseroso]

Time with spray of sparks
razes dull moments to shine,
burning crisper light;
embers fall like ousted dust,
motes that hide from smokey rays.



petclothing in a superstore

[Bluemauvey]

Highland, four-holed cape
Will hold the shivering wreck
In the freezer aisle;
Like on the first day of school
You'll grow into it in time.

A lost tuning fork.

[Pendragon]

Mauvey, that last line needs 7...


Vibrating twin tines
Perfect pitch awaits the find
Harmony is required—
Where the slender silver forks?
My guitar still complaining…

Lost in the forest…

[Bluemauvey]

Mauvey, that last line needs 7...


Vibrating twin tines
Perfect pitch awaits the find
Harmony is required—
Where the slender silver forks?
My guitar is still complaining…

Lost in the forest…

Corrected! Thanks P.

p.s. There are 8 syllables in your last line ;)

[Bluemauvey]

Lost in the forest
A Roman coin that fell out
Of time and did lay
Face up,and brazen golden
Day after day after day...


The last of the clocks

[Pendragon]

Fixed! Thank you! ;)

Technical tyrants!
Now rusty and missing parts—
Do you think to rule?
Grandfather hath no pendulum,
Big Ben hath lost his great voice…


The end of the computer age….

[Bluemauvey]

Drive a hard bargain
Pull the plug on memory
And ram the point home
There will be no restore point
When we format who we are


A flipped coin

[Pendragon]

Possibilities—
Many reason there but two:
Heads or tails only—
I submit further results:
What chance if I call edge?


an outright lie told when the truth is perfectly acceptable...

[Pendragon]

White Man has forked tongue—
Telling my People promises;
Whites never keep them.
My People are not Children—
If you lie to them, they know…

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/AbsalomKane/Seneca20Chief.jpg

Getting out of prison after 25 years...

[Uncle Lar]

I was never an
upright Person, until I
left my unholy
prison, with its sick people;
25 years of Madness.

------------------------------
The Time Has Come.

[Pendragon]

Warden says "It is time."
I take one last look around.
Today is the day.
Sentence handed down carried out.
Innocent man like me dies...


The Last Leaf

[Riesa]

The Last Leaf

Burnished gold clings to
the edge of Autumn, leafy
fingers plucked and crushed
by winter's brute tug and stomp...
Cares not for gold, but diamonds.


the perfect apple

[Uncle Lar]

The perfect apple
with high knowledge was given
to Adam and Eve
with dire consequences
for them and all their children.

----------------------------
A Better Tomorrow.

[Pendragon]

Ah, Uncle Lar beat me to the punch! I like the tanka, so I'll leave my version anyway. Now, let us see:

Burnished crimson shine,
Temptation for poor mortals,
Only one small bite—
Deliciously wicked taste—
Cast out of Eden, forever…


Looking for a better life—
Where does one go when dreams fade?
Beyond tomorrow's sky,
In places that never saw me—
Is there still room for my dreams?



self-portrait

[Uncle Lar]

With my Self-Portrait,
I see myself as I am,
accept myself well,
and seek to improve myself
wisely and deftly always.

-----------------------------
My Bleeding Heart

[Uncle Lar]

My heart gushed out blood
when she left me after she
learned her Father would
disown her if he found out
she dated me and loved me.

-----------------------------------

A Happy Tale

[Pendragon]

Happy Jack laughed,
Today he would marry Jill,
In the small white church
At the very top of that hill—
Thought they were fetching water…

http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/liebe/d065.gif


Another twisted fairy tale

[Uncle Lar]

Once upon a Time,
an Ogre kidnapped Helen
to be his Bride, but
Harold came to save the Day,
and took Helen as his Wife.
--------------------------------

The Spiral Dance.

[Uncle Lar]

Today's weird weather,
with its wicked snow and sleet,
swirling in a real
spiral dance, both beautiful
and dangerous to People!

The Magic Science.

[Pendragon]

Evolution is
The Magical Science, yes?
For it probes mysteries—
From fragments microscopic—
Behold! A man from an ape!

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/AbsalomKane/Smilies/ROFL.gif

(this is tongue-in-cheek, OK.?)


Presumed knowledge

[Uncle Lar]

He presumed knowledge,
but she saw foolishness, pain,
and suffering at
the core of his being, so
she listened with empathy.

The Boys and Girls.

[Pendragon]

The little street waifs,
The boys’ and the girls’ thin faces—
Wait for sustenance,
Just a crumb of daily bread
Be it begged or stolen…


dreamlands

[Uncle Lar]

My Dreamlands exist
to help me optimize my
Reality in
an effort to love, enjoy,
and enrich other People.

---------------------

Out of the Woods.

[Pendragon]

Wolf with fetid breath,
Chasing after me for hours—
Along with his pack
Fang and claw in slavering jaws—
Not out of the woods just yet…







Fear incarnate

[Uncle Lar]

Ignorance is Fear
incarnate, for it ignores
Logic, Reason, and
Higher Learning in many
aspects of all walks of life.
-------------------------
The Mystery of Change.

[Uncle Lar]

The Mystery of
Change is not Rocket Science;
just do your Best now
within every aspect of
Triumph, without fail always.
------------------------------
The Art of Victory.

Have a great Weekend!

Sincerely,

Uncle Lar

[Il Penseroso]

Crucial pivot launch,
thrusted disc in spirals thrown
turning in the air.
Measure and repeated call,
lapped with cheers, eyes glint at all.


A balloon that won't float.

[Pendragon]

Rubber skin loses shape—
Helium will not succeed now.
Has puncture wound
Straight through vital organs—
This balloon will never float…


http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/AbsalomKane/balloon.gif

Elephant stampede

[Il Penseroso]

Deep thunderous streaking
grey, battle spear tusks lifted
as they scream of day;
stomping earth in speedy flight,
ruin tracks are rails to night.



A monkey fond of tree swinging.

[Pendragon]

Both hands and feet grasp—
And the tail a homegrown rope!
Make a second-story thief,
But all it thinks is swinging—
Whole jungle is a playground…

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/AbsalomKane/Smilies/SpiderMonk.gif



slow moving turtle

[Uncle Lar]

Slow moving Turtle,
with patience and persistence
overcame the fast
but cocky Rabbit, who thought
he had time to take a nap.
-----------------------------
Times are a Changin'.

[Uncle Lar]

Times are a changin'
without a doubt, however,
I wonder how can
I assimilate, change, and
disseminate the right thing?
--------------------------
A Tragic Loss.

[Il Penseroso]

Lost grip and chinking
coins echo in silent streets.
Untampered muffins,
unsplit from crumbling ridges
gowns displayed to hungry poor.


Spring cleaning.

[Uncle Lar]

Now is the time to
make a fresh start in every
aspect of myself,
life, work, and happiness in
time for Spring and all Seasons.
------------------------------
For Whom The Bell Tolls.

[Pendragon]

Do not chase the hearse—
Do not walk on people’s graves—
Do not mock beggars—
Do not laugh at misfortune—
Ask not for whom the bell tolls…


Respect…

[Uncle Lar]

I believe those who
want Respect, give Respect; I
want Respect, therefore,
I give it to others; a
world without Respect is bad.
--------------------------------------
Higher Learning.

[Il Penseroso]

Monolithic brick,
magic walls of algebra,
bags like mythic stones
we push Sysephean to
classroom peaks in knowledge halls.


garbage bags like driftwood

[Il Penseroso]

Lamplit gutters speed
a spirit-filled derelict
that draws each city
gesture like a moon-worn wave
nudges blocks to pillow foam.



days like hopscotch

[atiguhya padma]

An earthquake splits clay
My hemispheric heartland
Finally static
Stagnant moment, lost in depth
Paved my corpus callosum

Unlike adults, who often take only months to recover, children can take years to overcome post traumatic stress disorder.

[Pendragon]

Hurt follows her still,
Silent—a hunting wolf-pack—
Nightmarish landscapes
Haunting her dreamworlds by night—
Will she ever grow out of it…


Rejection because you’re somehow “different”

[Uncle Lar]

I've been rejected
because I'm different from most
people, however,
I remain true to myself,
because I must persevere.

(I'm using "different" with two syllables.)
----------------------------------------
Acceptance.

[Riesa]

It is what it is,
don't ask why, there's no reply.
Look to your own heart
for directions to the end,
and you'll find the beginning.

your straightforwardness is rubbing off, Uncle Lar. I think. ;)

umm..

grilling outdoors on a beautiful Spring night.

[Uncle Lar]

Grilling outdoors on
a beautiful Spring night is
pleasant to the soul
as well as the taste buds; I
cannot wait for more Spring feasts!
-----------------------------------
Deus ex Machina.

[atiguhya padma]

You dreamt you saw god
When he touched you, crafted the
Mouth of implosion.
Angels rage deep within you
Sleep in your exclamation.

A world where the concept of malfunction replaces the word 'evil'.

[Pendragon]

A malfunctioned man
With a malfunctioned desire
To let loose on Earth—
Genius doesn’t dream tranquilly
Malfunction makes them strong…



Benifical science

[Uncle Lar]

Science, whether it
is manifest, hidden, or
divine, should promote
well-being and useful aid,
in my humble opinion.
------------------------
Order out of Chaos.

[Pendragon]

Laboratory mess—
Scrawled equations on blackboards—
Sheets of jumbled notes—
What was he after, anyway?
Refined product miracle—




Frankenstein's monster

[Uncle Lar]

Flesh, bone, heart, and brain
without a soul or purpose;
such was the curse of
Frankenstein's Monster, who lived
and died with much confusion.
------------------------------
The Sleeper Awakens.

[Il Penseroso]

Light adds comfort to
sheets like ruffled petals curled
round heaven bent clouds,
a sneeze awakens sleeping
children, yellow dreams dissolved.



a stutter and skip of exhaust.

[Uncle Lar]

As I turn the key
in my ignition, my old
automobile starts
with a stutter, the exhaust
skips a bit, then off we go!
----------------------------------------
Holding Your Own in a Tense Situation.
----------------------------------------

Have a great Weekend, Everyone!

Sincerely,

Uncle Lar

[Pendragon]

Cut tension by knife—
Everyone speaking—no one hears
Babbling confusion
Every head swings towards myself—
I smile: “I have an idea…”

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/AbsalomKane/Idea.gif




First Interview

[Uncle Lar]

I walk into the
office, with my Resume
updated clearly;
I sit in the lobby and
wait for my first interview.
---------------------------
The Turning Point.

[atiguhya padma]

This bend in a lane
Like a tight Alpine corner,
Brings back my childhood:
Downhill woods, crazy bluebells,
Sword-blade effort of ascendence.

Fear of crowds

[Pendragon]

A face in a crowd—
Feel the world pressing on me—
Time for fight or flight.
Why can I not meet their eyes?
Windows to my soul—or theirs?



Claustrophobia

[Uncle Lar]

Here I am, locked in,
with no room to maneuver;
how can I get out?
I hate being closed in, for
I have Claustrophobia.
----------------------
Illusion.

[Uncle Lar]

It's easy to see
others' faults, but it can be
difficult to look
within oneself and deal with
the Illusion to defeat.
--------------------------
The Pied Piper of Hamelin.

[Pendragon]

Rats! He stretched out hand—
The night came alive with eyes:
Millions of red eyes!
Rats! All of these will I give—
You have but to worship me…



Shadows over Innsmouth

[Uncle Lar]

Shadows fly over
Innsmouth, where souls toil and
trouble in the hopes
of finding a much better
tomorrow for all involved.
----------------------------------
The Wrath of God.

[atiguhya padma]

Down below, a wreck,
Whose aged ruins reveal
Forgotten glory.
The lighthouse fails to disclose
Its nameplate: The Wrath of God.


The Appian Way

[Uncle Lar]

The Appian Way
was, to the ancient Romans,
the most important
road for the army and the
Empire; all hail Caesar!
----------------------------------
The Emperor.

[Pendragon]

(Too slow, but I can't throw this one away!)

The slaves revolted—
Desperate men sought freedom:
The Romans struck fast—
Crucifixion sentences pass—
Crosses line The Appian Way...

(Right, The Emperor)

Palpatine fooled all—
Using dark Sith powers, clouding minds—
Enemy unseen.
The darkness consumed the man—
Senator into Emperor…

Bird in a golden cage

[Uncle Lar]

Sing, oh bird in a
golden cage! Sing to your heart's
content. I enjoy
your chirps, songs, and sounds of joy,
peace, and merriment always!
------------------------------------
Walking The Dog.

[Pendragon]

Whistle for the girl—
Pick the leash up off the desk—
Whoa! Not so eager!
Once around our neighborhood—
Heel while walking near highways!

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/AbsalomKane/Smilies/Pupdog.gif

Turnip stew...

[Il Penseroso]

Bottled cauldron capped
with buds, rumbling turnip bulbs
fill a smoldered sea
fleeing burnt silver soil
to lunge, popping gasps at air.


a V-2 bomb.

[atiguhya padma]

In Peenemunde,
I'm tracking a wasserfall,
(Or rather its tracking me)
But I'm determined to blast
Those V-2's to kingdom come.

Utopia

[Uncle Lar]

"Utopia or
Dystopia?" This Question
probably pervades
within every aspect of
All and Everything always!
----------------------------------
The Kingdom.

[Pendragon]

The best a man wants
Is but a chance once in life
To sally forth in arms
Do battle, nobly face death—
For King and country—kingdom…

underworld

[Uncle Lar]

Be it criminal
or infernal, seedy or
needy, supernal
Ones avoid The Underworld
with Discernment discreetly.
-------------------------------
The New Order.

[Il Penseroso]

Science with a gun
hammers sheet-ripping holes
in our painted veils;
Pavlov with a burning probe
grins paradoxically.


a physiological explanation for the universe.

[atiguhya padma]

Hylozoism:
Panpsychism for bozos.
Spinoza's ethics,
Zarathustra charmed the Greeks.
But those z's send me to sleep.

Threading a needle

[Pendragon]

Steel shaft has one eye.
I have two, better to see—
The thread is a snake
That has to find a hole now—
Why can I not thread needles?



My old yellow car

[Uncle Lar]

Old, yellow, and true
my car is, with sputtering
sounds from its faithful
chassis, engine, and muffler;
I love my old yellow car!
--------------------------------
Ending World Hunger.

[Pendragon]

Ending World Hunger.

Why do we ignore,
The starving millions worldwide
While warring over riches?
Bullets cannot feed hunger—
Feed the hungry, save the world…


A Time Machine

[atiguhya padma]

Genes escape the pod
Masquerading as pleasure,
The exit process
Draws the hosts purposefully
Together. Time pioneers.

Midsummer's Day

[Il Penseroso]

Glare from crusted cars,
aluminum gold splayed streaks
wound across pavement;
children funnel toward sprinklers
chilled by the twisting of jets.



your favorite queen.

[Uncle Lar]

Radiating with
Beauty and exuding the
timeless Wisdom, your
favorite Queen walks down the Path
of Righteousness for her Land.

("Favorite" has two syllables in this Tanka.)
-----------------------------------
Next Topic: The Once and Future King.

[atiguhya padma]

Would stone-scabbarded
Sword once yours, wield again,
So smite scavengers
Of simple, star-glazed spirit,
In sterile Glastonbury

A Pyrrhic Victory

[littlewing53]

i so enjoy reading these, here's my first try, hopefully it is well read...

battles waged in blood
hatred swings a mighty sword
combat is embraced
battleweary he nears home
courage 'n strength press him on

glancing backward

[Uncle Lar]

As I reflect on
my life, I am amazed at
what I went through in
order to become the Man
I am today; what a ride!
-------------------------------------
Looking Forward.

[Pendragon]

Onward I go, eyes front,
Backward I dare not one glance—
Destruction lies there—
Sodom and Gomorrah burn,
‘Tis death to gaze upon God’s Wrath…


Shipwreck

[Uncle Lar]

Here I am, alone,
on this deserted island,
without the means for
communication, travel,
or food. Oh God, please help me!
--------------------------------
Salvation.

[Uncle Lar]

Oh Lord, please save me
from myself and all bad things
which may come my way.
Please help me live my life with
wisdom and charity well.
------------------------------
Mending my broken Heart.

[Il Penseroso]

Stuck epoxy shell,
ribs cracked oozing glue
slide of inner blue.
Heat and shocking rhythm glide,
healing strings like purple thighs.


flotsom or jetsom

[Pendragon]

Bottle in the waves—
Rolled-up note tucked inside.
From whence comes this here?
“Hello! My name is Danny
If you get my message, write…”

The poor but happy

[Uncle Lar]

I can't afford what
I used to, due to events
beyond my control,
however, I still
have my home, health, food, and friends;
thank you, sweet Jesus!
-----------------------------------------
The Miracle Worker.

[atiguhya padma]

Saints by the thousand,
There's Simon Magus, Jesus,
Charles the First, even
Derren Brown. Miracle work
Comes to town. Same old story.

The Next Millennium

[Uncle Lar]

One thousand more years
of innovation, success,
and charity for
all is what I hope will come
to pass from this day forward!
-------------------------------
Looking to the Past to help the Present and Future.

[littlewing53]

yesterday's events
remembered as written words
perchance seen by eyes
a baby is born of love
expectations running high

reaching for the stars

[Uncle Lar]

Great job, littlewing53!

:thumbs_up

As I prepare my
goals to manifest, practice,
and accomplish, I
take some time to think what will
make me ascend and shine bright.
-----------------------------------------
Ascension.

[atiguhya padma]

A thousand miles
Feels like you're going nowhere,
So no-one was told.
A speck on the horizon
D'Albuquerque's lost island.

Airports

[Uncle Lar]

Full of busy men,
women, and children, planes, gates,
and baggage claims, the
vast steely structures around
the world help travellers fly.
-----------------------------------------
Dreams and Nightmares.

[Pendragon]

Ninety-nine steps descend,
From Mortal World to Dreamland—
Beware Gaunts and Ghouls!
Lower Dreamland hides a sea
To sail to Kadeth, Unknown Wastes…

Sleepy Hollow

[Uncle Lar]

Once upon a Time
In early America,
A Headless Horseman
Terrorized the Dutch, English,
And Beyond with dark Horrors.
-------------------------------------------
The Ruler of The World.

[littlewing53]

he plays a mean game
harbors deceit darkly cloaked
accuser of men
seeing the darkness ahead
we choose the light from above

a book w/o end

[Uncle Lar]

Nouns, adjectives, verbs,
And adverbs too many to
Count; literary
Genius abounding with wise
Words for all forevermore.
-------------------------------------
You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling.

[littlewing53]

ouch that hurts you know
tis my heart you just stomped on
love that didnt last
sleeping i smiled at trust
you who lost his love 4 me

[littlewing53]

forgot to list the next subject....

forgetfulness

[Uncle Lar]

Who am I, what am
I, what am I doing, where
Am I going, why
Am I here, where do I come
From, why am I neglectful?
----------------------------------
My Ideal Lover.

[Uncle Lar]

There She is, with all
Her warmth, beauty, and virtue,
Sitting peacefully
Next to me with her head on
My shoulder; I love her so!
----------------------------------
Seize The Day.

[littlewing53]

day to day brings much
my sweet cup is filled over
water everywhere
i grabbed ahold of the rope
with a pure abandonment

writing a song

[Uncle Lar]

Thoughts becoming Words
Which transform into Lyrics
Mixing with Music
In order to exude real
Beauty; why is this so hard?
---------------------------------------------
Planting The Seed.

[Pendragon]

Reap what you sow, right?
Cannot plant corn and expect beans.
Sow wild oats, wild grow.
Legacy we leave behind,
Will sustain or starve our progeny…

Regret of life wasted

[Uncle Lar]

Here I am, barely
Employed in a job which pays
The bills, but no real
Wealth or success appear in
My life; where did the time go?
-----------------------------------
The Joy of Writing.

[Pendragon]

Start out happy note,
Guitar reveals melody—
Catch the tune, yeah, right—
Fingers dancing happily—
Feels good when you write it right!


http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/AbsalomKane/GuitarMan.gif


You had a bad day...

[littlewing53]

it was justice
blindly my thoughts sought vengence
who was i to think
he cried when the cookie fell
right into the wet puddle

secret rendezvous

[Pendragon]

Rendezvous

Stole softly tonight,
To the Old Oak by the river—
If they catch us, death!
I, Vampire Emperor am,
And she my love, mortal still…


Göttdamerung (Twilight of the Norse Gods)

[littlewing53]

knowledge is so sweet
sang the voices in accord
burning flames destroyed
it is a dream of new hope
without the fear of dark night

the leaves of fall

[Pendragon]

Hillside in the Spring
Draped verdant leaves conceal—
Which tree is which?
But Autumn’s Paintbrush arrives
Colors reveal character…


Muckraker….

[Uncle Lar]

Burning with a need
To know about the failings
Of prominent ones,
And enjoying their downfall;
The envious Reporter.
-------------------------------------
American Idol.

[littlewing53]

one note at a time
a song is sung that sings strong
a life so engaged
she dares to dream and trembles
deep inside her song is heard


climbing mt everest

[Uncle Lar]

The highest mountain
On earth, between China and
Nepal, over the
Himalayas beckons me
To climb it; how do I start?
---------------------------------------
A Nonsensical War.

[atiguhya padma]

Until you recant
The fires shall burn and the
Flesh of heresy
Shall blacken the air like souls
Suffering in the hellpit

The persistence of traditional delusions

[Uncle Lar]

Well done, atiguhya padma!

When I was a Boy,
I believed all Kids could get
Along, despite their
Differences; as a Man, I
Still choose to believe that Way.

("Differences" has 3 syllables here.)
----------------------------------------------
How You Envision The Future.

[littlewing53]

a new earth to come
no more sorrow no more tears
no sun required
approaching the gate with trust
he smiled with assurance

writing a love letter

[Uncle Lar]

How do I find the
Words to describe my intense
Love for You within
Every aspect of my heart,
Mind, soul, and strength divinely?
----------------------------------
The Light at the End of the Tunnel.

[Il Penseroso]

rolling marble point
onrushing cannonball storm
as the tunnel ends
and circles expand to spheres,
creating a life unbrimmed.



the dread of an unseen crash.

[littlewing53]

music was playing
distracted by words and notes
singing together
the timing was disturbing
as they both caught their last look

sipping wine at an outdoor cafe in paris

[Il Penseroso]

Tight lips and hanging
jowells, Frenchman uniform
dark in summer heat.
Cultured bore with prideful glance,
swivels in tradition's chair.

I'm part french, so I can do that right?

magnets of the eye.

[atiguhya padma]

When vision is closed
A deep, vast, hypnotic force
Draws subtle light, like
The Pastoral Symphony,
Delving around your body

Phaedra

[Uncle Lar]

Theseus was her
Husband, but Hippolytus
Was her desire
Who rejected her; Phaedra
Then committed suicide.
-------------------------------------
Middle Earth.

[Pendragon]

One ring rules them all—
Elves, Men, Dwarves, Hobbits—
Wizards not immune,
Call of the ring poisons each—
Fate decrees Gollum Hero…

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/AbsalomKane/Gollum.jpg


Narnia

[Uncle Lar]

C.S. Lewis dreamed
About a tale involving
Children and a great
Lion in a faraway
Land filled with magical ones.
---------------------------------
Avoiding Information Overload.

[Pendragon]

TMI my friend,
Really explode, short-circuit,
My cerebellum…
Abort! Abort! Abort! (click!)
Almost sensory overload!
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/AbsalomKane/Smilies/BlahBlah.gif

Spider spinning a web

[littlewing53]

is that you charlotte
morning dew reflects the day
how we miss you so
wilbur lives another day
charlotte will live on forever


hunting season

[Uncle Lar]

Here I am, with my
Winchester in hand, without
Deodorant or
Clean scent, waiting for my prey
To appear in the clear day.
----------------------------------------
Your All-Time Favorite Movie.

[atiguhya padma]

From the moment I
Widen the lens, the light shines
Through, recording each
Scene. Technicolour image
Life imprints on memory.

Serenading

[littlewing53]

the ballad plays on
drifting above the terrace
sweet notes singing love
with stillness she hears his song
the melodic burning flame

the struggle to wait

[Uncle Lar]

Anxious, impatient,
And frustrated I am at
The lack of progress
In my life and work; when will
I catch a break and shine bright?
---------------------------------------------
Your Favorite Song.

[littlewing53]

singing out of key
over and over again
how he loves that song
the neighbors cry out loudly
please change the record won't you

watching summer pass

[atiguhya padma]

The air expands like
Lard in a hot frying pan.
The earth tautens like
The skin of age. My mind drifts
Like the swallow surfing wind.

The London Eye

[Uncle Lar]

Standing so high on
The South Bank of the Thames on
The Western end of
Jubilee Gardens, the great
Millennium Wheel rotates.
---------------------------------------
The Great Pyramid of Giza.

[Pendragon]

Narrow tunnel leads,
To the tombs of King and Queen,
Treasure for afterlife
Looted by unbelievers—
Better buried beneath sands...

Realm of Nightmares

[atiguhya padma]

Escape from freedom:
We drive to the retail park
Where dreams come alive!
Ultimate experience:
Cheap smiles, transient products.

The face of hope wiped by despair

[littlewing53]

words written silent
the dry envelope appeared
losing heart she turned
he was my sole baby boy
he only had two weeks left

a ride on a roller coaster

[Uncle Lar]

Here I go, up the
Metal and hollow mountain;
I smile with glee
And hold my breath as I reach
The top and storm down. Yahoo!
-------------------------------------
A Typical Workday.

[atiguhya padma]

Platform nine for the
Seven fifty-five (on time)
To Euston. Standing
Room only. Unbreathable
Atmosphere, so where's my book?

The secret lives of horticulturalists

[Pendragon]

Orchid room upstairs.
Nero always managed two hours
Pottering away
Among precious flowers no
Matter what the case was about...

Read the Nero Wolfe series sometime. You'll understand!

Prank Phone Call

[littlewing53]

twittering as birds
they just could not help themselves
let's do it again
the phone continued to ring
unhearing she did not move

the timeless venice canals

[atiguhya padma]

Light squirming across
The ever-changing water,
Like a tortured mind
Glazed blood, a cruel sun helps
Bodies desiccate, makes dust.

The impossibility of complete self-knowledge

[Pendragon]

The Impossibility of Complete Self-knowledge

Who am I? Not sure.
Maybe I am not really here.
Strange? Perhaps. Think?
Traveled many miles searching—
But I never got to me…


Realizing you cannot know everything….

[Uncle Lar]

The more I learn, the
Less I know, after High School,
College, and Grad School;
No matter how much I know,
Someone always knows much more.
------------------------------------------------
Living The Dream.

[littlewing53]

blissfully i live
the promise of tomorrow
bearing the rich fruit
the day begins with prayer
in peaceful contemplation


caught in a downpour of rain, thunder and lightning

[Susan Sonnen]

Intimidating
crash of thunder and bright flash
streaking through the sky-
offering me no comfort
as I slosh on toward my home.

~child finds an abandoned kitten

[atiguhya padma]

If that beast thinks that
I'm gonna keep chasing round
This tree dizzified,
Then it can just go get lost!
Oh... ok... here kitty cat!

The secure world that nuclear weapons have created in the last 60 years

[littlewing53]

light in the evening
cool air in the heat of day
fear of tomorrow
mushroom skies filled with fire
burnt flesh and ashes falling

finishing a book you never wanted to end

[Haven]

Last page turns slowly
Good things always end too soon
I will return here
That I know. New thoughts to find.
Through your portal pages




A meal with good friends

[Susan Sonnen]

Kind words are exchanged
as they pass sweet potatoes
and pour their best wine.
Warm eyes softly light the room,
illuminating their bond.


~Flag Day (June14)

[littlewing53]

wave it free at cost
13 strips of red and white
50 white edged stars
battles won and battles lost
today we walk it easy

enjoying your perfect beverage of choice

[Il Penseroso]

Ice that clinks and shifts
spreading chill throughout the cup,
fogging glass like clouds
skirt unseasonable skies
and spill mountainous cold.



a sleeping bag

[atiguhya padma]

Expensive, lightest,
To take round Europe with an
Almost weightless tent.
But now we won't be camping,
And we might not even go!

Cloud Architecture

[Haven]

White horses running
Through fields of endless blue light
Horse forms dissolving
Shifting to cloud angel form
Just your imagination...

Something joyful

[Pendragon]

Joy To The World

My old guitar sings,
fingers fumble melody
Start to hum, then sing
But forget a lot of words:
"Jera-mi-ah was a bullfrog..."

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/AbsalomKane/Smilies/Bullfrog.gif

Lost In the Seventies

[littlewing53]

shakin the boo-tee
dancin with disco fever
the beat feet steppin
clean white suit with black silk shirt
it's saturday night fever


the bloom of a flower

[Il Penseroso]

Spread rows aligned to
swirl the eye inward, dancing
to folded centers,
radiant bulbs in sequence
still soft luster on the brain.


leaning branches

[symphony]

Here within the grip
hangs a leaf or two, almost
touching, thrilling, me.
And yet, like a dream, hovers
a little too out of reach...!


great parents. :)

[littlewing53]

hugs smiles kisses
who could have known the power
forever always
waving till they saw no more
baby's going to college


flying in a glider plane

[symphony]

Away with a swish
We flew, the land ran further
Away, with a whoosh!
A bird I was, soaring high
Embarked to embrace the blue.


a new haircut (cuz i got one!! :D )

[Pendragon]

Get your hair cut, boy!
My mama always would say.
Or get a dog tag!
Funny how things switch 'round.
Haircut, boy! I tell my son...


Flower Power

[symphony]

:lol: good one, Pen.

[littlewing53]

fly your freak flag high
colorful beads and peace signs
dancing unrestrained
i was there and i did dance
i tasted freedom

a man shaving his face in the morning mirror

[Il Penseroso]

Who the hell let this fall so low?


Clearing cream from skin
leaving melted trails aside
a white bearded grin,
slim expectation of nights
and coarseness sharpened by stars.

[atiguhya padma]

Il Penseroso,

You need to leave a subject for the next tanka :)

[Il Penseroso]

Whoops! I'm sorry.

Hmmmm,

well, how about fourth of July sensations.

[littlewing53]

waiting patiently
holding onto dreams removed
searching for bright lights
the night approached fast with lights
reflected in their faces

the depths of hell at your feet

[symphony]

there lies the dark pit
voicing a cruel laughter
pulsing at my feet
i gasp for a puff of air
i strive for a dream so rare.

[symphony]

oh and let the next topic be 'fireworks'...

[Il Penseroso]

oooh, well, I don't think I'll surpass littlewing's but here's a go...


A shimmering glass
curtain suspends momently
in the summer sky,
billowed like a transparent
balloon, stretched by glowing dust.



what grass secretly thinks of trees

[atiguhya padma]

This, our green homeland,
Where tree immigrants threaten
Our old way of life
With aggressive expansion.
They smother us in darkness

The poverty of candlelight reveals the wealth of darkness

[Il Penseroso]

Building ships across
convivial circuitry
wicks cast a glimmer,
shaking languid eyes to dream
of rich semblances unseen.


the strict methodology of wooden planks

[atiguhya padma]

Homes are unlike us.
They battle change through stasis.
Trees lie down with clay
Regimented like tombstones
We dream of nomadic earth

How the car destroyed indigenous culture

[littlewing53]

the pony rides free
alongside the iron horse
engines roar speed is supreme
his vision awakens old
to the white feathers slumber

the death of a loved one...

[symphony]

that burning pyre
shows the world how my soul is
incinerating,
little though i am left with,
fresh still are the memories...

Leonardo's "Vitruvian Man"

[Il Penseroso]

Man's determined reach,
fulfillment of outstretched hands
in circumference splayed
grasping thought-structured objects
to twist and ply confusion.


damn geometrics, that was terrible

Goodness

[symphony]

correction: that was terrific ! :D
:thumbs_up IP :)

"Rarely comest thou!"--
Shelley's complaint to Delight.
Now, say I, to Goodwill,
"Rare as you are, you still survive
The fangs of malice, thank you!"
(too far-fetched?)

Gratitude

[atiguhya padma]

The heart of pleasure
Is that deep satisfaction
For a task well meant
Knowledge of good intentions
Surely gratitude enough

God as the ultimate CCTV camera, voyeur extraordinaire.

[Pendragon]

I was watching you.
No, you never saw me, pal.
Such secrets, such shame!
You thought no one suspected.
Did you think I would not know?






Caught Redhanded

[atiguhya padma]

The one and true church
Uncloaked by the truth seekers
Now hide those guilty
Hands, minds, imaginations
From the true justice of law

How Ratzinger has said there is only one true church, the Catholic Church.

[Il Penseroso]

Solemnity spreads
like oil in the sea of
thought, displacing wind
and frothy caps with stillness,
a sick inhuman silence.


a day in the life of a vagabond

[Il Penseroso]

His glass eyes circle
streets and capture city glares,
breathing silence from
tempest-walked suburbia,
a cry muffled by the storm.



mosquito sounds

[Pendragon]

Play fiddle elsewhere,
You long beak vampire insect!
Annoy another guy!
Your symphony of sorrow
Is a prelude to bloodlust!

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l108/AbsalomKane/Mosquito.gif


Wolf howling at the moon...

[littlewing53]

white bright moon tonight
stillness in the air brings him
calling out his thoughts
running swiftly through the night
he catches prey unaware

a soldier coming home

[Pendragon]

Left a kid—nineteen—
All his life before him still:
Shattered body comes home—
Purple Heart Veteran of war—
But somehow lost himself there…

(dedicated to my own dad, who came home from Vietnam with two Purple Hearts, but really never came home...)

Pendragon


1920's Chicago

[Il Penseroso]

Streets form a bloody
aisle, horse remains ignored
by children at play.
Butchery no longer shocks,
futures grown senseless to pain.


from a picture I saw in a history book (somewhere buried in the haiga contest).


myth-making

[Il Penseroso]

Flex the corner piece
into its place; the puzzle
is filled, hands study
a glossy texture rumpled
with veins, the living picture.


your favorite local wildlife creature

[symphony]

Not really in the 'locality', but The Royal Bengal DOES live in the Sundarbans(the mangrove forests in Bangladesh)...so, hats off to them.

The proud dark patches
Pose the vanity, as does
Every move it makes.
The yellow smiles bright as gold
Heave the paws, and danger calls.

[Il Penseroso]

and the next subject is... :)