Tanka poems by Kayla

dusk

as light fades away

images follow

a world of sounds

and spots in the darkness



everyday

he sits near a window

always reading something

as i walk by we exchange waves

another day welcomed



summer

a hot humid nasty night

i sit alone

listening to the clock

tick away the darkness



last spring

the three of us threw stones

into the river

now i stand here alone

with a white stone in hand



spring surprise

the scent of hyacinth

perfuming the yard

not knowing they bloomed

until i smelt them



passing me in the darkness

the dark form of a woman

we exchange warm hello's

without any more words

she walks into the night



his first car

parked in the side yard

since it's retirement

sinks into the ground

a pigeon colored gravestone



avalon beach

she walks on the edge

of america

barefooted

a real jersey girl



atlantic ocean

moss green colored waves

ebb and flow

like our need

to breath in and to breath out



all grown up

the children who swung

from the tire swing

i carry the dry rotted tire

and rope to the curb



up all night

composing a poem

about the universe

sleeping on a pillow of stars

drifting toward the sun

Tanka poems by Kayla

I thought i would explain one of my tanka poems for those not familiar with the many ways that they may be inspired .  My father was visited daily by a large white fallow cat that he nursed back to reasonable health.  That cat  he named puss,loved my father and would come from the woods to be with him.  The last time that i saw this cat he was sitting on top of a picnic table.  Years later i had this experience:


cleaning his face

on top of a picnic bench

a large white cat

my father's puss

raised from the dead



side yard

pigeons lift off flying

in circles

the path that my life

often takes



rabbit chewing clover

a hawk circles

overhead

such a delicate balance

this life of ours



dim stars overhead

bright flashes of fireflies

in the hedgerow

a car's headlights

wash out this whole scene

Tanka poems by Kayla

train station

while a mockingbird sings

we sit and we wait

time moves toward us

i watch as time moves away around the bend



first day of spring

a rabbit gathers withered weeds

for her nest

no need for prenatal care

or an OBGYN



winter indoors

where does she come from?

this shield bug

walking across

the kitchen wall



dusk

one last crow descends

onto a poplar

she pulls

in the darkness

Tanka poems by Kayla

sparrow gets away

the calico cat

flicks her tail

signaling

another day gone bad



not by tragedy

nor fear, nor evil

unconcerned

the honey bee collects her honey

the mockingbird sings her song



night stillness

hearing deer move

through the darkness

leaves rustling

and sticks cracking



spring

seeing purple crocus

peeking through brown grasses

such beauty

from tiny seeds



pine tree branch

a red tail hawk looking at me

me looking back

pleased

to share her space



bright

beautiful baby blue

summer sky

the color

of her eyes



a worm

struggles on the sidewalk

pushing away

the terrible effects

of the sun



through woodlands

through mountains

on our life's journey

through all that's beautiful

we nourish our spirit



a special needs

little girl struggles to walk

our smiles embrace

i want to hug her

i want to heal her



words on a tomb stone

as i am now

you shall be

prepare in time

to follow me

Tanka poems by Kayla

a climb to the top

of our scrubpine world

blueberry hill

where you can see into the moment

and find that quiet place within



a lonely moon

above the trees

seen through these old eyes

so many moons

so many memories



the moon rises

above the trees

where we last met

i long for you to come

even as the moon  sets



overcast skies

its been raining

for days

my mood getting gloomy

i wonder when will it stop



our dog puddles

her first litter snuggles

close to her

somehow she knows

how to care for her puppies


for information on how to write Tanga click on http://www.tankaonline.com/

for Tanga poems from K.Kei click on http://www.kujakupoet.blogspot.com/

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