onebreathpoetry

Tag: #tankasocietyofamerica

  • Ribbons

    Delighted that Ribbons Fall 2023: Volume 19, Number 3 issue features my tanka prose and tanka sequence. Ribbons is the prestigious tanka journal of the Tanka Society of America.

    Grateful to Susan Weaver, Editor & Liz Lanigan, Tanka Prose Editor for the acceptance & publication.
    Here is the tanka prose:

    Light of Hope
    Neena Singh, Chandigarh, India

    “Hope” is the thing with feathers –
    That perches in the soul –
    And sings the tune without the words –
    And never stops – at all
    ~ Emily Dickinson

    The white-bearded, turbaned Sardarji sits outside the public garden with multi-colored lamps stacked around him. I stop to greet him with folded hands, and he beams a broad smile. I enquire whether these lamps are homemade, and he responds in the affirmative.

    “My family had suffered in Delhi during the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. I lost everything I owned, so, with the family, I fled to Dehradun to build a new life. After trying many odd jobs, I began making lanterns and selling them door-to-door. Now I am getting old, and people don’t buy my lamps as much as they used to,” he says with a sigh.

    last night
    heavy rain pelted
    the old pine
    yet it stands tall
    strong-willed like you

    Seeing my interest, he warms up and confides that he is saving money for his daughter’s marriage, after which he will return home and stop this arduous labor which has engaged him for the last twenty years. The old man’s words ring close to my heart, as I walk home, clutching a red lamp, wondering if it will light up my life.

    August wind
    ripples the evergreen
    feathery fronds fall…
    what burdens we carry
    of the stories we hear

    Photo edited at his request to respect anonymity.

  • Ribbons

    Ribbons tanka journal, the official publication of the #Tankasociety of America is out on Amazon. Delighted that the #Spring/#Summer 2023: issue Volume 19, Number 2 features my #tanka.

    Grateful to dear Susan Weaver, Editor for the kind words of acceptance and the publication.

    the guava tree
    of my childhood home
    stands fruitless
    the stories papa told
    hang on its branches

    childhood #guavatree #father #stories

  • Haiku Blossoms

    HaikuBlossoms – my column on rhyvers.com, for the appreciation of Japanese poetry is online. This eighteenth week covers more about #tanka, by Michael McClintock who has given his kind permission to share his article.

    Thanks to S Affan S Affan Yesvi, Editor-in-Chief for the publication.

    Grateful to #Tanka Society of America
    for their kind permission to share their wonderful teaching resources. Hope readers will enjoy dipping into the essay and be inspired to pen tanka.

    Read the column here:
    https://rhyvers.com/haiku-blossoms-18/

  • Ribbons

    Neena Singh, Chandigarh, India

    The official journal of the Tanka Society of America—Ribbons, Winter 2023, issue 92 is out and I am grateful to have a tanka prose featured.

    Grateful to Liz Lanigan, Tanka Editor for the acceptance and publication.

    Of Human Bondage
    Neena Singh, Chandigarh, India

    This is a story of two dogs; the first, a stray black mongrel, who lives in our neighborhood and behaves like a monkey. He leaps our gate and perches on our car. He has made the neighbor’s house his own abode, as the owner of the house is away. Every night and early morning he is seen, perched precariously on their parapet, bold and fearless. I’ve christened him Perch!

    The other is our pet Rumi—a 13-year-old yellow lab, more human than dog: trapped by our love, neither free nor fearless. She shows no interest in other dogs but adores babies and youngsters. The only people she barks at are mendicants*, beggars and the garbage collector. Content to be with us, she loves to play catch-ball for treats, avidly listens to music, and greatly enjoys rides in the car.

    I often wonder, “Who is happier—Perch or Rumi?”

    perched on the wall
    a parrot pecks
    birdseed
    breakfast in the garden
    we drink winter sunshine

    Well, this tale has a twist.

    On return from offshore travels, our neighbor adopted Perch. He no longer jumps walls; has a new name, a red collar, and a leash around his neck. I see him being taken for walks, trotting meekly alongside his master. The look he gives me is one of recognition. A small wag of the tail tells me that he remembers the milk and bread we fed him outside our gate.

    this desire
    to be a blade of grass
    dancing in the rain
    yet I stand tall and grim
    dripping like the evergreen

    • Members of a religious order who forsake worldly possessions and rely on alms to survive.

  • Tanka Society of America ( Day 5)

    Grateful dear Susan Burch for sharing my published tanka on the Facebook Page of the Tanka Society of America.

    7 tanka in 7 days: Day 5

    Grateful to dear Pamela A. Babusci
    Editor, Moonbathing for giving it life.

  • Tanka Society of America ( Day 4)

    Grateful dear Susan Burch for sharing my published tanka on the Facebook Page of the Tanka Society of America.

    early dawn
    rose light awakens
    earthlings
    to the wondrous gift
    of new possibilities

    7 tanka in 7 days: Day 4

    Grateful to Steve Wilkinson, Editor, take5ive for giving it life.

  • Tanka Society of America (3)

    Grateful dear Susan Burch for sharing my published tanka on the Facebook Page of Tanka Society of Tanka Society of America.

    7 tanka in 7 days: Day 3

    Grateful to Susan Constable, Tanka Editor, Cattails for giving it life.

  • Tanka Society of America

    Grateful dear Susan Burch for sharing my tanka on Tanka Society of America Facebook Page. 7 tanka in 7 days —Day 2 🌹

  • Tanka Society of America

    Grateful dear Susan Burch for sharing my published tanka on Tanka Society of America Facebook Page. 7 tanka in 7 days! Day 1

    Grateful to Kala Ramesh who gave it life in Under the Basho.

  • Ribbons journal

    My tanka prose in Ribbons, Winter 2023, Issue 19, Vol 1, grateful to Liz Lanigan, Tanka Prose Editor.

    Of Human Bondage

    This is a story of two dogs; the first, a stray black mongrel, who lives in our neighborhood and behaves like a monkey. He leaps our gate and perches on our car. He has made the neighbor’s house his own abode, as the owner of the house is away. Every night and early morning he is seen, perched precariously on their parapet, bold and fearless. I’ve christened him Perch!

    The other is our pet Rumi—a 13-year-old yellow lab, more human than dog: trapped by our love, neither free nor fearless. She shows no interest in other dogs but adores babies and youngsters. The only people she barks at are mendicants, beggars, and the garbage collector. Content to be with us, she loves to play catch-ball for treats, avidly listens to music, and greatly enjoys rides in the car.

    I often wonder, “Who is happier—Perch or Rumi?”

    perched on the wall
    a parrot pecks
    birdseed
    breakfast in the garden
    we drink winter sunshine

    Well, this tale has a twist. On return from offshore travels, our neighbor adopted Perch. He no longer jumps walls; has a new name, a red collar, and a leash around his neck. I see him being taken for walks, trotting meekly alongside his master. The look he gives me is one of recognition. A small wag of the tail tells me that he remembers the milk and bread we fed him outside our gate.

    this desire
    to be a blade of grass
    dancing in the rain
    yet I stand tall and grim
    dripping like the evergreen

    (Title thanks to Somerset Maugham)