Life Changing Times

At one stage of my life, I became interested in writing poetry and I tried different styles, hoping that I could pen my ideas with a true sense of feeling that would be realized and appreciated by the reader. But, as happens with many who sit to write poetry, I wasn’t truly happy with what I was creating and thus gave it up.

I had completely lost interest until I discovered a form of poetry called, “Tanka”. It is a Japanese form of poetry and considered to be the original form of the Japanese short poem. The Tanka consists of five units and follows a certain pattern. That is, each unit is a line and each line follows a set number of syllables. Tanka has 5 lines and a total of 31 syllables which are written as follows:  5, 7, 5, 7, 7.

The first three units make up the first section which is called the ‘kami-no-ku’ meaning the upper phrase. And the last two units make up the second section which is called the ‘shimo-no-ku’ meaning the lower phrase.  Nature was the foundation within the tanka theme, but has since evolved into an “anything goes” style of writing. Tanka was also the basis from which Haiku developed.

For whatever reason, on my birthday, I decided to write some tanka in the original and traditional format. I chose the theme – “Life Changing Times” and incorporated the poems into three categories of the theme……the past; the present; and the future. Each category consists of eight poems and each poem, although connected within the category, is in fact, a complete poem within itself that could stand on its own.

Life Changing Times

Window to Yesterday

Majestic mountains,

Aesthetic and enchanting,

Beckon the conquer,

Resist the ultimate quest,

Then feign their acquiescence

….

Drenching spring downpours

Glimmer in crystalline pools,

Quench the parched desert,

And transform the barren wild

Into a sublime bouquet

….

Fair ocean sunset

Painted with a master’s brush,

A boon from nature,

Gloriously breathtaking,

Etched life-long in witnessed hearts

….

Filigree snowflakes

Abound with quietude,

Form a downy cloak,

And seductively snare all

In a pure white tapestry

….

Mighty regal waves

Thunder on the time-worn shore,

Stir my ardent heart,

Meld us as kindred spirits,

Then leave me deluged in awe

….

Whispers of daylight

Subdue the black horizon,

Announce the new dawn,

While wispy soft gray fingers

Nestle sleepy stars to bed

….

Antarctic tundras

Essential life-giving force

Grace the face of earth,

Spectacles from eons past,

Guardians of our future

….

Nature, pure and free,

Unique in our galaxy,

Unselfish partner,

Furnisher of enjoyment,

Breath for scientific minds

Chelle Munroe©

August 19, 2014