Cancerland Tanka

in Cancerland

I walk this winding road

often delayed

and turned in circles ...

the farther I go the more I stiffen

Gusts, 41, Spring/Summer 2025

Roadside Wreath Tanka

the roadside wreath

in a drift of snowflakes

how fleeting

my memories of her

who pirouetted, pirouetted

Gusts, 41, Spring/Summer 2025 

Coffee and Poetry Tanka

seaside bow-windows

radiating the canopies

of sunlight ...

a cup of coffee and poetry

nothing more and nothing less

Gusts, 41, Spring/Summer 2025

Late Night Shift Tanka

on the bench

after the late night shift

keeping to ourselves

we smoke in the freezing gaps

between shuttle buses 

Gusts, 40, Fall/Winter 2024

Tongues of Fire Tanka

tongues of fire lick

as house after house

bursts into flame ...

where has my friend been

where will my friend be

Gusts, 40, Fall/Winter 2024

Dream after Dream Tanka

awake, yet not awake ...

I struggle through dream

after dream

of crying out to Father

in the misty twilight

Gusts, 40, Fall/Winter 2024

Hill of Life Tanka

at winter twilight

should have, could have, would have

are a boulder

rolling down the hill of life

I push it up, and yet ...

Gusts, 39, Spring/Summer 2024

Street Nurse Tanka

in a dim alley

a street nurse brushes her fingers

over the track marks

on a teenager's arm ...

this braille of scars

Gusts, 39, Spring/Summer 2024

Little Poppy Feet Tanka

late night shift over

on the snowy way home

my dream poem comes

and goes... and comes at last

on little puppy feet

Gusts, 39, Spring/Summer 2024

Homeless Man's Shadow Tanka

this winter

colder than last

at twilight

a homeless man's shadow

slips into the church

Gusts, 38, Fall/Winter 2023

Bridge of Moonlight Tanka

alone again

by the childhood river

I put my feet

on the bridge of moonlight 

to a dream of no return

Gusts, 38, Fall/Winter 2023

Shyness Tanka

her body

silhouetted by moonlight

between the blinds ...

she slowly strips off

all my shyness

Gusts, 38, Fall/Winter 2023

Dream and Reality Tanka

for three nights

I do nothing but wait

for my muse ...

snow crystals on the window

blur dream and reality

Gusts, 37, Spring/Summer 2023

Marble Tombstones Tanka

ten years later

once again next to his wife

of forty years

in winter sunshine

two marble tombstones

Gusts,37, Spring/Summer 2023

Interest Rate Hike Tanka

another

interest rate hike ...

this snowy night

alone in TV's light

with a microwave meal 

Gusts, 37, Spring/Summer 2023

Soft Voice Tanka

It's me

I just wanted to hear

from you ...

fifteen seconds of soft voice

after ten years of silence

Gusts, 35, Spring/Summer 2022

Wild dream Tanka

alone 

under a bare maple ...

clothed in moonlight

with the freshness

of a poet's wild dream

Gusts, 35, Spring/Summer 2022

Ache Tanka

an ocean away

Mother asks, have you eaten yet?

in Chinese ...

the ache of my native tongue

overshadowed by English

Gusts, 35, Spring/Summer 2022

Artist Tanka

evening rain

drip-painting cafe windows ...

my blind date's words

"Oh, you're an artist"

grow heavy and heavier

Gusts, 36, Fall/Winter 2022

Breaking News Tanka

every day

passes in an endless stream

of breaking news

in a huddle of children

the blind boy quiet ... quieter

Gusts, 36, Fall/Winter 2022