Gold-Rimmed Frame Tanka

I’ve bounced for years

through internships, contracts

and odd day gigs …

thin dust coats my testamur

in its gold-rimmed frame

Take 5ive, 2026

Last Rays Tanka

the last rays

of a winter sunset

slip beyond the hills …

I’m left in silence, grieving

what’s left of my dream

Take 5ive, 2026

Absence Tanka

moonlit icicles

dripping from the eaves ...

another night

alone with my drunken self

haunted by her absence

Take 5ive, 2026

Face of the Past Tanka

I pluck out

another white hair ...

in the mirror

this face of the past

now foreign to me

Take 5ive, 2026

Layoff Notice Tanka

oh! sunset glow …

I drift, drifting through

a swirl of leaves

as the wind tears loose

my layoff notice

Take 5ive, 2026

Chanting Voice Tanka

my chanting voice

wavers between hope

and acceptance 

swirls of incense hover

over the Buddha

Take 5ive, "Inclusivity," 2024

Fate Tanka

a caged monkey

runs up and down

back and forth

as if it could flee ...

in its eyes I see my fate

Take 5ive, "Inclusivity," 2024

Fragmented Heart

my Jewish friend

turns off the TV and asks

in barely a whisper

can one's fragmented heart

contain two pains at once?

Take 5ive, "Inclusivity," 2024

On Fire Tanka

this past summer

whatever wasn't on fire

was under water ...

I recall those days of kicking

at the patches of sea foam

Take 5ive, "Childhood Memories," 2023

Red Poppy Tanka

a red poppy

on Father's frayed lapel ...

he once asked firmly

son, what do you want to be

when you grow up and why?

Take 5ive, "Childhood Memories," 2023

Childhood Dreams Tanka

once again 

tossing-turning through the night ...

my body

lies next to hers, and yet

our childhood dreams drift apart

Take 5ive, "Childhood Memories," 2023

Paper Plane and Sky of Dreams Tanka

rows of tents

behind chain-link fencing 

and razor wire--

the boy flies a paper plane 

into his sky of dreams 

Take 5ive, Plight of Refugees, 2023

AllahGodJesus Tanka

a roar

of the moonlit surf 

men and women

in an inflatable boat

crying, AllahGodJesus ...

Take 5ive, Plight of Refugees, 2023

Border River Tanka

the cries 

of wild geese north bound...

on both sides

of this winding border river

men and women with backpacks

Take 5ive, Plight of Refugees, 2023

Puff of Smoke Tanka

my God 

all but a puff of smoke

He vanishes

when the winter gale blows ...

alone with Cohen's "Hallelujah"

Take 5ive, "Music That Heals​," 2023

Dream shattered Tanka

I don't know a dream

that's not been shattered ...

Paul Simon's voice

whispers in my ear

then I know I'll be alright 

Take 5ive, "Music That Heals​," 2023

Graceland Tanka

I'm going 

to Graceland, Graceland ...

I turn the volume

all the way up and up

as if to soar like an eagle

Take 5ive, "Music That Heals​," 2023

Family Day Festival Tanka

Family Day Festival

in the morning sunshine

one laughter

running after another

through a tunnel of blossoms

Take 5ive, Family, 2023

Groundsel Tanka

pulling out

the last groundsel

from her garden

my wife admits the cracks

in our marriage

Take 5ive, Family, 2023

Bedroom Quarrel Kyoka

a silence

after the bedroom quarrel

envelopes us ... 

me and my dog again 

on the pullout couch

Take 5ive, Family, 2023