Undertow Tanka Review Issue 5

UNDERTOW TANKA REVIEW: ISSUE # 5

ISBN-13: 978-1508844181

ISBN-10: 1508844186

Contents Page: March 31th page

1. Featured Tanka …………………… 3

2. Featured Tanka Art …………………… 4

3. Tanka Sequences …………………... 5

4. Tanka Art …………………... 9

5. Tanka …………………... 16

6. Haiku/ Sequence …………………... 32

7. Editor’s Tanka …………………... 37

FEATURED TANKA

on our honeymoonto the Natchez of my birthwe find a housewhere I hear ghosts whisper...one of them me

Rebecca Drouihet, USA

Rebecca Drouilhet is a 59 year old retired registered nurse. Her haiku and tanka have appeared in numerous print and electronic magazines and journals. She won a Sakura award in 2012, and she and her husband published a book of haiku titled: Lighting a Path in the fall of 2014. She is a member of the Tanka Society of America where her work has been featured in their publication, Ribbons.

FEATURED TANKA ART

3

Anne Curran, New Zealand, Angelee Deodhar: Photo

Anne Curran is from Hamilton, New Zealand. She has been writing haiku and tanka verse forms for about four years now. She has been inspired to write Japanese verse forms by excellent mentoring from editors and fellow poets. She is excited by this learning, and by the fact that she still has much to learn. She studied aspects of Japanese language and culture at University and when living in Japan. Angelee Deodhar has kindly collaborated with her to produce this tanka art.

TANKA SEQUENCE

Then and Now (Tanka Sequence)

you a silence thatspoke to me eloquentlywhen we were a smilewafting in a gentle windof maiolica flowers

I am now what Iwas then no longer: beingso gladly alivewith a deep breath and abeating heart. But that was then.

5

Margaret Saine, USA

That One (Tanka Sequence)

They are all around you and they love you so much. But there is one—ThatOne— watch out.

That One trips you up. Sends you spinning.Foul mouthpisses himself. Open the outhouse door.

You can’t stand it. That One’s raw anger. Dragon breath. Or is it you, hothead? Empty the foul trash.

That one stalkstaunts, spits. Hitsbelow the belt.I get it. His fist is my hot fear.

Dark One sulks.Farts, sneers, snares.Look out, he jeers.

Keep it to yourself. You are only me.

I turn around.That One — sick,scrawny, scared. Curl up near, be Dark to my Light.

Now on walkshe rants and raves and Isay nothing.It’s cool. I accept the Dark me.

Margaret Stetler, USA

Winter (Tanka Sequence)

an icicle freezesa single bell on the windchime….stop!do you hear the silencednote — ring out?

warm raisinsleft on the porch last nightclaw prints follow a black birdinto the snowy morning

chinese newyear of the fire mouse

7

the rat gnawsbones from garbage droppedon the frozen ground

lavender twice hit by snow I uncoveryou and yourpungent scent shocksthe late winter air

cramped pinchedi wait for the hot bloodcome late in this cold, barren winter of my fiftieth year


TANKAS FOR A CHILLY AFTERNOON (Tanka Sequence)

When the old woman climbsthis rain-slick hill,does she hear passing carsor an ocean whooshtoward distant shores?

Even as her vision fadesshe sees autumn glimmersilver, gold, and bronze.All the world's a trophyfor living so long.

A sanitation truckrumbles around the bend

with memories she threw away.Cans tumble along the curb,still heavy with wind.

Does time have fragrance?Do elderberries knowwhen they're about to fall?Why does rising smokewhisper her name?

Swirling leaves unveilrusted iron, nippled breasts.Oh to be fixed in earth,arms spread wide—onlya fire hydrant, painted red.

Jackie Craven, USA

Crone Dance (A Tanka Sequence)

they whirlin astonished bootsto the beatsof their frenzied mindsdragging bags of magic

bags filledwith goddess heartsowls frogsand shape shifting crowsthey sing out of tune

marching downthe centuries of greenchanting hymns

9

of the Morrigan black birdscareening to the moon

Carole JohnstonU.S.A.

Midnight Shadows (Tanka Sequence)

scratchy - the warpof that rose covered rugon my kneeswatching my child reflectiondark in the glass door

one nightI am three years olda magic carpetsweeps me from my cribcarries me on dark journeys

I sit cross leggedon that little carpetflying aroundthe midnight houseQueen of Shadows

Carole JohnstonU.S.A.

TANKA ART

Debbie Strange, Canada

Anne Curran poem Angelee Deodhar: Photo

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13



TANKA

15

moon godfloating in balmy silencea pleasant breezecradles the cry of a child...somewhere, a star dies

Arunansu Bandyopadhyay

there is a pathleadingto the cemeterythe poet findsa new road, everyday


countingrosary beadswithout endlight fails to piercethe pea-souper


we hold handsand look out the windowwatchingthe snow fall oneverything but us

Dave Read, Canada

a tea bag

dipped in steaming waterI can nolonger see throughwhat was just clear

Dave Read, Canada

the poem I couldn'thear in my headhas filledwith the sounds ofthe tv upstairs

Dave Read, Canada

the canopy opensto a little sunshinea momentof light on thislong dark path

Dave Read, Canada

the river flowsbeneath a sheetof iceI cannot answerhis questions of death

Dave Read, Canada

thinking Istill stand a chancethe emojithat winks atthe end of her text

17

Dave Read, Canada

the hardwood's coldagainst bare feet -I approach herwith the news shedoesn't want delivered

Dave Read, Canada

photos printedon recycled paperwe've neverbeen able tomake these moments last

Dave Read, Canada

the fullmoon fat inthe night skyI count the studson Orion's Belt

Dave Read, Canada

she comments onmy salt and pepper hairstill seeingme inblack and white

Dave Read, Canada

watchingthem sleepshe waits...

the impatience of the sun

Pat Geyer, USA

my patha slippery slope...tracingthe roots of treesnow overgrown

Pat Geyer, USA

both asleepholding handswe dream...night bringsour hearts closer

Pat Geyer, USA

betweenthunderstorms...eyes closedwe breathe everyscent of the calm

Pat Geyer, USA

a layer of snowwill erase autumn’s debrissolving a problemjust as we can surrenderour resentments with time

19

Debbie Johnson today gray, tonight whitecold front brings heavy snowquickly scenery changesred-cheeked childrenmake plans for snow day Debbie Johnson ponds arecollections of tearscried by the worldas mankind continues withon-going self-destruction Debbie Johnson snow drifts surroundbase of painted red barnresembling a scarfsprinkled with remnantsof autumn glitter Debbie Johnson

as blossoms unfolda palette of colorsbrightens our spiritswhile reflecting the opportunitiesof this new day Debbie Johnson papers of all types,shapes, colors, styles,invite us to hold onwhile we record and journal

preserving our thoughts and feelings

Debbie Johnson

new job. . . my daughter's excuse to miss going to the gym gains weight

Kala RameshPune, India

Free slave in bondageExigencies echelonLiabilitiesFerret-out refuge from all;In a state of shambles

Derrik Orndorff, USA

One you may have; In that one, let love grow wild Wild as a hot night Wild as bush fire, —cold water— Love frames come in wee pieces.


Life’s scale, hard to keepSeeking balance within self,Continuous fight

21

To and fro, tearing at theBarriers of true and false.


Time to get goingFeed the “late” venereal,Aspirations strong:Breast, ass, calves, and tenderness—Exhaling through the pathway.


certain side streetstempt my curiositya bend that leadsto an unknown realmI prefer to leave unexplored

Janet Butler, USA

his friendsa flock of blackbirdsin the churchyarddark clothes glisten in a sunlightthat no longer warms his song

Janet Butler, USA

I hold toyour ghost butlike snowit melts in the hard light

of an ordinary day

Janet Butler, USA

a jacket hangssouvenir of other daysnow needingthe hands of a tailorto make it fit

Janet Butler, USA

darknesslays a heavy handpolishes dreamsto a nugget of truthwary of daylight

Janet Butler, USA

the buzzof our conversationbees testing flowersI rememberthe taste of honey

Janet Butler, USA

I trya certain perfumeat the store counterand you appear almostnear enough to touch

Janet Butler, USA

23

stars spill over the mountainI spin in the darksearching for Orionin a strange place

Carole Johnston, USA

starlings twirl above the shopping mallevery yearthis ancient flywaymesmerizes me

Carole Johnston, U.S.A. full moon pops above the roofscapeI chase it down dark alleyscamera in hand

Carole Johnston, U.S.A.

imbolc pagan midwinterfull moonwaiting for the birthAquarius child

Carole Johnston, U.S.A.

Crushed Campbell Soup canabandoned in driveway a sad Warhol relic

forfeiting its own fleetingfifteen minutes of glory

Virginia Bach Folger, USA

Ink flows from the brushsettling on the paper fannestling into foldsas we nestle togetherwriting a secret message

Virginia Bach Folger, USA

Rocks on your headstonePebbles marking time’s passageEach stone a visitSoul’s return weighted by rocksConcrete flowers that don’t bloom

David Rullo,

Lonely memoriesWalk along the river bankTiny ships afloatI pause to watch rolling wavesI pause to feel cold winds blow

David Rullo,

Alone, snow covered fieldMy voice lost in roaring windBrown leaves at my feetThis unexpected goodbyeSuch a sad, pitiful thing

25

David Rullo,

Seems something should growDespite the cold wind and snowTime should be kinderI long for nature’s green and goldBarren fields and my wet sleeves

David Rullo,

the seasonsthat come to usagain and again...the smiles of childrenamid a sea of sunflowers

Rebecca Drouilhet,USA

a black catcrosses our pathon Friday the thirteenth...feeling lucky anywaywhen I see your teasing smile


the teacher's wordsa bridge across the chasm...is it a miragethis glimpse of a worldwaiting to be born


amongst the ruinsa fallen christproppedagainst the void

Steve Black, UK

just enoughfor cigarettesand a scratch cardcountingmy lucky stars

Steve Black, UK

summer hazeour day in the dirtcounting carsand faceswe thought we recognized

Steve Black, UK

dying in the lightthe comediandesperateto be takenseriously

27

Steve Black, UK

the morning afterthe night beforedrunk on unfinished wineand for whatever time is left

Steve Black, UK

lovers caught in the opencounting the time lapsed between thunder and lightning

Steve Black, UK

enduringas the fallingrainher masterpiecein sidewalk chalk

Dave Read, Canada

filling outa barren treemy mind'seye looksahead to spring

Dave Read, Canada

still steamingover their fight -this morning'scoffeehot in his thermos

Dave Read, Canada

the pebblehe throws as faras he canlands with a splash onthe mountains of the moon

Dave Read, Canada

viewing herlife like a Picassothe thingsshe recognizedstrangely out of place

Dave Read, Canada

shaky onthis weathered bridge -my iPhonedies before youanswer my text

Dave Read, Canada

in the front rowof the socialstudies classthe little girlwith no friends

29

Dave Read, Canada

deleting a highpriority e-mailI hearan ambulancepassing outside

Dave Read, Canada

disappearingwith his coinhis wishfor a lifefull of riches

Dave Read, Canada

still shootingfrom the hiphis arthriticlimp growsworse with age

Dave Read, Canada

Across the PacificThe sky six thousand milesFifty years flew byMy jet black hair turned whiteYet I still long for you

Wonja Brucker, USA

I used to believeLove Is Blind until you cameNow I know the truthYou are not blind to my colorAt least you cannot blame me

Wonja Brucker, USA

Cicada's shrill --A cat dozing off in the shadeOn the pine needle crestA midday feast for helping handsFarm chores yet undone waiting

Wonja Brucker, USA

Oriental Poppies burst openFluttering their scarlet petalsIn the summer airAn outdoor family picnicAn ephemeral bliss in life

Wonja Brucker, USA

Turtles sunbathingBehind cattails in the pondPassersby watchingAlas, all those prying eyesStole the tranquility

Wonja Brucker, USA

31

Haiku

evergreens misnamedduring the winter they areeverwhites Debbie Johnson, USA country roadslined with scalloped snow driftsmeringue pie

Debbie Johnson, USA

A 4 line Ku

village weavers ...

shadows shuttle acrossthe deepening twilight


exoskeleton . . . inside the dragonflynothing but air


lying awake – the rush of gutters after the rain


(Four line haiku)

The stars:Exclamation points!The moon:(parentheses to dream between).


Your dark mother swall-owed you and up you swelled in

33

her fat white belly


Not the tall huntress.Not what the cow jumped over.Not even green cheese.


MOROCCAN IMPRESSIONS

before everytravel there appear new dreamsthat will guide my steps

after many cloudsexcited voices greetinga splendid morning

I let fountains coolmy eyes and their ripples spur travel impatience

over the citysounds plaintive and full of praise voice of muezzins

window arches seem to dribble dissolve and meltinto stalactites

soft shimmering of

*tagelakt, luminous likebodies in the sky

the mirrors dissolveour images or perhaps keep them forever

dark doors metal chapsreflecting incandescentlight of splendid lamps

a pleasant few dayscontemplating with others the lore of the times

sun through red curtainsparadise now or deferredto a splendid meal

the muezzin chantingsomebody knocks at a doorroosters rouse the dusk

soft murmurs usherharmonious descending nightfrom behind the hills

before the bodydies hear these immortal wordsfrom a poet’s soul:

“a piece of the skyreflected in the water resemblesyour amazing eyes”

“deep inside your gazelives visible a world Iwish to inhabit”

over the city

35

sounds plaintive and full of praise the voice of muezzins

*tagelakt: interior Moroccan wall made shiny by rubbing with liquid soap after the paint has dried

Margaret Saine, USA

Debbie Strange, Canada

Editor’s Tanka

she's gone, swallowed by fire the house sealed yet held together by the dead

Sergio Ortiz, Puerto Rico

undressing him in the muted evenings of my golden years I can't remember his name... love, gone like that


37

were you dazzled by the same constellation?*rappelling down a pit cave there’s a blast of adrenaline

*ECHOSMITH LYRICS, "Bright"


bitter bullieswhose intimidationis as swiftas goose stepsin a fascist funeral


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Undertow Tanka Review Issue 5