Lonely are her shoes #tanka #art

One of Teika’s Ten Tanka Techniques as discussed by Jane Reichhold:

Mystery and depth – yūgentei, the image evoking ineffable loneliness

This category is associated mostly with Fujiwara Shunzei (1114-1204) Teika’s renowned father and tanka expert. Teika mentions this in some of his other teachings and uses as examples poem #3:254 Kin’yōshū by Toshiyori:

uzura naku / mano no irie no / hamakaze ni / obananami yoru / aki no yūgure

cries of quail
from the shore of Mano cove
winds blow
waves of plume grass
ripple in autumn dusk

black and white ballet shoes

dance is done

discarded ribbons on stage

shoes on a nail

old eyes caress memory

finger yellowed playbill’s dust

ribbons

Author: moondustwriter

Thank you for visiting Moondustwriter. One of the many exciting things I've had the honor of doing is writing and publishing in multiple genres (including education) in E. African for E. Africa. As a writer, it is a thrill to write for children (on all continents) who want to learn. I've been part of the blogging community for more than 13 years. Some old timers may remember the award winning (2011 Twitter Shorty ) blog community - One Stop Poetry. I was the co-producer of that fast growing blog community. I am a published writer, poet, artist and photographer. I have written, as well as edited, for periodicals, radio, blogs and fellow writers. There are many facets to this moon - my joy is in meeting you! View all posts by moondustwriter