Bluster and Blow #autumn #tanka

Novel treatment – Using an unusual or original poetic conception

Among the 26 examples is the poem by Fujiwara Motozane (ca 950) from the Shinkokinshū, #11:1060:

namidagawa / mi mo uku bakari / nagaruedo / kienu wa hito no / omoi narikeri

a river of tears
floats my body off
on its current
but it cannot quell the fire
you have set in my heart

As we look closer to this tanka (or waka) we can see in the first lines what is meant here “a river of tears floats my body off” This sounds unusual, but it is used for poetic conception to make the emotion stronger in this tanka.

wind playing the blues

all color runs together

trees stripped bare

crows circle on backs of leaves

imagination takes flight

Thanks to Carpe Diem Haiku Kai and the inspiring Tanka challenge.

To all my friends I have taken a longer than expected haitus as we finish a remodel, a sale and a move. I realize this tanka (unintentionally) symbolize my life as my colors have all turned into cardboard box brown. ~ Namaste

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