John Fleming Poet Tanka

A Triad of Tanka I

Sat on a park bench

She exposes her heavy breasts;                

Offers him a teat.                           

Lewd men inwardly applaud

This conformability.
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Young shoji fixers

In Edo are in demand;

And well rewarded.                        

Their longest ladders can reach 

A widows highest window. 
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The stylish long sleeves

Declare she is virtuous;

A pure innocence!                                               

But impatient for the day

When she picks up the Scissors.
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Len Gasun August 10, 2025 at 12:28 AM Very creative tanka triads my dear poet friend John. As long as women's do things for nature's and status' call it must be considered proper or acceptable to some places, i think. I enjoyed your tankas today. Thanks a lot for sharing. God bless you always and your poetry. Happy wkend/new wk ahead! Hugs John Fleming August 10, 2025 at 5:28 AM Thank you, Len - your kind words are much appreciated! :) john

Rowena Velasco August 7, 2025 at 6:51 PM Intriguing and layered—each vignette feels like a snapshot with a sharp, unexpected edge. Your imagery invites the reader to pause, then lean in for the deeper story beneath. John Fleming August 8, 2025 at 7:45 AM Thank you, Rowena...that is exactly what I intended. Many thanks for your insightful comments! :) john

Andrea Dietrich August 7, 2025 at 10:22 AM I don't know who she offered her teat to. Hopefully to her baby? (yes, i see that you responded to that below). I too appreciated what you commented to Tommy to help me understand the last tanka. the japanese culture is so interesting. John Fleming August 8, 2025 at 7:44 AM As you say, Andrea, the Japanese culture is so very interesting. Their history, although not as old as China's...is still an Imperial and ancient one. :) john

Mystic Rose Rose August 7, 2025 at 8:38 AM This was well researched and well written too John, so much has changed since then, :) John Fleming August 8, 2025 at 7:42 AM Indeed, Rose. For the better no doubt. :) john

sara Etgen-Baker August 6, 2025 at 4:48 PM Liked the flow...your comments to Tom clarified your poem for me. Happy exploring...enjoy your evening, Sara John Fleming August 7, 2025 at 5:56 AM Cheers, Sara! :) john

Sotto Poet August 6, 2025 at 9:49 AM Themes of gender, social expectations, and the duality of virtue and sin are all explored in the great tanka series, John. It contrasts the conventional ideas of innocence and purity with the explicit abuse of women. John Fleming August 6, 2025 at 2:11 PM Indeed, a lot of what you remark on pertains indirectly or directly to the Tankas. The first poem refers to the ancient custom of allowing women with babies to breast feed in public. I suspect, that as men made all the rules in Imperial Japan...a lot of older men would have found this 'proper' and 'socially acceptable'. The last one implies that widows in Imperial Japan (who were expected to remain in their deceased husbands household and remain celibate) probably found a way to ease their 'lose'. Especially if they were rich! :) john