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A Triad of Tanka V: Forever Her

That first piercing stare

Which shoved my young innocence

Into confusion.

Suddenly...my little pond

Was tipped into her ocean.
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On the way to work

I would linger in the streets,

Shopping in windows,

Hoping to catch a shy glimpse

Of breezing cloud wrapped in flame!

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The long road was wide;

But could not hold the whole World.

Though at that moment...

It seemed to me that the road

Desperately strove to try.
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Victor Buhagiar Date: 8/28/2025 1:39:00 AM Very artistic tankas, John. I am not good at them as I tend to write longer poems. Login to Reply John Fleming Date: 8/29/2025 10:42:00 AM Thank you, Victor - you are most kind! Indeed...I worked hard at them. :) john

Valsa George Date: 8/24/2025 9:39:00 PM "Suddenly...my little pond Was tipped into her ocean." This is awesomely beautiful and romantic, the whirling and churning inside, at the first pull of a crush and the developments later. Love it. Login to Reply John Fleming Date: 8/29/2025 10:39:00 AM Thank you, Valsa. I am very pleased you think so highly of the Tankas...I am very proud of these poems. I think they are, for me, some of the best poetry I have ever written. Many thanks! :) john p.s simple, it seems, is always best.

Kim Rodrigues Date: 8/22/2025 10:31:00 AM Funny how “that one” gets your attention. The long, wide road tried to hold the whole world. It is like your heart was all hers. Login to Reply John Fleming Date: 8/22/2025 3:37:00 PM You have just scored a Bullseye, Kim! She encouraged, even pursued me, often enough. But there are some things you can never really posses. W.B Yates sums it up best with those immortal lines: "With a beauty like a tightened bow...A kind that was not natural in an age like this". :) john

Sara Etgen-Baker Date: 8/21/2025 5:04:00 PM outstanding Tankas. Each one offers something unique...great skill you have, Sara Login to Reply John Fleming Date: 8/22/2025 3:29:00 PM Thanks, Sara. It is a tribute to an outstanding beauty...the like of which I have never seen again. :) john p.s nor would I wish too. :)

Andrea Dietrich Date: 8/21/2025 4:16:00 PM This is quite good. I especially liked that first one! Login to Reply John Fleming Date: 8/22/2025 3:26:00 PM Thanks, Andrea. These Tankas are all about the same person. She would quite literally stop the traffic when she walked out. A rare beauty that I have never seen equalled. Many thanks! :) john

Mystic Rose Rose Date: 8/21/2025 2:56:00 PM wow you are getting real good at these tankas, you'll need to teach me how to do them so easily Login to Reply John Fleming Date: 8/22/2025 3:23:00 PM Your Tankas that I read the other night were pretty good I thought, Rose. :) I think the Tanka format rather suits my style of writing...but I think I am not quite there yet. Must try harder! :) john

Sotto Poet Date: 8/21/2025 1:48:00 PM Each of the three tankas offers a delightful reflection that sticks with the reader. Three unique perspectives, each painstakingly developed, John Login to Reply John Fleming Date: 8/21/2025 2:16:00 PM As always...your comments are most insightful, S.P. They were indeed, as you remark, "painstakingly developed". You have bestowed a great compliment on me. I kicked these three around for hours - beat and pounded them like original clay! I really do enjoy attempting these Tankas...rewarding...but exhausting too. Many thanks, S.P. Much appreciated by me! :) john

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 8/21/2025 12:31:00 PM - Three with totally different pictures, skillfully written, John :) - hugs Login to Reply John Fleming Date: 8/21/2025 12:50:00 PM I am very pleased that you enjoyed reading them, Anne-Lise. You are always most welcome here. :) john

Deb M Date: 8/21/2025 12:19:00 PM Excellent write John....Debx Login to Reply John Fleming Date: 8/21/2025 12:27:00 PM Thank you, Deb. I enjoy trying to write these Tankas. I will keep on trying until I get it more right. Cheers! :) john

Tom Woody Date: 8/21/2025 5:25:00 AM So awesome John. I was thinking line five would be even cooler if it read: tipped into her ocean. In any case you spin a nice tale in brief. You're becoming the tanka maestro! Login to Reply John Fleming Date: 8/21/2025 6:49:00 AM By jingo, Tom, I think you are onto something there. Consider it done! Cheers!