All Smiles

POEM: Cast upon me piercing pricks of thorny apostasy, then douse me in an inundation of roseate deluge grayed watery specks flicker like charcoal embers but I imbibe every drop, all smiles NOTES: This poem embodies the essence of a poetic form I've coined as "Eigotanka." It blends the elegance of the English language with the Japanese Tanka tradition. While adhering to the 5–7–5–7–7 structure, Eigotanka deviates from syllables and emphasizes word count instead. The term "Eigo," meaning "English" in Japanese, highlights the cross-cultural nature of this new poetic form.