Compendium of Tanka

on the wind a bell tolls memories surface words unerased- the image fades with a tremor of light- daybreak tinges the nigrescent sky grey- the horizon appears distinct in my mind's eye without- the waning sun warms my face shalom cloaks the wells within hanging from the trees winter fog welcomes the dawn and obscures the light-- cobwebs shimmer necklaced to the hedge huddled together from the heeting rain the unbrellas moc the hearse- then in twos slowly separate the diary fell pages scattered the floor memories lie just out of reach spoor tracks imprint the virgin snow- footsteps of yesteryear echo in my mind hunger haunts each daytime hour coldness kills at night thus nature's foodchain perpetuates chill breath of dawn lights upon my window-pane nighttimes promises freeze into crystal fog at dawn necklaced cobwebs allure entranced passers-by above the still strand shrieks of seagulls die on the inshore breeze- our twin footsteps disappear as sunset dissolves the heatwave of an August dog-day a flash distant thunder- rain drops november the fifth- layered rolls of liquid fog envelope the bonfire- the party becomes a damp squib