John Anderson Poet Tanka

Notes About The Poem

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Imbued by the Invisible

clear water waits still
holding no hue of its own
then sunset spills red
crimson enters without weight
the whole lake is taught to blush

glass is transparent
till fingers colour its face
or reflections bloom
every tinge gives something there
clear glass remembers each trace

white light enters glass
then leaves scattered into hues
nothing has been dyed
all colours hidden inside
waiting to be visible

love arrives unseen
in an ordinary room
somehow warmth gathers
even familiar faces
wear colours not seen before

black has no colour
still it darkens everything
grief gives nothing back
what the eye once welcomed in
returns wearing its dark shades

memory seems clear
until longing passes through
yesterday turns gold
what happened stays where it was
what we imbue changes hue

what enters us stays
though its colour can't be shamed
drop by silent drop
imbued by all that fills us
slowly becoming its name

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Alison A Smith September 1, 2026 at 4:07 PM This is a masterful sequence of tanka. The way you seamlessly transition from the physical properties of light, water, and glass into the deeply emotional landscapes of love, grief, and memory is brilliant. The imagery of the lake being "taught to blush" and memory turning gold as longing passes through is incredibly moving. The five-line stanza structure anchors these abstract concepts beautifully, culminating in a profound reflection on how we are colored by what fills us. The image and music again add that extra depth. A truly beautiful and resonant piece!🌈