As I stood
Just outside my lonely house
Cursing the cold.
I saw them
Across the street
Under the flame tree.
A leaf fell on her hair
She cared not.
He was more concentrated
On brushing her hot red lips.
Cold wind blew but
They hugged closer
Feeling each other’s warmth.
Rain dropped slowly
They did not move.
He just opened his brolly.
The kissing did not stop.
Then I saw her face.
It was my ex.
I turned sickly green.
But not of the cold.
We sat for hours under the flame tree,
In silence, we pondered life with glee.
She wished for a breeze sitting at the quay,
I yearned for mountains and some lovely ski.
Variety is a spice that’s our loving key.
The fern-like leaves fluttered in the breeze,
One long passionate kiss was enough to appease.
Her hands squeezed to make her feel at ease.
Soon we decided on afternoon teas
And sandwiches layered with favourite cheese.
Soon dusk was falling, and it threatened snow,
Even the birds were seen flying very low,
Clouds rushed in a row over row.
To leave such peace was rather a blow,
Agreed to spend the night in a nearby chateau.
From our window, we relished the valley in colour.
Lawns crisscrossed with borders all in flower.
Fortunately, it did not snow but it did shower
In the semi-twilight, all seemed such a glistening bower.
Finally, sleep beckoned, it was too late an hour.
Away the land of the flame tree blossoms
Orient blown athwart a yellow moon,
to hearken the far sound of dragon drums
and ride a Phantom into old Kowloon.
To Salisbury Road Peninsula doors
where old enemies its waters journey,
where long ago in the Opium Wars
Britannia ruled the South China Sea.
Now a new tale of skirmish is retold
when two foes battled on a foreign field -
O’ but fell the armies in green and gold
whose fate was All Black and forever sealed.
And to the victors do the spoils belong
once more once upon a time in Hong Kong.
Written: November 2008
rain drops falling on flame tree leaves create
a line of diamonds which
glow when sun rays hit them
04.10.2021
sparrow chirping in
flame tree melodiously ~
exhilaration
14.08.2021
Tania Kitchin
Songbird haiku 1st
BS1
AP
robin wearing an
orange skirt eating petals~
rain falls from above
flowers of flame tree fall on
ground creating a carpet
red vented bulbul
eating blackberries from tree~
dark grey clouds move fast
sun shines on clouds creating
a diamond in the sky
13.06.2021
Syllables count checked at PS syllables counter
Note: Tried to write a proper Tanka as per blog given by Brain Strand. If anyone notice a mistake,do drop a note.
Oh Robin! I wish I could tell how much I love thee
Small fluffy and beautiful, you bestow much joy to me
Mesmerized I listen your melodic music whole day
Wagging your tail angrily, you drive predators away
Your cosy home, a hole in the trunk of flame tree
Amid flower's, wearing orange skirt, you bring glee
04.06.2021
Note : Based on real observation of Robin from my balcony. When they sit on top of flame tree flowers, it seems they are wearing orange skirt. They look very pretty in that.
Both pictures taken from my balcony. One depicts the nest in tree trunk.
For Bite Size Poem no.4, Line Gauthier
Curved branches of flame tree
Tiny, tender new born leaves
Bright orange flowers on the
backdrop of blue sky
Mynah swings
Crow sits statue, staring
Dove, robin peck on flowers
Carpet of orange on brown mud
Ground below white jasmine plant covered by orange flowers
Sparrows chirp continuously
Cuckoo sings in melodious, rhythmic voice
Parrots fly in groups screeching
Sky turns orange
Red sun slides down to other side of mountain to sleep
Cool breeze blows
Sky becomes dark
Moons smiles, stars shine
Moonlight in bedroom
Heaven on earth
27.04.2021
Placed 1st in Brain Strand contest
Note : First picture taken from window
Pohutukawa red bristled rain falling
Drifts down sienna cliffs floats on azure waves.
children swarm, hear the ice-cream van's song calling
sand covered, sticky, happy exploring caves.
Flame tree nectar draws chattering Tui play
White butterfly sails bob clubward, end of day.
Swimmers laughingly frolic while peach sun dips
Shore bound its time for coleslaw, buns, beer and chips.
Behold the flame tree
At home in the North Country
There for all to see
Under its branches we three
My loved one, the tree, and me
The flame tree
burns again my house
of cards in jungle.
Sometimes, things.
Float without air
touching you.
I watch a moon
rise like a fear
from blue window.
Satish Verma
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.