Tanka. Poems

GOLDEN AUTUMN

GOLDEN AUTUMN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
golden leaves descend,
whisper tales of summer,
sun-kissed memories.
cool, gentle breeze carries them,
to earth, a gilded slumber.

Earth Takes a Fresh Breath

asteroids descend
lava erupts from below
flood waters sweep clean
leaving traces of its stay
for wildfires to have its way

The Perfume Bottle

Glass vial brimming
with distilled desire waiting
to be vaporized
on warm skin to fire the want
with scent of blooming flowers

Hollow taint remains
a genie swirls from the rub
whiff evaporates
hope lingers in the remnants
of what the genie scent sang

SEEDLINGS

SEEDLINGS*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
new dreams grow from seeds
each one a future blossom
delicate yet strong
nestled in mind’s fertile soil
creativity enhances

*Note: This poem was originally written for and published at WriterMonk for its Poesy and Poise contest: Dreams are Seeds of Inspiration, June 28, 2025. This is my original poem.

Severed Veins Bleed on Moon

Earth bloodies the moon
its face drowned in severed veins—
harangued in the sky
for all to see Sun's disdain
in being eclipsed usurped

The heavens lament,
scattering rust into dusk,
for the blood red burns
when what's seen is black and white—
space smeared with wrath set ablaze.

A blood moon warns us
every orbit has peril,
in being dethroned
by an unyielding eclipse,
tainting our shadow of

A Triad of Tanka IX

Fragrant rose petals

Streaked in trickling rivulets               

Of shy, tearful zest;

But more poignant your red lips

Moistened by the cooling air.
-------------------------------------

Curtains partly drawn

I waited till the frost came;

Still you had not come.

The guiding candle I lit

Left in my lonely window.
-------------------------------------

Hunters silver Moon,

Touching down

Time was when

Words vouched for my good
Made me sulk, feel very bad
In days of childhood.
Today, things do make me sad
Which, in cool silence I brood.

We call it old age
When we subtract more than add
Things on life’s last page,
Dwell on few days we feel glad,
Days not, in muted hush mad.
_______________________
Tanka (Senryu + couplet) |06.09.2025| childhood, life, old age,

Old And New Stars

Ashes scattering
As new flames are igniting.
I am no longer
Fleeing nor hiding from stars
Of my old constellations.

Empty Mirror

It returned at night, 
with fangs out and mouth open.
A fierce need to feed,
camoflauged by a tame face. 
Mind every empty mirror.

DRACONIAN STATE

       
       Draconian State

         Just authoritarian,

         humiliating

         human rights snatching freedom 
  
     

Only two ways to live

Two ways to live, love:
Dwelling on banks of Ganges
Heavenward to move,
Betwixt breasts where heaven is, 
Forgetting moral judges.
________________________ 
Translation (Tanka, Senryu + couplet) | 32.08.2025 | woman, beautiful 
Note: Here is a verse (in Anushtubh meter) from Bhartrihari’s Shringaara Shatakam (hundred verses on love and romance). Where and how should one live? The poet offers

AUTUMN'S REVERIE

AUTUMN REVERIE 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
autumn comes as a 
chariot of nature’s flame
woodland golds and browns
breathe in gold; feel it extend
deep into your very soul

autumn’s leaves will soon
rest upon the forest floor
my heart is drifting
like the gentle autumn winds
explores nature’s mysteries

Drink Up Lantana

without rainstorm wilts
leaves of lantana shrivel
and the buds close up
I was told it’s the weather
uplift when grandson waters

A QUIET POND

A QUIET POND

Quiet living pond,
Teaming with its watered lives,
Sits in wet silence:
Ducks and the lily pad frogs,
In stilled pond contemplation:-

A CLOUDY LIGHT AWARENESS

A CLOUDED LIGHT AWARENESS

Through the darkened clouds,
Liberating light shining,
Blossoming wisdom:-
In the darkest times, light comes:
Navigating destiny:-

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