Life Tanka Poems | Examples
These Life Tanka poems are examples of Tanka poems about Life. These are the best examples of Tanka Life poems written by international poets.
My love slowly grew
Since I found someone new: you.
I always just knew
That you would soon love me too.
For you, I'll live this life through.
FOREST SOULS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
burst of vibrancy
leaves amber, peach, and crimson
late autumn harvest
a time of serenity
forest souls sparking to life
spider web artwork
a dewy autumn morning
bead embroidery
adds shine to everyday life
utility is z e r o
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, brood, bad, good,
Note: An old man broods…
A CLOUDED LIGHT AWARENESS
Through the darkened clouds,
Liberating light shining,
Blossoming wisdom:-
In the darkest times, light comes:
Navigating destiny:-
When I someday die,
I'll no longer wonder why
Life flashes in eyes.
I'll then truly realize
Why it was all meant for me.
Grains of Sand
Waves lapping on shore
Caress the sands on the beach
Foam dances and swirls~
A rhythmic, calming presence
Nature`s powerful embrace
Footprints fade swiftly
Swept by ocean`s web and flow
Sands regain the sea~
Life`s transience we reckon
As prints on sands washed by waves
Huge heaps of sand dunes
Blown by the wild woeful winds
Are scattered away~
So is man, a grain of sand
In midst of the universe
autumn tints garden
flushed flowers wither and fall
they return in spring
to sapling of yearning heart
life blooms with luster of love
petals of roses
waft patina in spring air
like hue of your luscious lips
quiver with my longing lilt
unsaid words float in fragrance
mist melts from blue sky
buds burst colors in garden
air wafts floral scent
enthralled by surreal scene
beauty of spring beguiles me
metal beads dropped in
a great jar of liquid glass
will anything grow—
from inorganic kernels
tucked within a sunless hall?
rainbow branches rise
as brittle flames pierce the seas
crystal cores blooming
art and science harmonize
in a forest made of glass
this everyone knows:
plants grow green under the sun
nature teaches still
primordial elements
are mysteries yet unearthed
with callous laid hands
the old man toils garden soil
of this dry, hard land.
as his blood, sweat and tears drip,
he gladly gives all he can.
he has seen the dawn,
and he has seen the sun set,
now he sees it all
as meaning and metaphor,
of this living garden bed.
he realizes
that everything in the end
must wither and die.
and his years have now condemned,
the sprite of youthful passion.
TO BEING IN MIND-BLOWING AWARENESS
Rocking and rolling,
Aping hedges in the winds:
Blowing, yet rooted:
Though moving, there’s no progress;
Such mind-blowing awareness:-
Such mockery!
Moving, but going nowhere:
Mind and body stunned:-
In aiding progress, one must
Always seek divine guidance:-
Moving is one thing,
Progressing is another;
With a focused mind,
Seek our God’s navigation:
Progressing in assurance:-
busy folk walking
its in hospital I lie
I hear staff talking
softly accommodating
spend my last moments waiting
give a man my heart
when his own stops and wont start
better way to live
this is what I want to give
take cells blood every last part
truth everyone dies
she cant see- give her my eyes
donation is wise
take vocal chords to help chat
brain just for a democrat
friendship can be great
looking when will I find you
will that be today
are you now looking for me
will our search go on and on
there you stood looking
oh you came out of no where
what a big surprise
our friendship is a flower
fun and laughs are everywhere
our fun and laughs turn
it all goes so very wrong
hurt and pain from words
tears running like a river
why did our friendship go bad
though Mom's memory
is slow she smiles at photo
taken many years
ago when life was simple
with no confusion chaos
Mom's hospice nurses
are thorough even small things
are giant matters
as life's boundaries implode:
sleep, dress, eat, nap, sleep, repeat
long term memories~
through it all she still recalls
her little girl (that's me)
(her jewel) I'm by her side
as she finds eternity
Walking dead. Zombies.
Drones looking for sustinance.
Hungry with blank eyes.
Living no life and loveless.
Aimlessly forging ahead.
Walking dead. Zombies.
Reminds me of the living.
No life, yet still here.
Sit in front of screens and die;
Wasting away to nothing.
Walking dead. Zombies.
Perhaps, we are the dead ones.
Not truly alive;
Missing all-important things.
Killing off our connection.
Tanka Triptych Poetry Contest
Sponsor: John Anderson
Entered:08/17/2025