Autumn Tanka Challenge

[Saionji Shonagon]

11/23/10

A breath of wood smoke
Beckons despite the knifing
Chill of autumn dusk.
Windows glow all down the street.
Within is warmth, light and food.

[crimsongriffin28]

Twirling, spiraling
Leaves like golden confetti
Sparkling like sequins
Scattered on a red silk scarf
Raggedly tossed over trees

www.flickr.com/photos/crimsongriffin/5222865331/

[Saionji Shonagon]

11/24/10

The defiant tree
Still flaunts tattered robes, aglow
In the setting sun.
Already it is colder.
Will he be so tomorrow?

[crimsongriffin28]

I call a good book
A papery plate of food
A moveable feast
Spiced with romance and humor
Leavened with knowledge and wit

[Saionji Shonagon]

11/25/10

A waft of incense
And a lapful of new silk
Are such pleasant things.
Though I celebrate alone
I've much to be thankful for.

[crimsongriffin28]

The swallows have gone
The nest empty of small life
Heedless we walk
Through the shrine's gate, uncaring
And prayers fall into silence

What hope have prayers
When mortality is clasped
In dry twig fingers?
Just this: soon the wings beat back
Trailing the colours of song

www.flickr.com/photos/crimsongriffin/5223463136/

[Saionji Shonagon]

11/26/10

Muted light hovers
At the window, like a shy
Child, unsure of entry.
The streets seem far too quiet:
The neighbors must be away.

[crimsongriffin28]

Aspire, ye heroes
See how at Sengakuji
Incense burns daily
Placed by humble visitors
For forty seven ronin

[Saionji Shonagon]

11/27/10

The telltale patter
Overhead tells more than a
Glance out the window.
Despite the urge to stay in,
Duty demands I travel.

[crimsongriffin28]

Shiny globes are hanging
Almost radiating cheer
Festively glowing
How can it be possible
Orange trees see Yule coming?

[Saionji Shonagon]

11/28/10

Eight long hours
Of answering questions and
Making future plans.
So many questions: it's like
Being pecked to death by cats.*

But they're nice cats. I've been invited to be a member of the court of Their (future) Highnesses Takeshi and Sora of the Principality of Cynagua (West Kingdom) and I spent most of today showing at least half a dozen people who know absolutely nothing about Japanese anything books and pictures so they can attempt to figure out what they want to wear.

*Mochi for the first person who gets the reference.

[crimsongriffin28]

Pulsing soft and quick
I hold the toad in my hand
Feeling its small life
Squirming wetly to escape
I smile and let it jump free

I have a terrible penchant for catching amphibians barehanded. So cute. And ugly.
www.flickr.com/photos/crimsongriffin/5222865245/

[crimsongriffin28]

You know, I take it back, I don't smile when I catch them. I grin like a gunslinger.

[Ishida Kentarou Mitsumasa]

I think the "anachronism" bit in the title of our organization was referring to old things recreated in the modern world, not Babylon 5 references in tanka.

Also I would like red bean paste flavor.

[Saionji Shonagon]

There is period precedence, even insistence, upon quoting The Classics. ;-D