Spring tanka challenge

[Saionji Shonagon]

Wind sighs through branches
And tugs halfheartedly at
A little boy's kite.
Serenaded by songbirds,
I lie back in the cool grass.

[Deleted]

Called into the court
of newly crowned King and Queen
to receive their token.
No matter how swelled my head,
many eyes! How small I feel!

[Please Delete]

21 Apr

Weary and sun burnt
The next day drifts slowly by
And into tomorrow;
Now the week looms large ahead
Like clouds on the horizon.

[Saionji Shonagon]

A darting motion
In the corner of my eye
Alerts me to him.
He hovers, snatching insects
Wings blur with speed, then he's off.

[Deleted]

The floor fills with dust.
The air around me, with chips.
The tool dulls with use.
The square wood becomes circle.
Much turning in my future.

[Please Delete]

22 Apr

An ancient lady
Clothed in purple spring robes
Stands by the roadside.
No longer a youthful lass,
Yet a beauty nonetheless.

(Inspired by an old tree I saw covered in wisteria)

[Saionji Shonagon]

Windows thrown open,
One hopes for a cool bay breeze
Though it nears midnight.
Soon enough the birds will wake
Me with their noisy chatter.

[Hayashi Yuki]

I am far from being a poet, visual art is more my thing. However, I keep having this urge to try and "play with the big boys." So please be nice. This is my first tanka ever, and I have not tried haiku in well over fifteen years.

A cherry blossom
on the wind like a lily
on the water where
too shall my life's journey go
in this wondrous world here

Gah, now that I look at it it's total crap.

[Deleted]

Home, away, home, and
away again I go now.
Time for leisure is
scant, as the road to my work
beckons and my front door shuts.

[Deleted]

Newark may not be
the most beautiful city,
and its airport the
least beautiful part of town,
but green touches these trees too.

(Business travel. Let's look on the bright side.)

[Saionji Shonagon]

Hayashi-dono, two things: 1. Crap poetry is period. I'm certain there was plenty of it because everyone at court was expected to be able to knock off these things. 2. Practice will help, so write more poetry. ;-D

A field of green silk
Awaits my inspiration
"Paint me!" it whispers.
I dip my brush in pure gold
Steady handed by purpose.

[Please Delete]

Ditto on what Saionji Shonagon said. Keep practicing, and know that doggerel is period.

23 Apr

Through a mental haze,
Searching for inspiration
Words come too slowly
Would that the worms of sickness
Would die a horrible death.

[Please Delete]

24 Apr

Back! Back! Back, I say!
Stay the somnolent darkness
with that joyous light!
Let not the tempting pillows
Coax us into deep slumber.

[Saionji Shonagon]

On a quiet night
A distant train horn echoes
Across the channel.
Footsteps on pavement outside
Hurry past, then a door slams.

[Deleted]

From the breakfast room
of this travellers' palace,
one looks out over
the port, the roads, and city,
to the sea and rising sun.

(Even the hotel at the Newark airport has its attractions.)