Autumn tanka challenge

[Saionji Shonagon]

The market buzzes
With pre-celebration throngs
Seeking provisions.
Arms laden with treats, I pause
To admire the sunset sky.

[Kagami Tomoko]

appropriation
how can it truly be viewed
inappropriate
in a melting pot country?
oh my! now i understand.

*I hadn't watched the Katy Perry video until I got to the final line. I figured, "I should probably be educated into why everyone is making a big deal of it before finishing that line." glad I did.

[Deleted]

Chariot prepared.
Clothing packed and loaded in.
We have enough fuel.
Route traveled often enough.
Destination straight ahead.

[Please Delete]

27 Nov
Wind and rain give way
To evanescent flurries
And then they are gone.
How impermanent are we
In this ever-changing world?

[Kagami Tomoko]

crickets by the pond
playing tiny violins
without sheet music.
to me the notes are lovely,
but what do the crickets hear?

*inspired by: soundcloud.com/acornavi/robert-wilson-crickets-audio

[Saionji Shonagon]

Nights are not dark here,
Not with ships unloading wares
Beneath mighty cranes.
A cloudy night gone pale pink
With the bustle of the port.

[Saionji Shonagon]

Some unseen creature
Is pacing the roof shingles
Above my head.
Bird or squirrel, it taps
And patters, then is away.

[akikonomu]

Due to holiday travel, I had no access to the internet from yesterday until this afternoon, here are yesterday and today's tanka.

11/28/13

On the Ellensburg flats
the frost silver the grasses.
Thin ice coats the ponds.
A merlin bobs on the wires
dreaming of a morning snack.

11/29/13

Drops of freezing rain
turn to ice on the windshield.
A flock of gray doves
take shelter in a bare tree.
Just a passing rain shower.

[Saionji Shonagon]

They raided my grain,
I fought them back, laying traps
And small diversions.
In a day I took three heads,
Perhaps more will fall tonight.

(I discovered on Thanksgiving that I had a mouse problem. Spring traps, sonic units and cotton balls laced with clove and peppermint oil have been deployed.)

[Please Delete]

29 Nov
A ball of ice, like
Icarus, with wings of wax,
Flew towards the sun;
Ephemeral morning dew
Is gone in the noontime heat.

[Saionji Shonagon]

11/30 and my last one!

The hills are erased.
I cannot even see as
Far as the harbor.
The fog is a living thing,
Eating an entire city.

[akikonomu]

11/30/13 Final

Thick gray fog creeps in,
swaddling the city in
a dream of silk gauze.
The buildings appear like ghosts—
ephemeral as the fog.

[Saionji Shonagon]

There are still a few hours to play, in this time zone, at least. However, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated. I love this poetic form. And don't forget you can submit poems to Saito-dono's Shin Kokin Wakashu anthology project.
www.scatoday.net/node/24867

Submissions can be sent to [e-mail]

[Kagami Tomoko]

so much left unsaid
during this month long challenge.
if tomorrow held
one more day in november
would i feel just as complete?

[Kagami Tomoko]

Also, playing Holiday catchup:

November 28 2013

chilled glasses await
while butternut soup simmers
a pleasing fowl smell
scalloped with potato sides
do not forget the brussels.

November 28 2013

wistfully thinking
do you remember that day
when you first met me?
was i awkwardly standing
or full of raw confidence?

Double also, if people are interested, I have a Google Doc running with all my poetry, (including works in progress and unfinished verse). Just send me a message and I'll add you to the "The List."