April 2019 Tanka/Waka Challenge

[Saionji Shonagon]

It's April and you know what THAT means!
Here's the concept:
Write one tanka (waka)* a day for the month of April.

*Resources on tanka:
www.ahapoetry.com/TANKA.HTM
www.americantanka.com/
www.wodefordhall.com/heianpoetryjam.htm

The spirit of this poetic form being the impermanence of this dewdrop life, no other make-ups are permitted. If you miss a day, you miss a day and as in real life, you never get it back. (You're on the honor system here....)

No limits on subject matter other than any you chose to impose upon yourself. Hopefully, some moment in your day will inspire you to write about it.

If you write more than one tanka a day, fine. However, you may not carry over tanka to other days. You have to write a poem on each day.

(If you are inspired to "answer" someone else's poem, great. Personally, if I do so, I am not going to
count it toward my daily assignment. The idea is to come up with something myself each day. What you do is up to you.)

[Saionji Shonagon]

A pair of sparrows
Shake the cherry tree as they
Bounce from branch to branch.
Deer come down the hill to graze.
Unfazed by the falling rain.

[Kagami Tomoko]

Biting winter wind,
Rolling through the alleyway,
Making spring the fool,
Or so it would seem to me,
And my tissue paper coat.

[Bun'ami]

Deep under yogi
A feeling of contentment.
Howls the morning wind.
Do I rise to met the day,
Or stay within blanket fort

[Saionji Shonagon]

Again and again
She returns triumphantly,
Her tail like a flag.
I had forgotten the squish
Of a much chewed tennis ball.

[Saionji Shonagon]

As the day departs,
They come out of the trees to
Savor new spring grass.
With a tail flick they depart
The dog's cries from the window.

[Bun'ami]

Trudging on treadmill
Bring on new thoughts of waka
Failing heart muscle,
Need to finish bucket list
Please take telemetry off.

[Saionji Shonagon]

Jewel like they gleam
And seem to float in the night
Against the black hills.
Too near for stars, the lanterns
Of houses nearby keep watch.

[Bun'ami]

Neko on rain porch,
Watches as I lock the door.
Food dish is half full
the berating mews begin
I depart for the work day.

[Saionji Shonagon]

Another grey dawn
Glowers outside the window
Like a sulky child.
After so much winter rain
I long to see the sun's face.

[Saionji Shonagon]

As the day slips past
The hilltop, they emerge from
The sheltering trees.
The dog is safely inside
And the spring grasses are lush.

[Saionji Shonagon]

A hot cup of tea
And a favorite blanket
Are enough welcome.
After a week at a friend's,
These little things speak of home.

[Saionji Shonagon]

I dreamed a forest,
Lushly green and echoing
With the song of birds.
For now I just be content
With the crows in the maple.

[Saionji Shonagon]

Despite the sunshine
Cold winds buffet the treetops,
Scattering blossoms.
Chilled, I must leave my hard bench
And go back to my duties.

[Saionji Shonagon]

I can see the trees
Swaying against a chill wind
Outside my window.
Though no rain is expected,
It still feels much like winter.