Tanka Sequence

                                                    
                                                 A COUNTRY IDYLL

                                                 summer pasture–

                                                 a sway-back horse grazes

                                                 in the shade;

                                                 the quiet of this morning

                                                 comes to me in waves

                                                 hill-top farmhouse

                                                 flanked by sentinels

                                                 of twin pines;

                                                 the years they have stood watch

                                                 through the rolling seasons

 

                                                 silver-edged clouds–

                                                 a shadow slowly glides

                                                 over the meadow;

                                                 soon the day will give over

                                                 to ordinary chores

Modern English Tanka, spring 2007