A new year would be incomplete without new poetry! I’ve gathered with my sisters-in-words once again to debut a new set of poems each month — all focused on a certain form, or theme, or both. I know — it sounds like last year. And the year before. But this time, of course, with new assignments!
So we’re starting with the Somonka — a Japanese form that is really just two tankas put together like love letters — so imagine two voices speaking the different stanzas. The rules for a tanka are five unlined rhymes, with 5/7/5/7/7 syllables, respectively.
I loved this form, and wrote several, but they all ended up with too much snark and not enough sweet. I’m sorry about that. I have a heck of a head cold. But regardless, here they are and let’s hope I’ll have softened up by next month. 🙂
A Love of Winter
Air brisk & cheeks pink
I love you, January
Everything feels new!
I jump out of bed for you
(Except when I just cannot)
Feckless southerner
I put my all into this
Thirty-one whole days
But you’re only game for three
Unrequited, I freeze up
Forget-Me-Not
Breakfast is at five
You forget, so I wake you
You’re so forgetful
You cup my ears in your hands
Ask, “Who’s this? Who’s a good boy?”
You stand under me
When I turn I nearly trip
Furry reminder
I’m not alone – you are here
You are always here for me
A Good Soak
Yes, I’m claw-footed
but I run hot and heavy —
I hold you, my dear,
in my porcelain embrace,
while you try to slip away.
I come for comfort
I long to be warm and held
but this is too still
and confining. Lethargic,
I find I must pull the plug.
To read more of these, click here!
Tricia
Sara
Laura
Tanita
Kelly
And for Poetry Friday, head to TeacherDance!
Please tell me that second poem is about a dog, because that’s where my first love poem took me. I love that you wrote about such varied topics. I adore the poem about the bath, and your January poem had me laughing. Thank you for sharing and for prompting us.
I hope you feel better soon. And what I wouldn’t give for a claw-foot tub. Loved your poems, snark and all.
I LOVE that tub one – I adore nice hot baths, but there comes a moment… I hope that you’re feeling better soon – my poems tended toward snark as well this month. Ah, January!
An abundance to love here! I especially like how you’ve played with the “embrace” of a tub and other forms of affection. I don’t see much snark, just clever play.
Love your snark AND your wordplay. But especially love the dog one. Something about January makes me appreciate the here-ness of my dog all the more.