Tag Archives: Tanka

legs like pistons

Posted on June 7, 2023 by istsfor manity

The Journey (Tanka) I mounted my bike.I pedaled all through the night.Legs like pistons pumped.I arrived where I began.Journey is destination. What I’m Reading: “… if discontent is your disease, travel is medicine. It resensitizes. It opens you up to … Continue reading →

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deep in dis-ease

Posted on May 24, 2023 by istsfor manity

Interlude IV (Dis-ease+Water Tanka) Lower the lifeboats—We tread nose-deep in dis-ease—Lifelines beyond us.We roil dark water and sink.The mermaids sing for no one. What I’m Reading: “I’ve spent my entire life living on a fault line / I know all … Continue reading →

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make lemonade tomorrow

Posted on May 20, 2023 by istsfor manity

delusion lemonade (tanka) another year deadanother dread come to passanother dashed hopeas you drift to sleep you wretch— make lemonade tomorrow What I’m Reading: “But those were good days … and now like everything else, the cigarettes and the wine … Continue reading →

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on hamster wheels

Posted on May 17, 2023 by istsfor manity

plastic interiors (tanka) d.i.y. unitspitter patter and twittervariable speedswe move but we do not walkon hamster wheels for humans What I’m Reading: “Outside, even the sun-god, dressed in this lifeas a lizard, abruptly riseson stiff legs and descends blasé toward … Continue reading →

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the gap’s gap

Posted on May 9, 2023 by istsfor manity

ouroboros (tanka) a gap in the nodethen a node in the gap’s gapthen cycle againthe beginning is the endthe end is the beginning What I’m Reading: “My fallopian arms have lostthe power to draw miracles from her fingersat her own … Continue reading →

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jaw-dropping neighborly

Posted on May 6, 2023 by istsfor manity

lemmings sound (found tanka) haircut locals fray,cowlick, tangle, and split-endat the seams that bind —courtyard sector loggerheadsjaw-dropping neighborly love. What I’m Reading: “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” — Haruki Murakami / What I Talk About When I Talk About … Continue reading →

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dark bramble vise

Posted on March 9, 2023 by istsfor manity

dementia tanka trickster tau tanglessticky beta amyloidsare gray matter sieves—a brain bombogenesis—dark bramble vise on your mind What I’m Reading: “Cruelty has a Human HeartAnd Jealousy a Human Face Terror the Human Form Divine ” — William Blake / “A Divine Image”

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songs sung true

Posted on February 28, 2023 by istsfor manity

A Pall (haiku, tanka, ukiah) The snow falls like ashFrom a nuclear winter—Sorrow songs sung true. There are some good days,When voices of exile bray:The start is the end.The mournful rumble we hearWidens a crack in our souls. Our voices … Continue reading →

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in our blood

Posted on February 16, 2023 by istsfor manity

embodied (tanka) a strange faith we breatheinto our lives, in our bloodviolence braidedquotidian & steadfastembodied death incarnate What I’m Reading: “Do you lie thinkingThe stars in the skyWere a big mistake?” — Charles Simic / “Dear Lord”

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roil dark water

Posted on January 20, 2023 by istsfor manity

Dark Water Tanka (redux) Lower the lifeboats—We tread nose-deep in the plague—Lifelines beyond us.We roil dark water and sink.The mermaids sing for no one. What I’m Reading: “To call your father and say, I’d forgotten how nice everyone in these … Continue reading →

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