Double Tanka

A tanka like a haiku is a poem determined by the number of syllables in each line: 5/7/5/7/7 for tankas. Haikus are 5/7/5, for example. This no title double tanka is unrhymed.

Poetry challenge accepted: Tanka—Haiku from short story: DAYS AT THE POOL.

[For the information of readers, I’ve been challenging April to do harder and harder forms of poetry. She, as always, accepts challenges and rises victorious from them all. Since it has ten, rather than five lines, it is not formally considered a tanka…t’ank you very much. Ariele Huff]

preteen arrow shape

skim pool surface like flat stone

lifeguard throne overseer

rival image Gidget or Daisy Mae

calendar girl swimsuit too small

lifeguard watch her blush

float gently youthful freedom

illusion nudity to rescue

eyes focus on new temptation

swimmers vanishing from view

summertime long ago

first crush almost fell off perch

hot season day swim

SUMMER 1958

April Ryan

The picture is me and Pierre, (he's about 2 years old). I'm sure in the summer of 1958 when I was twelve, the shadow taking the picture is Mom.

April Ryan is a blossoming Washington poet…serrated leaves and elliptical petals.

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