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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