tanka

NEW BOOK!

You’ve probably read all my poems but here is my newest addition to the ongoing poetic diary of my commonplace life 😀 There are so many photos (mostly of my beloved baritone ukulele) so KDP set the lowest price at $1.99 USD. Must say, this is not my favorite book of poetry. For that, I would recommend my big 3: Chording the Cards or Chakra Madness or Miniature Worlds Sublime.

Wishing us all health and safety in these trying times (that are unfortunately reflected in my poetry) ❤

TANKA (CONCERTINA)

Twenty button gift
Push and pull most confusing
Chords and melody
A musical harmony
Wrapped in concertina love

(My concertina finally arrived! Thought I’d play Drunken Sailor right away but no, it’s Twinkle Twinkle Little Star until I learn the chords. Arrrrgggghhhh, me hearties, what fun!)

TANKA (HORSESHOES)

Magical iron
Stronger than other metals
Surviving fire
Horseshoe mythology born
Hung for protection and gain

Blacksmiths so lucky
Fire and iron masters
Able to heal ills
So said an ancient belief
Tied to elemental lore

Does fortune run out
If horseshoes hung up or down
Holy Grail of luck
Up like a cup for drinking
How strong is superstition…

(c) 2020 Clarissa Simmens, ViataMaja
IMAGE: RichardAlan Studios, Horseshoe Guitar

TANKA (SAY IT!)

song-in-progress

Don’t hear you say much
Don’t hear much said anymore
What is said not heard
What’s heard may never be said
Lies in the lives of lovers

Regretting what said
Words avalanching your own
Opinionated
But your words sliced my sad soul
Lies in the lives of lovers

Where to go from here
Can’t listen to words of war
No need for wrong words
Why would you shipwreck our lives
Lies in the lives of lovers

Sin of silence worse
Can’t settle diversity
Eye contact and words
Helps heal health of broken hearts
Lies in the lives of lovers

Choose words carefully
Keeping quiet isolates
Words reverberate
Sweeping out emotion’s dust
Truth in the lives of lovers…

©2020 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
IMAGE: SAY IT!

 

TUNING: DGBE FOR BARITONE UKULELE

SIMPLE STRUMMING PATTERN BY LINE, ALL VERSES EXCEPT LAST:
D
A
G
DAG
DAGD

LAST VERSE IN LAST LINE: DGAGD

(TANKA LINE SCHEME: 5 syllables/7 syllables/5 syllables/7 syllables/7 syllables)

TANKA (ANANAS COMOSUS #2)

THEY ARE GROWING!  HERE IS THIS MORNING’S TANKA AND THE  ONE I WROTE ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE COMPOST HEAP BEGAN TO SPROUT PINEAPPLES…

(Another morning surprise in my compost pile)

Almost two years passed
And two pineapples appeared
Rubbed my morning eyes
Prickly in overgrown green
Armor hiding yellow treats

(c) 2019 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
IMAGE: Pineapple growing!

pineapple fields 1
ORIGINAL TANKA WRITTEN 12-23-17:

TANKA (ANANAS COMOSUS)

(Morning surprise in my compost pile)

Fresh pineapple stems
Tossed in fertile Florida
Treat for backyard birds
Silent, self-rooting surprise
Pineapple fields forever…

(c) 2017 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
IMAGE: My pineapple “field”

TANKA (National Coffee Day)

My favorite day!  Enjoy this tanka and the video, La Chanson du Cafe, from everyone’s favorite Cajun band  BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet:

Bright blue sky, white moon
Fading into morning mist
Dark consolation
Coffee smoothes the wrinkly day
Enriching timeworn burdens…

(c) Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
IMAGE: Morning Moon and Espresso

Video: La Chanson du Cafe,  BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet