Tag: tanka

replicãre

.Reading time 1 minute.

What are you? I ask.
A black dragon, he declares.
And the light singing
into deep nights of winter.
This red rose—bitter and sweet.

(tanka 5-7-5-7-7)

Several years ago, I was inspired to write a sort of poetic retort to the question, “What are you?” In those awkward moments where you don’t quite know how to reply to a question and are left stumbling for words, you may find a window to unusual answers. My poem took the form of a Japanese tanka (5-7-5-7-7) in English:

What are you? They ask.
A pink flower, i declare.
And darkness dancing
into light waves of seashore.
Jaguar’s soft skin and heartbeat.

Recently I was inspired to flip the question and create a mirrored reply. The tanka at the top is the result. And you? What are you?

pockets

.Reading time 2 minutes.
hell in one pocket
and heaven in the other
the choice is all mine
i claim love and golden light
This here today is heaven!

(tanka 5-7-5-7-7)

A wise, old, loincloth-donning and cave-dwelling yogi in the northwestern state of Rajasthan, India once told a little girl a secret. “Heaven and hell” he explained, “are in my pockets!” Perhaps the eleven-year-old girl didn’t quite understand. I imagine she must have looked at him with a quizzical expression on her face. “Here!” he exclaimed. He had a very dynamic way of speaking and of being. Occasionally while walking on a hiking trail, he’d suddenly jump up in the air and yell, “Boom! Life is great!” and resume along the path light-footed and seemingly as light-hearted as can be.
Looking seriously at the little girl, her sister and her parents, Yogi continued. “Look, I want heaven? I take it out of my left pocket. I want hell? I take it out of my right pocket. I can have both! Anytime, I just take heaven or I just take hell out of my pockets!”

My eleven-year-old self did not understand Yogi’s story back then. But like a lucky charm or talisman in my pocket, it has given my life depth and texture—a sense of nuanced calm and komorebi*.
What do you carry in your pockets?

*komorebi: a Japanese word for sunlight shining through the trees; scattered or dappled sunlight; light filtering through the trees