Written for: Poetic Bloomings2 – InForm Poet – Japanese Poetic Forms
Choose one, or sample as many as you can muster and present some new twists to these classic Japanese poetic forms.
Boketto
this rock has may facets
focus on indentation
coal black pocket inside white
perhaps a chip
someone has hammered
the rock stands the test of time,
glistening under water–
dry in sun
Bussokusekika
woke in a cold bed
alone, feet and hands freezing.
was it a bad dream?
I saw only your outline
on the sheet, no longer warm.
I hope not to find a note.
Choka
oh, that must be new
a dress like a pure emerald
yes, pure silk. thank you.
this is for the ball
held at the palace tonight
it will be so grand
many important people
Emperor and his wife
heard she is a mean woman
I will stay out of her path.
Dodoitsu
dance outdoors on summer night
moon flows over rapt faces
swirls of silk as woman spin
the men are stiffer
Haiku
blanket moves on porch
table top is dancing
baby birds nesting
Imayo
The two dogs were fast asleep–in corner of couch
Weather was wet and windy–autumn had moved in
The only thing to rouse them–mentioning dinner
Dogs eat eagerly, clean plates–back to couch corner
Ryūka
If I could reach
the stars and moon,
I would borrow them
and adorn you in their beauty
Senyru
opens umbrella
as a heavy rain comes down
on his head through hole
Tanka
stream with silver streak
observed from high on dark night
looks like splash of paint
mystery is solved. Look up
at a bright star slanting light
