A Small Collection of ‘Tanka’

By Inge Meldgaard
2010

The Blue Glass Jar Garlic

Vicks VapoRub jar; Garlic, Queen of Herbs,

Blue glass from a bygone time, hanging on my kitchen wall;
Such simple beauty, The bane of vampires ~
Discarded in their millions, an irresistible taste,
Now treasure in my window. Essential ingredient.

One Season The Dance of Time

Wurundjeri time: Dance, my little one,

Time of the brown butterfly; My flower from a new dawn;
Silver wattle blooms, You are my laughter,
Orchids spring from the soft earth, My dreaming, my joy, my hope;
The rains of September fall. Lost child of my restless youth.

Shadows Winter

Gloomy thoughts of death A hand reaches out

Walk amongst the shadows past; to heal the broken heart’s pain,
Memories of darkness to end suffering;
Follow me into the night: darkness and despair are gone ~
Tears flow as I dream of you. Death, the friend and enemy.

Stillness

Black swans on a lake,

Proud heads on their long, curved necks,
Wings furled as they glide,
Ripples of light following;
Silence with the setting sun.