Tanka Poems for Poetic Exploration Wk 9

For Poetic Explorations, the final selection I chose was #3

3. Elegant Beauty

in misty morning,
the solitary egret
stands watch on the dock,
unfazed, as waves lap against
a fisherman’s boat nearby

See below for the full list of Ten Tanka Poems

1. Mystery and Depth

flamingo in flight
over Siberian snow,
falling from the sky;
alone, a long way from home;
rescued, fed, but missing warmth

2. Appropriate Statement

unsure of my path,
I flew the wrong direction
to learn of the places
where I did not need to land;
then I flew home with a plan

3. Elegant Beauty

in misty morning,
the solitary egret
stands watch on the dock
unfazed as waves lap against
a fisherman’s boat nearby

4. Conviction of Feeling

sun rises, rain halts;
too early, I’m not ready
to dry my own tears.
I yearn for a place where God
is not yet finished grieving.

5. Lofty style

moon, a doomed mother
gazes at her sun
from such a distance
that, though their eyes meet daily,
never their fingertips graze

6. Visual Description

cotton floats on lake
like soft cushions beneath me.
I dream of leaping
from my comfort zone: jumping,
I wake among the ripples

7. Clever treatment

great monuments built
to boost man's ailing spirit
ages past, and now
seven wonders of the world
is a miniature golf course

8. Novel Treatment

footprints in the marsh,
efforts to repair bayous,
gauze soaked in earth’s blood;
surgery and medicine
heals, but leaves their own footprints. 

9. Exquisite Details

dewdrops caught in webs
like rain suspended
in mid-air, waiting
to quench one’s thirst, knowing that,
come sunrise, the chance is lost

10. Demon Quelling

Harsh winds, under-tows,
earth’s motor of change;
broken covenants
or divine cleansing, man’s way
to reconcile the unknown.

Based on Fujiwara Teika (1162-1241) who listed ten tanka techniques. 

According to an article about entitled "Teika's Ten Tanka Techniques" on www.ahapoetry.com, "it was a common practice for students of poetry to write sets of ten tanka on ten sets of subjects as practice and challenge".  I tried to do so here. 
Please feel free to note your favorite one (s).

http://ahapoetry.com/tanka%20techniques.html