tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15485541998428666902023-06-20T09:35:14.863-04:00Tekkan TankaA Home for the Tekkan Tanka Poets of TwitterAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12654119943604162549noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-17988192014149619782009-11-23T20:22:00.000-05:002009-11-23T20:23:07.342-05:00the raindrops<br />on the old car's windshield<br />and the light<br />that gets through<br />in late November<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">spg</span>S. P. Greenlawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16943066024321453367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-26815410211516360572009-11-09T09:32:00.001-05:002009-11-09T09:32:55.772-05:00you want to talk<br />but i have nothing<br />to say<br />around our silence<br />rain falls<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />avv</span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12654119943604162549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-27678109489765625912009-09-14T17:25:00.003-04:002009-09-14T17:58:36.353-04:00<span style="font-family:arial;">thought I was immune<br />to fata morgana's wiles -<br />I am desert bred -<br />but my mouth is full of sand<br />scooped from a dried-up wadi<br /></span><em>mac</em>Marinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621736481937670393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-49595142243266050182009-09-13T18:23:00.001-04:002009-09-13T18:23:43.458-04:00<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">the dream of love</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">seems particularly hopeless</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">this afternoon</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">not even one man in the street</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I can pin my fantasies upon</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">~K~</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p>M. Keihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02732533797439904583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-92203215306668652082009-09-04T20:38:00.000-04:002009-09-04T20:39:08.580-04:00this same fly<br />belly up on the ledge-<br />just yesterday<br />did I not see it buzzing<br />against my hospital window?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">-spg</span>S. P. Greenlawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16943066024321453367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-40789185398474647822009-09-01T12:48:00.000-04:002009-09-01T12:50:51.305-04:00moth batting itself<br />senseless<br />against the lampshade<br />it will be a long night<br />for both of usAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12654119943604162549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-47366295292557389682009-08-23T15:20:00.003-04:002009-08-23T19:54:33.268-04:00o-tsukimi -<br />sometimes obscured by haze<br />but never extinguished<br />September's dreaming moon<br />the lantern above my gate<br /><em>mac</em>Marinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621736481937670393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-35675046107445481312009-08-22T16:01:00.001-04:002009-08-22T16:01:28.176-04:00<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">the brave ones</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">burn bright like </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">lamps at midnight,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">and I lie sleepless</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">in a bed alone</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">~K~</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p>M. Keihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02732533797439904583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-80502665269156305312009-08-13T21:18:00.000-04:002009-08-13T21:19:03.410-04:00Our crew team<br />running down to the lake<br />I follow<br />that boy's blond hair<br />and his sun soaked legsS. P. Greenlawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16943066024321453367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-21313973655065422322009-08-09T05:19:00.000-04:002009-08-09T05:21:07.281-04:00bounce in my step<br />kicking up gravel<br />my path from here on<br />littered with<br />mistakes all my own<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">avv</span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12654119943604162549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-5212462074763626332009-08-01T18:27:00.002-04:002009-08-01T19:02:25.668-04:00a hundred drops slide<br />meandering and merging<br />down the window pane<br />as in life, the path is clear<br />only after choice is past<br /><em>mac</em>Marinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621736481937670393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-82497880914123105392009-07-28T20:57:00.001-04:002009-07-28T20:57:36.832-04:00<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">thunderheads towering</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">up through the pink sunset—</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">this letter</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">raising the rent</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">one hundred and ninety dollars</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">~K~</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p>M. Keihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02732533797439904583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-29769179107375526442009-07-24T22:03:00.003-04:002009-07-24T22:09:46.821-04:00Are you still<br />thinking about her —<br />able to smirk<br />but not say why she smirked<br />until even her eyes went out?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">dj</span><br /><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Dirk Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05112115963203025809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-65421849484373381472009-07-24T17:46:00.001-04:002009-07-24T17:48:02.353-04:00in the waiting room<br />I am caught off guard-<br />the grip<br />of my frail mother<br />and her blue veined hands!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">spg</span>S. P. Greenlawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16943066024321453367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-74571123805751110432009-07-19T08:01:00.002-04:002009-07-19T08:04:47.281-04:00at dawn<br />the feel of wet grass<br />on my hands<br />remembering my first night<br />howling at the full moon<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">avv</span><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><br /><br /></span></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12654119943604162549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-50750128900475854502009-07-16T19:09:00.004-04:002009-07-17T08:30:48.630-04:00my wrists encircled<br />with lush garnet bruises<br />my head crowned with stars<br />I kneel, my brow to the earth,<br />each ragged breath a triumph<br /><em>mac 7/16/09</em>Marinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621736481937670393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-27035788449082244462009-07-16T18:07:00.001-04:002009-07-16T18:07:24.663-04:00<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">"boat bites"</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">another bruise,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">another scrape,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">but at least</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">I have all my eyebrows</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">~K~</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p>M. Keihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02732533797439904583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-13905995804833056612009-07-14T09:16:00.004-04:002009-07-14T09:29:03.812-04:00Before rose and gray<br />could vanish in a golden<br />blaze of clear sky<br />the 10th floor sucked them<br />into it's dark-tech slick.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">dj 7/14/09 </span>Dirk Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05112115963203025809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-84617322844124003872009-07-13T23:15:00.005-04:002009-12-27T10:10:49.900-05:00Take It From The Top (but read it from the bottom)she walks slowly<br />my neighbor with her dog<br />gray hair and coat<br />where once there was gold<br />and barks met with laughter<br /><em>spg 7/09/09</em><br /><br /><br />wandering<br />around this wild world<br />in search<br />of a strong hand<br />to hold my leash<br /><em>avv 7/05/09</em><br /><br /><br />Leash taut between us<br />we dash along the creekbed -<br />she loves hide-and-seek<br />Happy yelps announce her prize:<br />dead hand curled among dead leaves<br /><em>mac 6/27/09<br /></em><br /><br />warm breezes<br />men walking dogs<br />along the waterfront<br />today maybe I'll<br />find a lover<br /><em>mk 6/27/09</em><br /><br /><br />This time last year<br />hope held sway.<br />A light was on.<br />The beloved one wanted me.<br />We gazed...<br /><em>dj 6/08/09<br /></em><br /><br />today I returned<br />to that cafe on main street<br />hoping to see you<br />it has been two seasons now<br />since I touched your boyish face<br /><em>spg 6/06/09</em><br /><br /><br />awake from dreams<br />of fire and fierce panic<br />no dim room to check<br />no downy cheek to kiss<br />no ease for a mother's heart<br /><em>mac 5/26/09</em><br /><br /><br />the children<br />gone for a week<br />sleeping deeply<br />in the silence<br />of an empty house<br /><em>mk 5/21/09</em><br /><br /><br />No word<br />of acknowledgment<br />comes<br />from the other side<br />of my world.<br /><em>dj 5/15/09</em><br /><br /><br />No sea so wild<br />I would not sail<br />nor shore so savage<br />I would not land<br />if he but gave the word<br /><em>mac 4/28/09</em><br /><br /><br />much more<br />than my eyes are<br />following<br />those handsome men<br />in their naval uniforms<br /><em>mk 4/27/09</em><br /><br /><br />On Bonapart Lake<br />a spider web of stars<br />so close<br />they get lost<br />in my comrads' beards.<br /><em>dj 4/24/09<br /></em><br /><br />in the stars<br />I can trace the contours<br />of your body<br />and all the glowing pieces<br />I wish to touch<br /><em>spg 4/24/09<br /></em><br /><br />All night we waited,<br />huddled against bitter frost<br />to watch the slaying;<br />Summer bled a storm of stars,<br />felled by Orion's club.<br /><em>mac 4/19/09</em><br /><br /><br />waking<br />with Orion<br />before dawn,<br />following his hounds<br />as they follow him<br /><em>mk 4/17/09</em><br /><br /><br />A muffling redwood<br />scorched in Chaucer's time<br />roots me to the Eel<br />while through stone-still air<br />it reaches into space.<br /><em>dj 4/16/09<br /></em><br /><br />in this silence<br />as the dress slips off<br />even birds wait-<br />hear each amber thread give way<br />to the singing of your skin<br /><em>spg 4/16/09</em><br /><br /><br />Green-gold the crown<br />I plait for my love's hair -<br />willow, daffodil<br />Heron jabs her reflection,<br />snatches the bright fish beneath<br /><em>mac 4/16/09<br /></em><br /><br />the twisted links<br />of a willow tree—<br />ten-year-old me<br />still wants to climb<br />this toppled giant<br /><em>mk 4/16/09</em><br /><br /><br />cigarette smoke<br />I used to wave away<br />from my clothes<br />now clings to the walls<br />where your picture was<br /><em>spg 4/14/09<br /></em><br /><br />This mind, like water,<br />distorts all that enters it:<br />what is straight, it bends;<br />what is solid, it dissolves;<br />what is sullied, it cleanses.<br /><em>mac 4/09/09<br /></em><br /><br />Onto a driveway<br />the sullen rain drips collapse<br />to embody splash patterns<br />into which reaching<br />Om Mani Padme Hung Hri<br /><em>dj 4/07/09<br /></em><br /><br />a rain drop<br />into the sea<br />swallowed whole<br />I chant a mantra<br />under my breath<br /><em>spg 4/01/09</em><br /><br /><br />What word will pierce through<br />the roar of these delusions?<br />None is clear enough.<br />If I held up a flower,<br />who would be there to see it?<br /><em>mac 4/01/09<br /></em><br /><br />Listens to silence<br />One who can no longer speak<br />For some words to come;<br />An expanding sphere ensues<br />Empty of speech and language.<br /><em>dj 4/01/09</em><br /><br /><br />bedridden<br />for the whole day<br />whimpering<br />like my mother<br />on her death bed<br /><em>spg 3/26/09</em><br /><br /><br /><br />The #tekkan crew are (in order of appearance):<br />SPG - Sean Greenlaw <br />DJ - Dirk Johnson @dirkjohnson<br />MAC - Marin Corentyn <br />MK - M Kei @kujakupoet<br />AVV - Alex vonVaupel @alexvonvaupelMarinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621736481937670393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1548554199842866690.post-36721983454706324122009-07-13T18:44:00.005-04:002009-07-14T06:23:12.147-04:00IntroductionTekkan Tanka was created to facilitate the #tekkan tanka game on Twitter. Having our tanka for the game posted in random places made it hard to keep track of them all and to know whose turn it was. We established this joint blog so that all the tekkan tanka would wind up in the same place, making it much easier for us (and any fans) to follow the sequence.<br /><br />The current Tekkan Tanka poets are:<br /><br />SPGreenlaw (S. P. Greenlaw)<br />DirkJohnson (Dirk Johnson)<br />Kujakupoet (M. Kei)<br />Cobwebstir (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; ">Marin Corentyn)</span><br />AlexvonVaupel (Alex von Vaupel)<br /><br />You can follow them on Twitter for more #tanka goodness, progressive politics, nautical history, music, cats, and whatever else strikes our fancy.M. Keihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02732533797439904583noreply@blogger.com0