Tanka by Tobe Roberts
THE BAMBOO GROVE
Wait beyond the grove
Soon, I will come to meet you
Rain droplets descend
A blade cannot sever rain
But, my love will withstand it...
ADORATION
Reflections of you
In a still pond below me
Celestial Moon...
Above me makes you shimmer
Like a raindrop in the Sun...
MEMORY
Cloudless Sky Above
The Ocean's white mist below
Wind tossles high grass
Sunlight makes me warm again
Remembering your soft touch
HUMMINGBIRD
A Hummingbird's joy
She flies swift seeking nectar
Summer rain cascades
To the most vibrant flower
She drinks after a rainstorm
SOLITUDE
Snow laden winter
Frost covers rolling mountains
Icicles on trees
Redbird's morning song echoes
Across the valley and stream
DRAGONFLY
wings beating faster
over a still lake in Spring
a dragonfly darts
across a wildflower field
it goes embracing the wind
SUNFLOWER
reaching to the sky
draped in a golden yellow
a sunflower stands
watching lovers walking by
touched by wind she's not alone
BATTLEFIELD
cicadas lament
across fields long forgotten
echoes of battle
on rolling hills and valleys
ghosts of the fallen march on
SEASHORE
white sand on your toes
radiant sun on your face
sea mist on your skin
ocean blue you dive into
spirit melding with the tide
RIBBON
ribbon in your hair
emerald green like your eyes
tied by your father
as you play the piano
a wonderful rhapsody
THE BENCH
lovers on a bench
sharing glances in the park
hearing the birds sing
a melody for them both
their very first kiss comes next
FOREST
misty forest walks
along banks of crystal ponds
autumn leaves descend
an oriole builds its nest
the smell of pine in the air
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a breath of fresh air
touch of lavender in your hair
wind kisses your face
how i wish i was the breeze
forever to kiss your lips
of the earth you are
sheltered by her mother's grace
only in nature
amongst goldenrod flowers
does your innerchild visit
walking you and I
on lonely stretches of beach
getting lost in you
the voice of silence is key
to being able to hear
white sand on your toes
radiant sun on your face
sea mist on your skin
ocean blue you dive into
spirit melding with the tide
lovers on a bench
sharing glances in the park
hearing the birds sing
a melody for them both
their very first kiss comes next
sunflowers are gifts
when lovers' spirits are low
shining bright toward God
watching over our bound souls
the angel of the plant world
misty forest walks
along banks of crystal ponds
autumn leaves descend
an oriole builds its nest
the smell of pine in the air
"The Talk of Leaves"
what do leaves say
when the wind rushes by them
replendent amber
unbeknownst to us they watch
spinning tales about our lives