Poetry Anthology Preview (3): "Superwoman"

A third poetry sample from "The Art of Poetry", coming soon:

Superwoman

© 2011 by A. Dameron

It's so easy

To turn into Superwoman,

Trying to do so much to

Save the world.

It costs much

To show a brave face,

While your body is

Dying inside.

It seems common sense

To go with the flow, 

The peaks and the valleys

And times those valleys are low.

But there is

A light at the end of the tunnel,

With the glowing arc

Of satisfaction.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2011

Poetry Anthology Preview (2): "Princessa"

Another poem from my upcoming anthology: "The Art of Poetry"

Princessa

© 2011 by A. Dameron

Hold up your head like an empress,

Make you manner that of a queen.

Smile, but show not your teeth.

Disarm both your friends and your enemies,

And reflect what they see in the mirrors of your eyes.

Your tears drip like honey

And stab like daggers.

Mesmerize, analyze,

Then attack.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2011

Post-Christmas Clean Up

There is a distinct disadvantage to having everyone home for more than a week. The house looks like a hurricane hit it.

Legos and blocks, trains and books
New Christmas ornaments in every nook
Broken crayons, uncapped markers
DVDs. And Mom is starkers,
going nuts, surveying her house!
But Banshee Girl is quiet as a mouse
And Son is watching the Wiggles
and Baby Girl, she's got the giggles.
Hubs 's paying Zelda on the Wii
A more peaceful setting, never to see
During the rest of the year.
A mess is just a mere
price to see family, precious and dear.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Tanka Poetry (Japanese literature, part I)

Tanka is a form of poetry that has its origins in Japan's Heian period (c. 1100 AD). It's a subgenre of Japanese classical poetry, called waka. Sometimes whole collections of Japanese poetry is written in this style, including the Tales of Ise and the Tales of Yamato.

The syllable pattern of tanka is 5-7-5-7-7 per line, no matter which language. The first part (5-7-5) is called the kami-no-ku, or "upper phrase", while the second part (7-7) is called the shimo-no-ku, or "lower phrase". If the kami-no-ku looks familiar, it's the same pattern as the well-known haiku.

Many poets use wordplay and puns in their tanka, and some verses are difficult to understand without knowing about the cultural issues of the time. Two Heian-era pieces that use tanka are The Tales of Genji by Lady Murasaki and The Pillow Book by Sei Shonogon.

Here's an example of tanka in English:

Where is the small cat? (5)
He is not hiding out there. (7)
He is not inside. (5)
We will have to search for him. (7)
Ah! A tail is sticking out! (7)

Here's another one (for baseball fans)

Pat the Bat asks you: (5)
What can I wear for tonight (7)
for a big party? (5)
Catcher's mitt, cleats, and billed cap: (7)
It's time for the World Series! (7)

Challenge: Write your own tanka!

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010