tanka chain for the spring equinox
portland, oregon
weeping cherry unfurls a
blossom umbrella above the playground
the sky can’t make up its mind
finite or infinite or placid pond
pink blooms broken along the walkway
a side street’s camellias open generous
hands perplexing the breeze
a bicycle passing them by without comment
a hat blown down the sidewalk
change arriving in a whisper and a gust
yoshino’s coruscate white & abrupt
a memory overtakes you
traffic’s red shift as the stoplight changes
a back lot white Buick swathed in mold
and the garden gate’s gray boards stand open
two magnolias gesture, their
fingers perfection cupping gray air
a half moon in afternoon for all that
surge of interstate traffic on I-5
the Failing Street bridge spans a handful of sky
A.K. Barkley
© 2013
Image links to its source on Wiki Commons:
Blossoming cherry trees-anonymous artist; from 1615 until 1868
Gold, ink, and tint on paper
public domain
