First day of autumn
a sunflower turns
back toward earth
have I used it well
this life . . .
Published by
Sylvia Forges-Ryan
Sylvia Forges-Ryan is a former Editor of Frogpond, the international journal of the Haiku Society of America. Her poems have been published in many countries and in six continents. Writing in various Japanese forms, she has won many international prizes, including the Harold G. Henderson Award from the Haiku Society of America, the R.H. Blyth Award from the World Haiku Association, the Grand Prix from the Kyoto Museum for World Peace, the Azsacra Poetry Award from the Taj Mahal Review in India, and First Prizes in the Mainichi Times Contest in Tokyo, the California Ukiah Festival, and the Key West Robert Frost Haiku Competition. She has published three books: Take a Deep Breath, the Haiku Way to Inner Peace, co-authored with her husband, Edward R. Ryan, PhD, was cited by poet, editor, and translator Jane Reichhold as “the perfect haiku book,” and was given an Honorable Mention from the World Haiku Review. What Light There Is was described by Susumu Takiguchi, World Haiku Editor, as “One of the best books of haiku ever produced in English, a treasure.” In addition, the book was awarded a Distinguished Touchstone Award HM from the Haiku Foundation and has a Russian edition. Both books, along with her third book, Side by Side< Poems Prints, have been selected for permanent inclusion in the American Literature Collection of the Beinecke Rare Book Library at Yale University. View all posts by Sylvia Forges-Ryan
Dear Sylvia, What a beautiful tanka. On my blog earlier today, I was inspired to write about the hosta leaves resting on the ground – still green and will turn gold.
Your last two lines add wisdom from the heart as well.
Blessings and thank you, Ellen
precarious, the yellow leaflets
on the stone butterfly flitter
(ahhh, your poem is so very nice)
.
First day of autumn
a sunflower turns
back toward earth
have I used it well
this life . . .
—SYLVIA FORGES-RYAN
Wonderful poem with a fine turn.
Thank you,
Alan
Beautiful, Sylvia :-)
Masterful tanka, Sylvia. A precise observation, then a personal reflection. I hope many more of our Tinywords readers are inspired by such an example to explore and experiment with the waka form.
Thank you for sharing it
Strider
professionally used the Scent technique of Basho in linking the two parts of the Tanka
Oh, how beautiful – and sad…
marion
Sylvia feels the pathos of the flower. Surely there is much meaning in such perceptions. A sign of someone who is in tune with this life.
great article
cool writing