forest fire smoke
dominates the sky —
the lost
dominion
of birds

 

5 Responses

  1. Gaby Bedetti Says:

    Wow! I love the musicality, timeliness, and the way "dominates" and "dominion" look alike but feel opposite.

  2. Pravat Kumar Padhy Says:

    Beautiful tanka with the expression of emotion and grief (ushin tei).

    tender trees–
    the wrath of fire
    burns everything
    transferring the forest
    to shapeless smoke

    Pravat Kumar Padhy
    Red Lights, Vol.7, Issue.2, June 2011

  3. Mike Schoenburg Says:

    shaded forest
    the trees
    preserved us

  4. Jim Ellis Says:

    Yes – dominate and dominion together are brilliant. "Lost dominion of birds" is unforgettable. Grief for our planet. A wonderful poem, Mr. Read.
    Jim Ellis
    Auburn/NY/US

  5. Alan Summers Says:

    forest fire smoke
    dominates the sky —
    the lost
    dominion
    of birds

    —DAVE READ

    Nature reminding humans who really has the power and control, and humans continuing the slaughter directly and indirectly of its fellow animal species.

    A gently powerful tanka.

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