Tanka Collection #1
The other Side of the Mountain
Look past the mountain,
for it is there you will see
green and gold meadows
awaiting those who will dare
climb beyond craggy peak.
Under the Ponds Surface
Pools of stagnation
look serene on the surface.
But, not far below,
it's filled with bugs and critters
that live in murky waters.
Sinister Moss
The sinister moss!
Small as they are, they invade
with blankets of green,
smothering trees and boulders
conquering all in their path.
Heat Wave
Try to find relief
as the mercury rises.
The shades do little;
the night offers no retreat.
Nothing stops this summer's heat.
Deserts
Dust devils dancing
on the waves of a mirage.
It sings its silence
in an arid land of sand,
cracked earth, and eroded dreams.
El Segundo Blue
El Segundo blue,
fragile, endangered, flutters
above what is left
of the vanishing sand dunes
conquered by the urban sprawl.
Daybreak
Darkness turns to light
above the snow-capped mountains.
Night tries to fight back.
But the sun's rays can’t be stopped.
Giving rise to the new dawn.
© 2025 Dean Traylor
