Tanka --- Karma Tenzing Wangchuk

Untitled Tanka                        by Karma Tenzing Wangchuk

A soft rain

falls on your porch,

the door left open

to let the sound of it

join us for supper.

Not much Spring

in my step these days

except maybe

on the way to her place

and on the way back.

While she's away

I water her houseplants,

bring in her mail

(mostly bills, reminding me

I owe her everything).

She hugs me

so long and tenderly

I'm lost in her,

and for an anchor 

forced to plant a kiss.

Waiting for her

to get out of the shower,

envious

of every drop of water

touching her.

Sometimes the wind

will strip a branch bare

of flowers--

a thought that came just now,

knowing you're leaving soon.

A Facebook friend

tells me her favorite flower

is the dandelion--

I think she must be

a good person, don't you?

Sometimes

everything hinges

on a word--

poets and lovers 

know this.