John Daleiden, US

 

 

A Soldier's Life   A Tanka Sequence   a spring evening— sweeter than cherry blossoms, your perfume scent in the twilight I clasp the child growing in my womb hazy moon— I dream of you fighting war soldier boy a stranger in a far land defending their freedom at low tide— half submerged shells filled with sand remind me of our life when you return will I love you as much as this new child? dear husband, this hot night our first son was born each time I look at his face I see your smile and lips tonight my dreams were a fearful pool of death— I dreamed you died! our son will never know the firm touch of your hand     Cleansing My Soul   A Tanka Sequence   in the air night-blooming cereus fragrance— on this spring evening your scent haunts me completely under a hazy moon you left without a word after our quarrel the cherry blossoms begin to fall to escape the ache of my disappointed heart I watch for low tide— beach combing treasures bring moments of joy at Bay café a trumpet wails the blues in the hot night dancers cling to each other desperately on the terrace at dawn I retreat to the swimming hole and cleanse myself removing the torrid memories of your deceit     A Victim of Abandonment Speaks in Pain:   A Tanka Sequence   the heat of passion— birthplace of my conception one spring evening long ago and far away, a strange and distant land like a magician, mystically, I imagine I see your faces in hazy moon light clouds fleeting across the sky at low tide I scan the horizon searching for rescue— why have you both left me a castaway, flotsam? the sad wail of saxophone blues tumbles from Hot Nights Bar— my fingers probe the depths for unrelenting sadness swimming in a pool of icy moon light I yearn for you the mother I never knew, my father lost before birth