My First Time at #TankaTuesday (Even if It’s Not Tuesday)

This week I am participating in #TankaTuesday for the first time. Inspirational photo prompt was shared by Terri Webster Schrandt. I hope I am following the instructions correctly. Apologies in advance if I didn’t!

Terri says: “This is a filtered version of a rose I photographed at the International Rose Test Garden in Portland.”

Tankas are syllabic poems of five lines—5 syllables, 7, 5, 7, 7. Here is my tanka:

Note how the red rose,velvet worn by early frost,clings confidentlyto its own treacherous stem,never accursed by mirrors.

This writing prompt and process reminded me of a poem I wrote a long time ago and forgot about.  It’s not a tanka, but free verse and about “one particular rose.”

my essay students write of giftsor if I'm persistent flowersI have to nurture for a full quarterto earn violets or daffodilsor simply bouquetI'm the one with the backyardfull of rosebusheswhichmy husband usually watershe's in Korea nowwith my one particular sonwhile I water them,each blossom an individualthat must be noticedby mebetween the time it rises and setsthis particular bend toward the lightthis particular black eye-dash of blightthis particular magenta shading into pinkI'm usually too busyfor thisparticular about the work I doteaching show not tell

Thanks for letting me participate!