Eucalypt Tanka Journal

New Tanka written for consideration by the Eucalypt Journal

colleen Poetry , ,
 Tanka for consideration by Eucalypt Journal 
beach lookout
a springtime visitor
rolls and flaps about
silver glints on its flippers
keep us transfixed
a lone seagull
on a busy city street
far from the harbour
sometimes I wish I had wings
to find my way home
         
furry banksia cones
perch on gnarled branches
some follicles open
the child in me still sees
the old banksia man
an unkept park ~
neglect or rewilding
we wander amid
a bevy of birds, insects
and blossoming weeds
wet sand
of ebbing tide
reflects a pink dawn
my bare feet encounter
the first touch of spring
an empty sky 
where the blue gum stood –
returning birds
perch on a brick wall
chirping incessantly

Eucalypt: A Tanka Journal, Issue 36, 2024

colleen Poetry, Poetry Awards , , , , , , , , ,

The latest Tanka Journal, arrived earlier this month and includes two of my new tanka amidst the many wondeeful  tanka and tankist writers.  It is an honour to be published with so many dedicated and good poets.

Thank you to  our  editor Julie Thorndyke for her dedication to our tanka and for their   sensitive presentation .

 

And sensitively placed with the poignat tanka of Rachel Colombo

*The Madonna della Pietà, informally known as La Pietà, is a marble sculpture of Jesus and Mary at Mount Golgotha representing the “Sixth Sorrow” of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Michelangelo Buonarroti, now in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And i love it is set with two of my dear friends Beverley George and Andrew Hede.

 

Eucalypt: A Tanka Journal Issue 35, 2023

colleen Poetry , , ,

Eucalypt Issue 35, 2023. has arrived . It is a beautifully presented journal thanks to the editor, Julie Thorndyke . It is a special craft to write a tanka. So much is said in 5 short lines , 31 beats. It is great to be published with the many seasoned tanka writers . It was great to see my friends Andrew Hede and Michael Thorley included.

       

a new sandbar
slows the river’s rush
towards the sea
sometimes in my life
I wonder why I hurry

Colleen Keating
️ ️️️️

first memory
my bassinette passed
over the fence
to the baby sitter –
the night full of stars

Michael Thorley
️ ️️️️

in a glass jar
on a surgeon’s bookshelf
a baby’s heart
she knew
els beside a headstone
replacing the white roses

Andrew Hede
️ ️️️️

 

 

Eucalypt Tanka Journal ed. Julie Thorndyke

colleen Poetry , , ,

Thank you to Julie Thorndyke for her excellent editoring of the Eucalypt Journal for Tanka. I always feek excited and honoured when Julie chooses one of my tanka for the publication.

Dear Colleen,

Thank you for your submission to Eucalypt issue 35.
I have pleasure in accepting the following poem

 

a new sandbar

slows the river’s rush

toward the sea

sometimes in my life

I wonder why I hurry

 

Colleen Keating

 

 

Eucalypt: A Tanka Journal Issue 34, 2023 edited by Julie Thorndyke

colleen Poetry , , ,

 

 

It is always a joy to receive the new edition of Eucalypt and especially joyful when one of my tanka is included amongst the many startling and succinct tanka . This month is no exception  receiving Issue 34 2023.  Lovingly presented
and including tanka that takes days to ponder and absorb .

 

pink glow

behind silver grey clouds

waiting

medical reports

still to be explained

Colleen Keating

 

 

 

 

 

 

t

Eucalypt tanka journal, Issue 32, 2022 : update by Colleen Keating

colleen Poetry , , ,

 

Great to receive the latest Eucalypt tanka journal, Issue 32 , 2022,
find one of my tankas included – ‘flawed journey’
and to enjoy the leisure and pleasure in
dipping in and out of this enjoyable journal.
Thank you to the editor Julie Anne Thorndyke
for the wonderful presentation of our work.
I feel honoured to be included  . . .  named side by side with this
International group of Tanka writers

‘flawed journey’

eucalypt leaves
I search for the unblemished
only to realise
that beauty is in
their flawed journey

Eucalypt Tanka Journal Issue 31 ed. Julie Thorndyke

colleen Poetry , , , , , ,


Eucalypt Tanka Journal

 Issue 31

Amongst the bills, real estate adds, junk mail, other vague advertising letters
it was like a bright star in a dark sky to find the latest edition of Eucalypt Issue 31
beautifully edited and placement done with loving care by Julie Thorndyke. I dropped everything and the afternoon wiled away with a coffee enjoying the tanka and the world came wildly alive with my mind listening, observing, all senses stirred.

Eucalypt is the first Australian journal devoted to the ancient Japanese poetry genre
called tanka and I feel so proud to be included in Eucalypt Issue 31
with all the amazing Tanka writers.

I love my ladybug tanka. It is filled with colour, climate change,
endangered animals, picnis , sharing with grandchildren and nature

a ladybug

lands on our picnic blanket

blackdots on red

my grandson exclaims

I didn’t know they were real

My ladybug tanka speaks of climate change where our bugs and beetles
and especially the colourful Christmas beetles are disappearing.
Disappearance of vegetation, change in food chain etc the cause
. and how our children and our grandchildren are being deprived
of this natural beauty.

Secondly it speaks of sharing natures moments with the grandchildren
being out in the nature of the Blue Mountains lying on a picnic rug
and getting the opportunity of sharing  something which is becoming rare.

Thank you Julie Thorndyke for your dedication to writing, poetry, and tanka.