Tanka of J. Zimmerman
(first published in Eucalypt, moonset, Ribbons, etc.)
Prize-winning and honorable-mention Tanka
of J. Zimmerman
Tanka of J. Zimmerman first published in American Tanka
First published in American Tanka number 18, Spring 2009:
January gale
another roof slate
cracks off —
I can't stand it
that you're gone.
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Tanka of J. Zimmerman
first published in Eucalypt
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For first publication in
Eucalypt, these poems followed
the "house style" of
Eucalypt
(which omits capitalization at the start of a poem or sentence and
omits any full stop at the end of a poem or sentence).
However, on this web page the author's preferred punctuation is used;
sometimes a poem's wording is 'improved' from the published version.
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First published in Eucalypt issue 4, 2008:
Storms this morning
keep me home recycling
inessential documents,
discarding yet again
all those people I once was.
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Wintry surf
tosses rocks, kelp, and salty grit ...
their racket
blanks out all chance to catch
your next wise advice.
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First published in Eucalypt issue 5, 2008:
First daybreak
of the silent retreat
I fracture its rules —
hum like fog in the shower
whistle like sunrise with the kettle.
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Talking to her friend
in bonfire light
she neglects for once
to cover her face
with a charming mask.
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First published in Eucalypt issue 6, 2009:
Spring nervousness —
roof-ridge boastings
of starling and crow
promises, promises
at the speed-dating venue
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First published in Eucalypt issue 7, 2009:
Shoulders carrying
thirty widowed years
their sudden tremble
when the garage-door cable
snaps.
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Fronting the river
Madonna Cemetery
shines under green branches —
hill-fire smoke and petals
drift over the fireman's grave
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Tanka of J. Zimmerman first published in Notes From the Gean
In Notes From the Gean issue 4 (March 1, 2010):
Fiery sparks
flurry as the log settles —
I tell my friend
it's not too late to return
what she stole.
In his kitchen
to refill my water glass
I notice
vodka bottles propping up
AA brochures.
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In Notes From the Gean issue 6 (September 1, 2010):
Tanka of J. Zimmerman
first published in Magnapoets
First published in the July 2008 issue of Magnapoets:
Darning
another of his sock toes
I keep getting pricked
even though
he's miles away.
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First published in the July 2010 issue of Magnapoets:
West-facing window
the frame's shadow
glides across my chair —
I am a sundial
an hourglass draining
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Tanka of J. Zimmerman
first published in MET: Modern English Tanka
First published in the Spring 2009 issue of
MET: Modern English Tanka:
Of the fifteen tanka published, this is one example:
Grey Monday morning
the mournful harmonica
from the work bus
"in the mine, in the mine,
where a million diamonds shine"
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Tanka of J. Zimmerman first published in Moonbathing
First published in the Autumn 2009 issue of Moonbathing (Founding Editors
Pamela A. Babusci and Cathy Drinkwater Better):
Children jump the surf
waves shatter the summer air —
in a few years
friends will scatter my ashes
into such broken water.
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Tanka of J. Zimmerman first published in moonset
First published in the Spring/Summer 2008 issue of moonset:
[Editor's Choice]
Slowly rising tide
the harbor seal lifts its tail
for every swell —
I too adjust my posture
with each of my friend's complaints.
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[Second Place in moonset Tanka Contest]
Lowering sky
a rapid rattle of hailstones
not such a bad day
to sit by the fire and read —
then burn — your love letters.
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Tanka of J. Zimmerman first published in red lights
First published in 2010 Vol 6:2 issue of red lights:
The way my stomach
lurched
each time the swing boat
swung
first summer of love
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Her front garden glows
with a hundred aubergines —
she devours them all July
shiny indigo skin
taut as her pregnant belly
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Tanka of J. Zimmerman first published in Ribbons
First published in the 2008 Summer issue of Ribbons:
My mouth
enfolds melting chocolate
this
is what Inca kings ate
is what they fed their gods.
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In the Tanka Café on the theme: Epiphany
Pickpocketted
she realizes it was when
she glanced away
to the ruckus across the street
and someone nudged her softly.
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First published in the 2008 Autumn issue of Ribbons:
In the Tanka Café on the theme: Transience
Not transient enough —
today's aroma of skunk
explains those shrill yips
when last night's small-mammal war
raged beneath our home.
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First published in the 2008 Winter issue of Ribbons:
Their marriage
of crisis and battle
a calm surface at last
where snowdrops and daffodils
sprout on their graves.
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First published in the 2009 Spring issue (5.1) issue of Ribbons:
In the Tanka Café on the theme: The Diamond Sutra
Back and forth he walks
between the Twin Tower pinnacles
linked by a suture
high in the Manhattan dawn
diamond-strong his steps sparkling.
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First published in the 2009 Summer issue (5.2) issue of Ribbons:
Artist's note from Liz Davis:
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Your work is immortalized at Cadillac Ranch, on the right rear tire of the lead car.
Your tanka reads clockwise on the pink part of the tire, beginning at
the southwest. It runs the length of the area just inside the cutout.
I was happy to find this lovely pink canvas. I also liked the fact that the
tire still rotates so the tanka spins.
Here is a partial close-up, showing your 'signature' and that of your amanuensis:
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Valentine's dusk
rosy on the breaking waves —
the seaside redhead
glides her pink Cadillac
past each undressing surfer.
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Calligraphy and photo at Cadillac Ranch by Liz Davis (2009-2010): notes above and below.
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Artist's note (continued) from Liz Davis:
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There were kids from every country going wild with joy because THIS is
a venue where spray painting is encouraged.
It was a little dicey because the wind was blowing hard and I wanted to keep upwind of the flying paint :-)
I think your tanka is likely to survive longer than most of the casual messages
because it lives on a piece of the car that doesn't make a good canvas for an 8-year-old.
Your work will fade into spray-paint memory when an artist comes along who wants to re-do the total look of
that wheel.
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First published in the 2009 Autumn issue (5.3) of Ribbons:
In the Tanka Café on the theme: Visiting
Honey bees visit
each sweet pea diligently
hum of voices
my mother and my aunts
gliding among their sweet secrets.
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First published in the 2009 Winter issue (5.4) of Ribbons:
Selected by the editor for commentary, praise,
and featuring on the issue's Back Cover:
Without coat or gloves
I walk into clouds and tears
walk on ash
on cremated bones
on the grit of souls
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In the Tanka Café on the theme: Winter Warmth
Practicing crêpes Suzette
she drops a match
into the rum
which blazes with a whumph ...
sets her halo of hair alight
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First published in the 2010 Spring issue (6.1) issue of Ribbons:
She feeds his letters
into the shredder —
iron stakes
stab over and over
his vampire heart
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In the Tanka Café on the theme: Vegetables
She says okra
won't be slimy
if prepared right —
I still don't trust
my new best friend.
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First published in the 2010 Summer issue (6.2) issue of Ribbons:
Things I miss --
the dark body of the sea
the taste of salt
the starry nights
in your arms
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In the Tanka Café on the theme: things that revolve
Empty seaside field
the girl with a blond mane
turns and turns
invisible ponies gallop
endlessly round her
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