Above and Below

world becomes bare
with the fall of autumn leaves
making space above
for spangles of low sunlight
and blanket of shadows below

© Kim M. Russell, 2016

My response to Carpe Diem Tanka Splendor #5 low sunlight

I’m having a marathon tanka Sunday and have reached this episode, in which Chèvrefeuille recaps the two tanka writing techniques: ‘Mystery and Depth’ and ‘Appropriate Statement’.

In this episode he has challenged us to create a tanka with the prompt ‘low sunlight’, which can be dangerous when driving at this time of year. It is the last sunlight of the day, can be beautiful mysterious and can also be interpreted (with a little twist) as a moment of pleasure or romance, important in tanka as it was originally a secret love poem.