Tanka

Escape from Crete

The melting wax burns
my hand that reaches out for
a chance to save you
from the enticing sun which
blinds your eyes with white hot light

I’m too late to help
You smash into the cold sea
But these are your wings
Warnings loud as crashing waves
Swallowed by the wine dark sea

A tanka is a form of Japanese poetry consisting of five lines. It follows a syllable pattern of 5-7-5-7-7, totaling 31 syllables. Tanka poems often express emotions, observations, or reflections on nature and can be both descriptive and introspective. This tanka is about someone, but it is also about myself. Someone told me once that i was like Icarus and i think that comment changed me psychologically.