Tanka:

I hear your heart break

I hear it's mournful crying

Too long, you were stuck

No one's worth the grief they cause

I pray, heart, you'll understand

I admit

You caught my eye

Your smile was so appealing

To hear your laugh

And your sweet voice

I knew what I was feeling

My awkward stance

My tongue all tied

I felt like such a fool

It took awhile

To calm inside

And show you

I was cool!

I see it now

You didn't care

You saw the real me

You felt it too

For me

From you

That we were meant to be

I've held my tongue

I hoped you'd see

You'd realize

It's her

Not me

You can't let go

I see it now

The past's familiar

You can't see "now"

But don't you see

She doesn't care

She knows you well

She'll not play fair

Her new life

Is one she wants

But life for you?

I know she taunts

You feel obliged

At her demands

You ask me wait

And change our plans

My patience thins

Though I remember

We're most happy

When we're together

But love will wane

When it cannot grow

And then she'll win

And let you go...

Tanka:

Looking deep inside

Trying to find my real self

Stripping the layers

Light up the dark crevices

Searching, but not finding ME...

Tanka:

Why the cause for pain?

Why the anger, for whispers?

Do they know the truth?

You listen to poisoned mouths

And treat their spew as gospel