Peaks of rugged stone, Nothingness spans the deep veins, Gazing at the floor. Silent in the ocean’s pit, Vows of always meet never. A Tanka a day! 4/1/26 NaPoWriMo Prompt. A five-line poem with a 5 / 7 / 5 / 7 / 7 syllable-count.
Author: Prachi Jain
Prachi Jain is a short story and real-estate writer. She is a self-proclaimed skincare/home remedies guru and an impeccable procrastinator with some unusual habits like blessing each airplane that she sees from her bedroom window. She is very thankful for her abilities to rethink every consensus and reevaluate every opposition.
Her work has been published in the Huffington Post, Ascent Aspirations, Vending Machine Press, Six Sentences, and Brown Girl Magazine.
Lipstick, Pimped
The glossy, thick coat of lipstick she applies, Before she goes to the midtown bars, all for a beau. Today a pink, a pick me up, Or a seductive red for someone new. She waits for the one, someone, anyone in this crowded, bustling place. Some days it’s just water, ten bucks saved to save …
Chanel Number Five
Ghazal Your beautiful words spread like Chanel Number Five. The few syllables I utter, fall flat and nowhere close to the Famous Five. When you speak, it is perfection, a clear five by five. When I utter, it is nonsense, just empty boloney five. You are love’s very essence, where tender feelings strive I am …
Watermelon
Juicy splashes in my mouth, smooching my palate. Mushy, yielding chunks vying to titillate my taste buds. Mocking my childlike anticipation for the nectar to explode, I swirl the sensation around, a deliciousness raining within me.
Love Anthem, Broken!
You were bad for my health, so I traded being with you for a therapeutic solo trip. Now open bathroom doors are closed. The kitchen faucet on spray mode are now smashed. Now my couch belongs to no one! Crazy eyes for you? No more! Love anthem, broken! Bye, your nonsense I have outrun!
Striking a Chord
Twilight bleeds into canvas, Five horses from behind the glass frame, strike a chord. Stately, mystical, handsome, like the night. Sure of their footing, banishing all gloom. Bold eyes that meet my own in this still place. A silent summon, inviting my embrace.
Dear Frenchman,
I fell for you when you said, “aujourd'hui” I thought you meant ‘O beauty!” How my heart fluttered, how I smiled through lowered eyes! My desires broke into a French cancan And then you said it again, “aujourd’ hui ou demain?” Before I could swoon over that additional compliment, you pulled your phone with the …
I’m Medusa
I’m Medusa Like you I too wonder at my creation with my face framed with ringlets of snakes and my looks turning one to stone. I am mesmerizing Sharp and strong. Striking and uncompromisingly, awful! Like you, I too want to want to rid myself of facial hair, Straighten my gnashing sharp teeth learn the …
Albatross
Grab a color from her rainbow Walk with it into her world of red lips, lined eyes, and a voice that doesn’t match her long skirt See her! Oh, please look at her. Not with averted eyes, ridicule, or mockery. She has intellect, warmth, strength, and a spirit to fight, with you and with herself. …
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