Back or Forward? #tanka

27 Replies

 

pic-green-railroad

Image credit: no attribution

Cold steel to green wood
Traveling to a far land
Is it time or place?
Does the green exist behind
Or undiscovered country?

***

This was written for Colleen’s weekly poetry challenge.  This week was a photo challenge.  Aishwarya, aka, Kitty from Kitty’s verses provided the photo at the top (not sure if it was Kitty’s or found, but I claim no rights).  I chose a tanka for this week’s poem.

The Undiscovered Country is not just Star Trek, it is Shakespeare and means “the after life”, though some take it for the future.  You can interpret it either way ;)  Not saying how I meant it ;)

27 thoughts on “Back or Forward? #tanka”

  3. Pingback: WEEKLY POETRY CHALLENGE STARS | #PhotoPrompt: @lisalisathom | Word Craft ~ Prose & Poetry

  7. Deborah

    When I lived in Japan, my students knew my favorite colors were green (#1) and pink (#2). They’ve changed a little since then, but what hasn’t changed is how seeing these very, very particular shades of green–especially when combined with a railroad, or the potential for escape–take me back to the very best moments I shared with my siblings.

    What a surprising and so, so very welcome joy!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      It is a very beautiful picture, and the over-abundance of life makes a great contrast with the tracks. Of course I can’t take credit for the photo, but I’m glad it allowed you that bit of escape :)

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      The phrase comes from the “to be or not to be” soliloquy – Hamlet is wondering what happens after death, and calls it the undiscovered country because travelers who have been there haven’t come back. A the the hint for a hint, lol, here are a few interpretations – the beautiful green world lies not only in the past,but also the future (though we know not what the future holds); That beautiful green world is dead, but who knows if there is an afterlife for it?; perhaps the beautiful green world can have an afterlife when all of us are dead and gone and leave it be ;) or.. a million and one choices .

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks, Diana. I’ve heard people say that “real” poetry should never have one meaning to everyone, the idea is to make people think. I hope to be on the road to creating “real” poetry ;)

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