Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Drifting Sands: A Journal of 21st Century English-Language Haibun and Tanka Prose, November 2022

I'm honoured that Pravat Kumar Padhy included the following micro tanka prose in his essay, Micro Tanka Prose: A Novel Experiment, in the Features and Essays section of the November issue: 


Nearly There

I told them I was dead, but not a single person there believed me...

the sign said
turn back, road ends here
I waken
from a brief sojourn
in another realm


Atlas Poetica, Number 23, 2015


Commentary:

Ellipses mark in the one-line prose infers a possible continuation. This is a personal experience of life and near-death metaphorically portrayed through the signpost indicating the close of the road. The truth of life is reflected at the threshold of happening. It infers a brief halt and recovering back to usher in a new journey. The brief expression evokes a sense of awakening. The tanka embodies a sort of mystical manifestation (yugen tei) expanding the essence of the prose.

—Pravat Kumar Padhy


 

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