Late Spring: A Chōka

Written for Tanka Tuesday where our host,
Colleen, asks us to explore color in our
Japanese poetry as we write a poem
about our favorite season.

Growth unfurls at dawn
tender shoots push through dark soil
young leaves catch the light
emerald fields stretch and breathe
moss softens the stone
ferns uncurl in gentle rain
green deepens with joy
every branch reaches upward
new life laughs in every leaf

NAR©2026

Nancy’s Notes: The chōka (long poem) was the storytelling form of Japanese poetry from the 1^st to the 13^th century. It is unrhymed and written in alternating five and seven-syllable lines that end with an extra seven-syllable line. The nine-line chōka is 5-7-5-7-5-7-5-7-7.

This is  “Springtime” by Chilly

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 79, Color as a Metaphor, 8/25/26

^{Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated, and may not be used without permission. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.}