Janet Lynn Davis
Holey Moly
A confession: I have more than one sock drawer. I don’t know if that’s because of some dark need to stockpile for the end of the world or, instead, a mere obsession for amassing souvenirs of the times.
Threadbare heels and toeless toes. It’s not like I’m going to sit by the fireplace one evening and darn them all. Even socks that slither down, puddling around the ankles, when the elastic in their bands goes lame. I’m slow to throw away.
Socks for each month. Argyles in multiple color combinations. Novelty socks, lots of those: anchors, tropical palms, carrots growing in the garden, canines, grinning snowmen, and Mickey Mouses. Long kangaroo socks with a secret pouch too shallow to hold anything of value. Elvis, King of Rock’N Roll.
I went through a phase when my socks couldn’t be ordinary. But today I opt for solid-colored, indestructible anklets. And, really, any that softly hug my feet.
the look
in this giraffe's eyes . . .
after ten years
my yellow knee-high
still missing its mate
and on this pair
I've never once worn
the words
of a crying woman,
I forgot to have children
About the Author
Janet Lynn Davis has been writing tanka and tanka prose for a number of years. She also has served the tanka community in various capacities, including as tanka prose editor for Haibun Today.
Wonderful! So you have the sock affliction too! I’ve got some pairs that don’t match but have the same color palettes. Fun. Your haibun is wonderful. Miss you at Inkstone. xo stace
Thanks for the lovely comments, Stacey. Yeah, addicted to socks, especially crazy ones, though my addiction has been mellowing through the years (per the last sentence in the prose). P.S. Have recently popped back in at IS. 🙂
Lovely piece, Janet.
Enjoyed reading this tanka prose.
_k
Thank you, kala!!
I enjoyed this! I like mending, always intend to do so, and when I moved I found over two boxes of prospective items, patiently waiting for my attention, some for years. Some were socks. A born-again repurposer, I’m planning their new uses. Maybe they will remain in this stage until my next move….
I loved your last tanka especially
Thanks, Donna! I might be a born-again repurposer too if I weren’t so unorganized! But since writing this piece here, I DID reorganize my sock drawer or, I should say, my sock drawers, plural.
Love this “sockpile” tanka prose.
Thank you, Maggie!