Tish Davis

A Break

ducking under
a weathered split rail fence
the dogs and I
in the nature preserve
chasing a rose-pink dawn

. . . on a workday.  The squish-squish of water in my running shoes; my Treeing Walkers speckled in mud sensing something in the twilight.  

stranger
on the observation deck—
a white crane
spreading its wings
Yang Style

… a gentleman dressed in a Tai Chi uniform moving in meditation.  Compared to my novice attempts to master the 108 moves of this art after a year of study, his moves are flawless.

white crane
on the observation deck. . .
no barriers
between
planks, pond, sky

The dogs and I pass quickly and quietly; I pause for a moment to acknowledge him with a bow. As we round the bend and head for home, I can’t resist the urge to peek through the cattails one more time…

Somewhere in the background, Red-winged blackbirds pause their “conk-la-rees”;  a mallard silences her ducklings; and the muskrats come up for air…  

We all take a deep breath. The sun etches a space in the morning sky. In unison, we exhale.

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About the Author

Tish Davis lives in Northern Ohio. Her tanka and related forms have appeared in numerous online and print publications. When she isn’t busy with work and grandchildren she enjoys exploring the local parks with her husband and three dogs.

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