It's Still Life

An Untitled Ryūka

There’s something careless in the air
as uncertain as childhood.
Shallow as the creek that’s bone dry.
You left the sea for me.

That creek where we used to hunger
and dream; it’s a drainage ditch.
It’s crags and lost souls when dry, or
full as a hurricane.

You and I, we’re like a syndrome.
Each day reborn a bit older,
but no complaints. None. Nil. Nadda.
You left the sea for me.

Ryūka is a form of Okinawan lyric poetry sung to the accompaniment of the sanshin. When written, ryūka have thirty syllables, arranged as three phrases of eight syllables followed by one of six. The form and rhythm of ryūka are deeply embedded in Okinawan culture. Some poems are attributed to certain authors based on a lyric’s style and sentiment.
 

Miz Quickly’s Form-y-Poem