THREE TANKA
Snow Falling on Snow
Renée Gregorio

today the wind died
and with it all smallness
there is a river
in the body—as it flows
it pushes against the banks

cold spring morning
stream’s pulse through earth and trees
strong black coffee in hand
in my heart, an unfurling:
the iris’s dark beard

one orange poppy
blooms among rose-bush and thorn
inside its center
black brushstrokes like birthmarks
how it dares to be beautiful


©2015 Renée Gregorio