Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 20 (December 1998).
Tanka is an unrhymed Japanese verse-form poem consisting of five lines that contains 5-7-5-7-7 syllabic structure.
[Archive note: on the original page, three thumbnail pictures each linked to a separate page with one tanka and its full-size art. The three tanka are collected below.]
invasion!
alarum alarm!
run in haste! prepare our selves!
the skies are darkened —
stumble not, lest we falter
for they are here: the Humans!
Tanka poem & art copyright © 1998-1999 by Romeo Esparrago
Mutant Love
fell head over heels
deep, my heartfelt emotions
she was the same way
but I had no private parts
whilst she had an extra three
Tanka poem & art copyright © 1998-1999 by Romeo Esparrago
Birthleft
(poem from an Earthling born in captivity)
what is mine is yours
what is yours is yours and yours
all taken from me
no rights : all lefts and all wrongs
life is just a useless why
Tanka poem & art copyright © 1998-1999 by Romeo Esparrago
