By Jenny Ward Angyal
Gibsonville, North Carolina, USA
the slow beat
of an egret’s wings
white
against dark oaks—
earth’s annunciation
vultures
cradled on the wind
endlessly rocking
the tall pines sing
both lullaby and dirge
the milk-white flesh
of a giant puffball
broken open
under the moon
an old woman’s grief
with this drop
of russet ink
from the acorn cap
I write nothing—
the oak said it better
a rift in the wing
of a wild goose
flying headlong
through gathering dusk
the fate of the earth
~red lights 16:1, January 2020
Commentary on “Beyond the Threshold” by Tish Davis
Jenny Ward Angyal’s tanka sequence, “Beyond the Threshold” is exquisitely crafted. There is a subtle progression in each of the five tanka:
In the beginning, there is no immediate alarm. There is no frantic reaction to the first two lines which segue into the last three:
the slow beat / of an egret’s wings / white / against dark oaks — / earth’s annunciation.
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In the second tanka, there are:
vultures / cradled on the wind
Vultures are birds of prey. They gather in anticipation, patiently waiting for the death of the creatures they are observing.
As the tanka continues the reader is made aware that there is a purpose in the vultures’ movement. They are endlessly rocking
and perhaps that rocking is what piqued the interest as the tall pines sing / both lullaby and dirge. (Quite alarming actually with the implication that young children and babies could be harmed.)
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In the third tanka, death and destruction are conveyed via imagery:
the milk-white flesh / of a giant puffball / broken open / under the moon / an old woman’s grief
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In the fourth tanka, the color “red” appears for the first time along with the implication that this is the red of blood.
with this drop / of russet ink / from the acorn cap / I write nothing / the oak said it better
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In the concluding tanka, the poetess acknowledges the “grit” of survival via a metaphor of a wild goose with “a rift in the wing.”
a rift in the wing / of a wild goose / flying headlong / through gathering dusk / the fate of the earth
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Jenny, thank you for posting this! A great read and also a good piece for study.
All the best,
Tish Davis