Issue 6 – September 2026 – Tanka Page 5

the swoosh

of cars passing by

I remain 

a blank cardboard face

to the world

Jackie Chou, USA

scenic view…

a small rock kicked up

by a passing pickup

chips the windshield

I just replaced

John Zheng, USA

evacuation route

a turtle

crossing

the arrow

the wrong way

Travis Park, USA

driving solo

in the winter rain

acoustic guitar

strums on the radio

. . . all those hope-filled years

Julie Thorndyke, Australia

abandoned pickup

rust gradually consumes

pale blue paint

frosty fingers of winterfat

amid the sagebrush

Janet Ruth, USA

grandpa ran a crime ring

my uncle was in on it too 

join, they said,

don’t be like your father

all duty and bread 

Curt Pawlisch, USA

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