A Tanka Sequence
***
Bare feet on hot sand,
Laughter rings, a salty breeze—
Castle walls crumble.
He offers a pink seashell,
“Keep it safe, for me, always.”
Fireflies ignite,
Whispering secrets in dark,
Blanket-fort heaven.
She points to the Milky Way,
Lost in dreams, side by side still.
Ice cream melts too fast,
Sticky fingers, cherry-stained—
A giggle escapes.
He buys her another cone,
Sunlight paints their happy smiles.
Sudden summer rain,
Hiding ’neath the porch awning,
Sharing whispered tales.
She leans closer, shoulder touch—
The storm fades to gentle peace.
End of summer nears,
Promises in fading light,
Seagulls cry goodbye.
He clutches the pink seashell:
“Next year, we’ll build even more.”
By Paul Baldry (LongJohn)