Has a telephone
Which, rings in an empty room
A let down echo
Not cradled in a warm hand
And not heard a lover’s voice.

tanka by Oskar Hansen
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

As markets pick up
Petrol prizes are going up
Many cars are sold
New and bigger airports built
Global warming, be damned.

tanka by Oskar Hansen
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

When we make love
I look up and see the ceiling
It needs painting
What do you see my dear?
Me, I look straight into hell.

tanka by Oskar Hansen
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

We strongly believe
In the freedom of the press
As long as it
Doesn’t print truths about us
And endanger our democracy.

tanka by Oskar Hansen
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Lived in dad’s house
August heat, he trekked north
I looked after it
Nothing to do, drank brandy
And dynamited his abode

tanka by Oskar Hansen
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Get me out of here
Ocean and sun are too blue
Perpetual boredom
White curtains, guard open doors
The sea calls my name in vain

tanka by Oskar Hansen
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

This rock in the sea
Looks like a shipwrecked vessel
In October sadness
A ship manned by seagulls
her captain, a tired seal.

tanka by Oskar Hansen
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

The Palestinians
Are my beloved cousins
The Israeli poet sighed
If they would only behave
We wouldn’t have to punish them.

tanka by Oskar Hansen
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Blinding blaze of light
Oak leaves turned into gold
No one can notice
The precious has no worth
Rubies litter empty streets.

tanka by Oskar Hansen
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!

Ornamental pond
In the garden of sorrow
Is dry and lifeless
But can’t hide the memory
A child’s still face and wet leaves.

tanka by Oskar Hansen
Added by Poetry Lover
Comment! | Vote! | Copy!