baking cookies
with grandma,
stealing bites of dough,
some things we
don't grow out of

Ben Williamson

sitting at the counter
Grandma’s Famous Gravy
I call Dibs
everybody cutting in line
in a race to the microwave

Lauren Rhodes

fresh cranberries
have no place here
we salute the almighty can
in the shape of a hockey puck
comes my salvation

Lauren Rhodes

an ordinary night
around the kitchen table
stitches in my side
the laughter we share
this I long for in the late hours

Ben Williamson

baking cookies
with grandma,
stealing bites of dough,
some things we
don't grow out of

fresh cranberries
have no place here
we salute the almighty can
in the shape of a hockey puck
comes my salvation

baking cookies
with grandma,
stealing bites of dough,
some things we
don't grow out of

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

baking cookies
with grandma,
stealing bites of dough,
some things we
don't grow out of

bottom quarter champion

hissing pots galore
bubbling gravy to be devoured
purple eggplants line the walls
she calls my name
Amen

hissing pots galore
bubbling gravy to be devoured
purple eggplants line the walls
she calls my name
Amen

honey baked ham glistening away
simmering pots of sauces plus sides
seconds, thirds even
falling asleep anywhere
everything tastes better as leftovers

nostrils filled with
the smells of a feast
"fit for a king"
says mother as she pulls
the bird out of the oven

Ben Williamson

hissing pots galore
bubbling gravy to be devoured
purple eggplants line the walls
she calls my name
Amen

Lauren Rhodes

honey baked ham glistening away
simmering pots of sauces plus sides
seconds, thirds even
falling asleep anywhere
everything tastes better as leftovers

Lauren Rhodes

Trying
to get scraps
from underneath
"No, Rusty!"
every time . . .

Kathryn Coffey

TOP half champion

Champion & GRAND CHAMPION

baking cookies
with grandma,
stealing bites of dough,
some things we
don't grow out of

BOTTOM half champion

The mother
thankful to have
thankful for god
on earth
the guardian angel

Bemajedareki Williams

So many
without a home
and many things
we have taken
for granted

Kathryn Coffey

Chicken and dumplings
simmering, sweet
beautiful crockpot
ah, Nana,
it’s been too long

Kathryn Coffey

Grandma's house
again?
like last year
won't Grandpa
get lonely?

Kathryn Coffey

So many
without a home
and many things
we have taken
for granted

Chicken and dumplings
simmering, sweet
beautiful crockpot
ah, Nana,
it’s been too long

So many
without a home
and many things
we have taken
for granted

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

watching my
young cousins
chase each other,
the boundless energy
I had many years ago

bottom quarter champion

watching my
young cousins
chase each other,
the boundless energy
I had many years ago

in a coma
not of this realm
knocked out
by four pm
drooling

watching my
young cousins
chase each other,
the boundless energy
I had many years ago

I can feel . . .
the stuffing
in my estomago
in my face
slowing not moving

Bemajedareki Williams

in a coma
not of this realm
knocked out
by four pm
drooling

Lauren Rhodes

the family
their voices
in a food coma
taking over
slowly, but surely

Bemajedareki Williams

watching my
young cousins
chase each other,
the boundless energy
I had many years ago

Ben Williamson

as the sun's rays drop
below the tree-line,
rod-tips dance
in mesmerizing unison as
nothing but current tugs the line

Ben Williamson

trudging through
head high wild grass
double barrel tucked under arm
two cock pheasants
in my field vest

Ben Williamson

cool summer night
fire pit roaring with life
burning marshmallows
as the light fades,
the conversations grow

Ben Williamson

in the distance
mountainous terrain
silence
the sound
of serenity

Norman Mears

as the sun's rays drop
below the tree-line,
rod-tips dance
in mesmerizing unison as
nothing but current tugs the line

cool summer night
fire pit roaring with life
burning marshmallows
as the light fades,
the conversations grow

cool summer night
fire pit roaring with life
burning marshmallows
as the light fades,
the conversations grow

top champion

Back Page Chamption

cool summer night
fire pit roaring with life
burning marshmallows
as the light fades,
the conversations grow

bottom champion

packed car
tunes on, snack bag packed
smooshed sardines in a clown car
a day on the open road
turns into night

packed car
tunes on, snack bag packed
smooshed sardines in a clown car
a day on the open road
turns into night

her eyes
speak of happiness
in her hair
a lone daisy
adds to her beauty

just an old farm truck
240 grand on the odometer
the smell of burnt diesel
on our blackened hands
as we turn wrenches together

Ben Williamson

packed car
tunes on, snack bag packed
smooshed sardines in a clown car
a day on the open road
turns into night

Lauren Rhodes

her eyes
speak of happiness
in her hair
a lone daisy
adds to her beauty

Norman Mears

misty afternoon
at it's peak
the feeling of fall
we kiss
beneath the willows

Norman Mears

baking cookies
with grandma,
stealing bites of dough,
some things we
don't grow out of

Ben Williamson

fresh cranberries
have no place here
we salute the almighty can
in the shape of a hockey puck
comes my salvation

Lauren Rhodes

sitting at the counter
Grandma’s Famous Gravy
I call Dibs
everybody cutting in line
in a race to the microwave

Lauren Rhodes

an ordinary night
around the kitchen table
stitches in my side
the laughter we share
this I long for in the late hours

Ben Williamson

This match is so much fun. I absolutely love the cranberry tanka, cranberry sauce is one of my favorite Thanksgiving foods so it was a fun take on it. The cookie tanka is so heartwarming and while I personally couldn't relate to it, I completely feel the nostalgic atmosphere that it creates. Together, they just form a super fun and cute set of poems. Hannah

nostrils filled with
the smells of a feast
"fit for a king"
says mother as she pulls
the bird out of the oven

Ben Williamson

hissing pots galore
bubbling gravy to be devoured
purple eggplants line the walls
she calls my name
Amen

Lauren Rhodes

honey baked ham glistening away
simmering pots of sauces plus sides
seconds, thirds even
falling asleep anywhere
everything tastes better as leftovers

Lauren Rhodes

Trying
to get scraps
from underneath
"No, Rusty!"
every time . . .

Kathryn Coffey

The mother
thankful to have
thankful for god
on earth
the guardian angel

Bemajedareki Williams

So many
without a home
and many things
we have taken
for granted

Kathryn Coffey

Chicken and dumplings
simmering, sweet
beautiful crockpot
ah, Nana,
it’s been too long

Kathryn Coffey

Grandma's house
again?
like last year
won't Grandpa
get lonely?

Kathryn Coffey

the family
their voices
in a food coma
taking over
slowly, but surely

Bemajedareki Williams

I can feel . . .
the stuffing
in my estomago
in my face
slowing not moving

Bemajedareki Williams

in a coma
not of this realm
knocked out
by four pm
drooling

Lauren Rhodes

baking cookies
with grandma
stealing bites of dough
some things we
don't grow out of

Ben Williamson

watching my
young cousins
chase each other,
the boundless energy
I had many years ago

Ben Williamson

Of all the pairings presented in the matching contest, I like Lauren's and Ben's pairing the most. For a moment, I thought ‘in a coma' was Ben's, but as it turned out, it was Lauren's. And vice a versa. Guess it goes to show how far one can come in the Tanka business: having your work being mistaken for someone else's. Nevertheless, I like how both Tanka pieces tackle to relatable problem of having a food coma. Kathryn

This first one brought me back to visiting my grandmother. She was always making something. From 3 to 30, I would still steal bits of dough and still get yelled at for it. I see this second one with my nephew. I'm the one who rolls around and plays with him. So much energy for a three year old. After awhile, I can't anymore and he still runs and jumps. Norm

as the sun's rays drop
below the tree-line,
rod-tips dance
in mesmerizing unison as
nothing but current tugs the line

Ben Williamson

trudging through
head high wild grass
double barrel tucked under arm
two cock pheasants
in my field vest

Ben Williamson

cool summer night
fire pit roaring with life
burning marshmallows
as the light fades,
the conversations grow

Ben Williamson

in the distance
mountainous terrain
silence
the sound
of serenity

Norman Mears

just an old farm truck
240 grand on the odometer
the smell of burnt diesel
on our blackened hands
as we turn wrenches together

Ben Williamson

packed car
tunes on, snack bag packed
smooshed sardines in a clown car
a day on the open road
turns into night

Lauren Rhodes

her eyes
speak of happiness
in her hair
a lone daisy
adds to her beauty

Norman Mears

misty afternoon
at it's peak
the feeling of fall
we kiss
beneath the willows

Norman Mears