Na/GloPoWriMo Day 1

corvid clemency 

forgiveness from crows
is an honor, when bestowed,
not to be tested,
the faces they remember
rouse ire fueled by vengeance 

~kat

Day One Na/GloPoWriMo 2026 Prompt: write your own tanka – or multi-tanka poem. Theme and tone are up to you, but try to maintain the five-line stanza and syllable count.

Tanka is a traditional Japanese poetic form consisting of 31 syllables arranged in five lines with a 5-7-5-7-7 structure. Originating over 1,300 years ago, it is a deeply emotional, often melancholic form centered on love, nature, and personal reflection. It often features a pivotal “turn” (kami-no-ku to shimo-no-ku) between the first three lines and the last two, offering a “long haiku” with more depth. 

A note about today’s poem:

The crow featured above is special because it is actually against a crow’s nature to forgive. a year ago one of their comrades died at my crow feeder. It was clear after this unfortunate event that my murder of crows thought I had something to do with its demise. As a result, they avoided me like the plague. Of course I was heartbroken. I kept putting out peanuts for them which they staunchly ignored. (The squirrels and blue joys loved having those treats all to themselves!) And then one day one of them got brave, I assume, and helped himself to a peanut. I was persistent and it seemed to pay off. Before long a half dozen, more than my original murder of three granted me clemency. They visit me everyday now. I am honored to have regained their trust, and believe me I don’t take likely the trust they’ve placed on me. It’s a true blessing. So of course the fellow above while paired with my cautionary tanka, is also my glimmer for today.

Much love, peace, and glimmers to you!

~kat ✨✨✨💚✨✨✨