Serialized Novel 'Tanka Danke Schoen' Volume 1 (1002 characters)

I will write this as a personal novel.

It is a record of an exchange of tanka poems about love with a certain person.

Let's call that person Y. I will be K.

It originally began when I responded to a poem of hers (or someone who seemed to be her) that was being recited publicly.

Y
The color of the heart of a single petal, left to the blowing wind, I wish it would remain unknown.

Reading this poem, I felt drawn to her.

I had also long admired the idea of composing poems in archaic language, so I convinced myself that the poem was written for me.

The heart of a single petal, in other words, my (her) heart will not be known. That was the general interpretation I made.

In any case, I composed a reply poem with that intention.

K
Thinking of the voice of the Archaeopteryx, it continues toward your sky, mourning this spring.

Her poem seemed to be gently appealing to someone, though it was unclear who.

I decided to compose my poem from a distance, intending to approach her casually at first. Since I had a good impression from the start, I hoped to send her a direct message someday and exchange poems just between the two of us, and I waited for her poems while wishing for that already.

Y
The span of a life in a hurry to scatter, as if it were just a little ahead of mine.

I am a novice at tanka. I thought her poem was that of an expert. I hoped we could exchange poems, intending to learn from her.

From this poem, I thought she might have been trying to say that I am living in a hurry.

Although it seems it was not written with me in mind.

Continuing.

Y
Since it is a path we will eventually take, it is even harder to leave, a single petal remaining on my sleeve.

Reading this poem, I became worried about her. I read it as the feeling of not wanting to leave when it is time to die, leaving behind a single petal.

I decided to compose a poem in reply.

K
If I go in spring, shall I take the scent of the petals remaining on the path as my guide?

I intended to compose a poem of encouragement.
I wanted you to have a goal in life.
I intended to pour such feelings into it.

She composed two poems.

Y
The flowers fall so abundantly that I cannot distinguish this world from the next.

As I become a body with nothing left, perhaps I have come seeking a single petal upon your sleeve.

Reading them this way,
I felt as though I could take them
as a reply to me.

A single petal
comes to my sleeve.
Though my studies are insufficient,
I felt as if
what she was trying to say
was being conveyed to me.

(To be continued in Volume 2)

~Afterword~

As always,
I am someone who wants to write fiction novels,
but I had wanted to write this record of the exchange of poems
someday.

If I can continue writing it,
it will become quite a long story.

Of course, if the readers
do not find it interesting,
it will end up being a story of no value
or worth.

In any case, I have written Volume 1.
I hope to serialize it with about a thousand characters as a target.

Thank you for your support.

Tsuru Kaku 🍂