up, up, up, from the deep pool
this pretty water maiden
is hungry, actually ravenous
she scans the pool edge

aha, there’s wild wood garlic
there are artichokes and chives
and even some watercress
this’ll be a great feast

so she’ll munch and munch, and burp
since there is no one around
she’s sometimes sad, but not much
she lives a good life

one day she will find a mate
and that will be quite awesome
but now everything is fine
going down, down, down

~~~

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #086

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 64, Let’s tell a story 05/12/2026