Porthole

Smoke gets in my lungs

Midnight:

AQI = 154 worse than LA, worse than most major cities in the world. I'm having problems. That said, it's 413 AQI in Portland, Bermuda has been hit directly by Hurricane Paulette and I'm sure people are dying of covid-19 everywhere.

4 p.m.:

I had to close the windows last night. Since I don't have a/c this is an issue. Sky white all day with few moments when the sun was strong enough to cast a shadow. Forecast for 28c but only reached 22 maybe 23. So I sit inside. I need to do a wash but not when it's this hazardous. AQI now 165.

5 storms: Rene, Hurricane Sally, Major Paulette, Teddy (wants to become a major) and CV Vicky. Also a couple aoi (areas of interest) and a possible medicane headed towards Greece. Who needs sports when you have weather?

6 p.m.

"Soaking in your tub [225] 24σ "  for 24 syllables

Soaking in your tub

Let salts draw out this poison; drain me of all care.
Foment my breast with jasmine; flush away my fear.

For Shadows and Light I entered an old poem from two years ago that few have read. Edited only slightly. Named after a gathering held every year for the Montana Book Festival (on-line? so this yearly event will be cancelled).

"Pie and whisky (27 line free verse)" 

7 p.m.

It's getting dark. AQI still an unhealthy 164.

I finished my tanka for the Oriental Poetry Contest:

"[white-grey ashes choke] a tanka [219b]" 

white-grey ashes choke
this heat-filled valley — poplars
flame in shades of gold

I turn to watch potatoes
start to sizzle on the stove

© Kåre Enga [177.219b] (14.september.2020)

I only entered because I had written three, couldn't decide which until today, still not happy but hey ... I won twice in a row! A surprise both times. I read all the others. I really liked the offerings of concrete_angel, WakeUpAndLive️~🚬🚭2024 and Vanishing Vapor In my opinion the others strayed away from concrete images and the two part aspect of the form. Whatever a tanka 'is', in ancient or modern forms and interpretations, it isn't just 31 syllables. Personally I find them very hard to write.

No sunset today.

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