night wears luminous
scales—I feel its pulses through
invisible nets
time resolves into kinship–
everything opened, laid bare
what has been follows
like a shadow, until it
too is discarded
stitched into shining patterns
ancient and always brand new
A double tanka in honor of August’s Sturgeon Moon for Colleen’s #TankaTuesday words, light and dark, and Frank Tassone’s #HaikiChallenge. Also called the Red Moon, perhaps the sky will clear enough tonight so I can see it.
As many have noted, the sturgeon is an ancient and endangered species. I was please to find we have our own Hudson River sturgeons, still hanging on. Fishing for them was banned in 1996.
K. 
It’s funny but I think of the moon and the night in terms of fish and oceans too. The scales glitter everywhere. Your sturgeon looks like a fish from a Medieval manuscript, a real magical moon fish.
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Thanks Jane. I’m surprised more water animals are not associated with the moon. The ocean and the moon are so entwined in my mind.
The sturgeon looks as ancient as it is–definitely magical.
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I don’t think it’s just in your mind, the moon rules the tides, after all. Lovely offering. 🙏
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Thanks Bela!
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It looks as though it could speak (a human language).
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“scales of night” fits well when you think of night as weighing the previous day, its pulse determined by what is ancient and what is brand new, what should be respected and what should be considered worthy of the following day.
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Thanks Ken. I like the idea of night weighing the day. Perhaps our dreams assist…
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Reblogged this on Frank J. Tassone and commented:
#Haiku Happenings #1 (8/15/19): K’s latest #tanka sequence for my current #haikai challenge!
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Thanks Frank!
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My pleasure, K! 😇
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beautiful symbolism
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Thanks Jodi.
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Well, Kerfe… your words always seem to speak to me. This is such a fabulous double Tanka. The scales of night… weighing the light and dark contrasting with the Sturgeon. I grew up in Wisconsin near Lake Michigan. I well remember the endeavors to save these endangered fish. As usual, you are simply brilliant!! ❤
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Thanks Colleen. As usual you make me blush!
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Well deserved, my friend. 😀
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Love the idea of something ancient turning into brand new. The ancient moon always offers new vistas of celestial wonder.
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Always. Thanks Olga.
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I found it beautiful, the world you depict here.
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Thanks Claudia. I’m hoping to see that moon tonight (I know those clouds are going away…)
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I went on a full moon night walk with a group at the nature preserve I often visit (Pennypack Eco. Restoration Trust) and it was just magnificent – the moon going in and out of clouds, bats, and we saw a screech owl in a tree. All in the total darkness and we did not talk except when the leader stopped to show something. Just the sound of crickets and grasshoppers. Like another world.
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It finally appeared out the back window through the tree just before I went to bed. Very bright!
That sounds like a wonderful walk. And an owl!
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Powerful poem and image…the red works so well…I feel strong themes of recognition, letting go, making new….all inspiring.
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Thanks Janice. The moon is a powerful influence.
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This is really beautiful, Kerfe. I love that first line. Jane is right that your fish looks like a medieval depiction.
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Thanks Merril. The moon…again and again.
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Cool. Love how you dressed night up as a fish.
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I think it was the Native Americans who came up with the name “sturgeon moon”–it’s a good one!
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