Black Canyon

 

Black Canyon’s badlands

From the base of Brooklyn Peak

Black Canyon’s river

The silent Agua Fria

Arizona’s sky

Reflected in dark water

So still beneath cliffs

Of amber above the sage

That scents the whispering wind

 

 

 

©Kay Salady

 

 

 

A form of Waka, the Choka consists of 5-7 Japanese sound units

and phrases repeated at least twice, and concludes with a 5-7-7

ending.  So, the pattern is:  5-7 5-7 5-7 5-7-7.

 

I chose to use a Japanese form in honor of my Sensei who studied

the martial virtues in Japan.  He snapped the photograph for which

this poem is inspired.