During the Pause: A Collection of Tanka Poems

By Kenichi K. Yabusaki

During the Pause offers poems that embrace the ideas of Nature, Politics, Racism, Love, Death and Loss, Science, Philosophy, and much more. As Tanka poetry, or “short song” poetry, which began in seventh-century Japan, the poems follow a simple 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern with no rhyming or punctuation. This unique structure lends itself to an economy of words and is an eloquent vehicle for emotional expression.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Release date: Mar 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781977251244

Kenichi K. Yabusaki

Kenichi K. Yabusaki was born in a concentration camp during World War II. He is a retired biochemist with an interest in philosophy, and uses poetry to emote thoughts on the human condition. He is an avid fly angler and lives with his wife in Hawaii.

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During the Pause: A Collection of Tanka Poems

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2022 Kenichi K. Yabusaki

v2.0

The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

AHUIMANU PRESS

ISBN: 978-1-9772-5124-4

Cover Photo © 2022 Kenichi K. Yabusaki. All rights reserved - used with permission.

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The Mysterious guides me, humbles me, is me……

For Ann, Sean, Lee

And

In Memory of

Shigeo, Toshiko, Naomi, Hisakichi, Umeyo

INTRODUCTION

The title of this book comes from the French existential philosopher Albert Camus’s famous essay, The Myth of Sisyphus. Greek mythology describes Sisyphus as a cunning king of Corinth (ancient Greece) who despised death and twice escaped from Hades. The angered Gods returned Sisyphus to the underworld to face a futile nemesis, that of pushing a massive rock up