September 2015
I have survived 30 years in Information Technology and am now retired. I live in Massachusetts with my wife and two cats. My tanka poetry has been published in many online and print journals. In 2012 I placed second in the Tanka Society of America International Contest, with an honorable mention for a second poem. In 2014 I had an honorable mention. I am happy to announce that in 2015 I won first prize in this prestigious contest and also received two honorable mentions. I will publish all of these poems here in a future issue.
Poems for Labor Day
my shadow
on the walk into work
I try
to make my stride
more assertive
performance review
I practice by bragging
to my wife
staff meeting
I contribute
a fart
company ethics
half the truth
above-board
workplace art
maybe I could paint
after all
managers' lounge
three of them troubleshoot
the coffee maker
a fly
buzzing back and forth
in the office
I ask my boss
about working from home
Credits: "my shadow" first published in Prune Juice 10; "performance review,'' "staff meeting," "company ethics," "workplace art," "a fly" — first published in Prune Juice 16; "managers' lounge" first published in Sonic Boom 3
©2015 Ken Slaughter