Cold Dawn – 27th February 2026

~ shaun tenzenmen

you were my shoulder
i lay my head upon you
where i learned to sleep

daily arrivals
would calm the tremors of my
shaken psychosis

you always wanted
more of me, I would prostrate
blind, oblivious

you were in control
but i woke to the cold dawn
sick of your deceit

the truths that you told
between the lies were only
my own self-abuse

Shared with Tanka Tuesday #53 – rensaku. This poem follows on neatly from yesterday’s, the effects of alcohol still on my mind and foregoing the request of seasonal poetry in the prompt, perhaps. This set of senryu tells an autobiographical story and maybe, just maybe, highlights an emotional spring, an awakening.
The seed of the idea for this poem came from reading Matthew Maitland’s ‘You Want Mythology?’

Today’s Daily Stoic poem:

Cultivating Indifference Where Others Grow Passion

There are virtues and there are vices
All the indifferents lie in between
Cake is cake, no matter how it slices
Always coverting more is obscene

20 thoughts on “Cold Dawn – 27th February 2026”

  1. Hi Shaun, I liked how you incorporated the line ‘the truths that you told
    between the lies ‘ from Mathew’s post into your poem. The lines flowed seamlessly highlighting a toxic relationship.
    You packaged the hard truth beautifully in your stoic poem. Enjoyed reading your post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Let me know your thoughts