An enchanting mix of English and Japanese, carnal and divine, sparkling banter and deep vulnerability, Dane Ince's and Mercedes' "Morning Tanka" distills volumes of intimacy into a series of short-form Tanka poems. Its central partners swap love notes, pillow talk, and deep confession, giving us a privileged glimpse of their inner lives and the "beautiful poetry [their] hearts write together."--Emily Cordes, author of "Armful of Poppies" and "Queen of Swords"

A journal of thank you notes between lovers, California poems in the style of traditional Japanese form poetry In English and Japanese. In the tradition of the Beat poets, the writers practice the form of Japanese poetry that originated in the seventh century. Tanka poems are thirty-one syllables in five lines and more expansive than the three-line haiku, yet still the compression confines the poet to just the exact words to convey gratefulness for the blessings of love. The translations are by Yuri Miki a Japanese Slam poetry champion.

A sensory buffet that tingles and teases the reader with its sheer visual impact. These exquisite tankas are intensely personal word paintings with striking and potent imagery. I was enraptured with the deftly woven skeins of nature, love, and desire. "Shimmer water kissing lips Like ships sinking into fog." The Japanese form of poetry that began in the seventh century is effectively carried forward in California today by Dane and Mercedes in these morning notes of gratitude and love. The metaphors are endearingly fresh, the passion palpable. These five-line tanka letters are conversational in tone even as they disarmingly bare body and soul. The fragrant sensuality rises above the wondrous awe that the poets feel for each other. A book to be kept close to your bed in order to savour its sheer genius. Congratulations to the duo for this gift of concise writing, adorned with elegant wit and flaming brush strokes of poetic fervour. Lily Swarn, International Beat Poet Laureate India 2023-2024 and Caesar Vallejo award for literary excellence by UHE, internationally acclaimed, multilingual poet, author, columnist, gold medalist, university colour holder, radio show host, Peace and Humanity Ambassador, writes different genres. History on my Plate won her the Best Author Award. Rippling Moonbeams got Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi award for Best Book of the year. With over 70 international and national awards, Lily's poetry has been translated into 21 languages and she has authored eight books.