Tanka [fowl life]

I suppose "coup" is intentional
as is "fowl life"
of course, these puns are not just for fun
this has serious undertones, (or overtones)

a statement based on reality and truth

I like it, can't say I enjoyed the sad sentiment...that would be inappropriate and callus

this is about a poor family fleeing a brutal coup d'etat
the father fled the country fearing for his life, persued by the vengeful new leader's secret police. The mother is doing her best to get her children out, her son being wounded in the struggle.

the sad reality of "foul" politics and power, ever enduring

that's how I read it, a parable (or whatever that kind of thing is called)

I'm glad you fixed the first line to say "his"
makes more sense (that's why you changed it!)

I'm not kidding,. about this . read it again like I saw it , you may be surprised

I'm starting to question the whole idea of using foreign language forms, such as Japanese, and trying to apply them to an absolute in English. As I understand it, Japanese does not use rhyme, an essential in our poetry history. They use syllable counts. In western music we use melody and harmony, and the musical theory is quite advanced. Our rhythms are not complex 3/4 4/4 etc.
Eastern music uses very advanced rhythms, much more complex than western, and that's part of what defines it...like music from India. Though some have tried of late, nobody has broken the barrier to create a music that is both Eastern and Western. So I come to poetry...as for Haiku forms in English, whose counting the beats, and who cares? I think the IDEA of the haiku is what counts, the style of paradox and mixing imagery and reality in 2 or 3 lines is enough, to me as a Western take away. I think Emily Dickerson is the prototype of an English form of Haiku or Tanka.

So as i read your work a few times I am presented with 4 members of a family each with a different image to show their reality, or agenda. Each person is a universe of one, doing their thing. But these are not people, they are fowl (ducks, geese?). And the title is Fowl life. From there I don't know where to go with it...that the Fowl kingdom will endure...to how or what?
I do often find a lot of Japanese poetry a bit obtuse, and incomprehensible as opposed to most Chinese styles which are most often very specific about it's theme or inner meaning. This maybe due to something lost in the translation. That is the feeling I get about this work at this time.

I was looking through some of your work and like most of us you have experimented with many different "styles". Sometimes, when it's hard to just get the muse working, I look through my work and see what feels the most effective and kinda start there. There are several very striking poems in your profile, but I think the best are those which are the most personal (like "When the stone was crushed", quite a powerful poem!) Sometimes, for me, trying to get writing again is easier in a style which continues to move me well after it's been written, and finding that comfort level. Just a thought...

Well, this is well executed, and I can see I have my first friend in Eastern structure. Straight from the heart, these work best from that most positive emotional place, the heart. Great write!