The Yule Log – A Tanka

Posted byColleen M. ChesebroPosted inTanka Tuesday Poetry ChallengesTags:, , , , , , , ,

Happy Winter Solstice!

Welcome to my contribution for my weekly Tanka challenge. This week, I tweaked the prompt words: “warm = warmth and cheer = cheery.” Both words have many connotations and can change the meaning of your Tanka poetry in many ways. By the way, please link your Tanka to my post found here.

My husband and I decided to initiate a new tradition this year. We are celebrating the Winter Solstice in place of Christmas!

A few months ago, my brother in law had his DNA analyzed. The results were astounding! My husband’s family scored high for a Viking heritage. We were not surprised because they are all rather tall folks. My husband is 6 ft. 7 in., his brother 6 ft. 4 in., and his sister is 6 ft. tall! Let’s just say that the weekly television show called, The Vikings took on new meaning in our household. 😀

vikings-giphy

Image credit: Giphy.com

It seemed fitting to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Christmas had lost meaning for us through the years after the kids moved away. I did some research and found a great site that explains the tradition. Click here to learn more about a Winter Solstice Tradition. I also talk about my plans for our celebration on Mindful Monday on A Mindful Journeysite.wordpress.com, my other blog.

The cheery Yule log –
flames burn to honor the sun,
spreading warmth and light.
Our token good luck ashes
protection for the next year.

©2016 Colleen M. Chesebro

However, you celebrate the season, may you find peace and joy. Hugs!

Published by Colleen M. Chesebro

An avid reader, Colleen M. Chesebro rekindled her love of writing poetry after years spent working in the accounting industry. These days, she loves crafting syllabic poetry, flash fiction, and creative fiction and nonfiction. In addition to poetry books, Chesebro’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She’s an avid supporter of her writing community on Word Craft Poetry.com by organizing and sponsoring a weekly syllabic poetry challenge, called #TankaTuesday, where participants experiment with traditional and current forms of Japanese and American syllabic poetry. Chesebro is an assistant editor of The Congress of the Rough Writers Flash Fiction Anthology & Gitty Up Press, a micro-press founded by Charli Mills and Carrot Ranch. In January 2022, Colleen founded Unicorn Cats Publishing Services to assist poets and authors in creating eBooks and print books for publication. In addition, she creates affordable book covers for Kindle and print books. Chesebro lives in the house of her dreams in mid-Michigan surrounded by the Great Lakes with her husband and two (unicorn) cats, Chloe & Sophie.

32 thoughts on “The Yule Log – A Tanka”

        1. The Solstice feels so right to me, Erika. It has none of the trappings from Christmas’ past. It’s all our own. ❤

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            1. Yes, I was quite moved this morning. I did my meditation and lit my candles and incense to greet the sunrise. It was perfect. ❤

              Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Adele. Those genes belong to my sweet husband. I’m going to send off for my DNA analysis. I should come back Russian/German. Happy Solstice! 🎄❤

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        1. Thanks, Adele. My husband and I were laughing… I guess we’re Buddhist Pagans now. LOL! ❤🎄

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  3. Very apt. I hope they don’t get up to the same goings on as in the series… Mind you, it makes for good watching. Have a lovely time and enjoy the winter solstice.

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    1. LOL! In their younger years they might have acted like Vikings! 😁 Thank you. We just lit our candles and incense. My meditation was successful. I felt the old hurts slip away. We have our stew in the crockpot. I have the bread and Yule cake to back for our celebration dinner. It’s a wonderful day. ❤🎄

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    1. The Solstice feels right, you might find it as fulfilling. Breaking old traditions for the new is enlightening. Many hugs to you, Irene. 💖🎄

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    1. The beef stew is cooking, the homemade bread is cooling, and the cake is frosted! Happy Solstice, Annette! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Pingback: Colleen’s Weekly #Tanka #Poetry Prompt Challenge #14 – LAST & NEW – Colleen Chesebro ~ Fairy Whisperer

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