Happy POETRY Tuesday everyone! Are you ready to get groovy with your poetry? Then, you’re in the right place!
Pull up a chair, and let’s write some poetry.
Image credit: PictureQuotes.com
For Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Challenge you can write your poem in one of the three forms defined below:
HAIKU in English
TANKA in English
HAIBUN
You can do one poem or try to do one of each. It’s up to you – YOUR CHOICE. The instructions follow below:
HOW TO CREATE THE HAIKU in ENGLISH POETRY FORM
Are you new to writing the Haiku in English poetry form? Please read my page, How to Write a Haiku in English.
HOW TO CREATE THE TANKA in ENGLISH POETRY FORM
Here is how I suggest writing the Tanka poetry form in English. Please read my page, How to Write a Tanka in English.
HOW TO CREATE THE HAIBUN POETRY FORM
NatureWriting.com shares how to write a Haibun poem. Please follow the rules carefully.
Writing Haibun
“The rules for constructing a haibun are simple.
- Every haibun must begin with a title.
- Haibun prose is composed of terse, descriptive paragraphs, written in the first person singular.
- The text unfolds in the present moment, as though the experience is occurring now rather than yesterday or some time ago. In keeping with the simplicity of the accompanying haiku or tanka poem, all excessive words should be pared down or deleted. Nothing must ever be overstated.
- The poetry never attempts to repeat, quote or explain the prose.
- Instead, the poetry reflects some aspect of the prose by introducing a different step in the narrative through a microburst of detail.
- Thus, the poetry is a sort of juxtaposition – seemingly different yet somehow connected.
It is the discovery of this link between the prose and the poetry that offers one of the great delights of the haibun form. The subtle twist provided by an elegantly envisaged link, adds much pleasure to our reading and listening.
Some Common Forms of Modern Haibun
- The basic unit of composition– one paragraph and one poem
Idyll
We guide our canoe along the shores of beautiful Lake Esquagama. It is nine o’clock at night on this evening of the summer solstice. As the sun begins to dim the lake becomes still as glass. Along the shore, forests of birch are reflected in its mirrored surface, their ghostly white trunks disappearing into a green canopy. The only sound is a splash when our bow slices the water. We stop to rest the paddles across our knees, enjoying the peace. Small droplets from our wet blades create ever-widening circular pools. Moving on, closer to the fading shore, we savour these moments.
quiet
as a feather
on the breeze
the distant call
of a loon
- The prose envelope – prose, then poem, then prose
Echoes of Autumn
I walk quietly in the late afternoon chill, birdsong silent, foliage deepened into shade, a rim of orange over darkening hills.
through soft mist
the repeated call
of one crow
Reaching the gate then crossing the threshold I breathe the scent of slow-cooking, the last embers of a fire, red wine poured into gleaming crystal, the table – set for two …
- Poem then prose
(Rather than begin with a single tanka, I wrote a tanka set or sequence, followed by the prose. In contemporary haibun writing, the poems are occasionally presented in couplets or in longer groups).
The Road to Longreach
the coastal fringe
of green and blue
disappears
behind the gateway
to the outback
wheat, sorghum
and cotton stubble
glistens
in the autumn sun
as hawks patrol above
sunflowers
faces to the sky
the last blaze of colour
in the dryland’s
barren outlook
brown soil
of the rural strip
surrenders to
brick red, burnt ochre
of the open range
beyond
and further out –
in orange dust
a single cornstalk
displays its tassel
Days pass as we move through the desolate landscape, carved into two parts by the road we travel on, a continual ribbon drawing us straight ahead into its vanishing point, where only spinifex grass and saltbush lies between us and our destination.
- The verse envelope — poem, prose, then poem
Winter Magic
silver light
thick hoar-frost
covers the window
Ice shapes resembling small fir trees stretch across the glass, while delicate snow flowers sparkle around them. Lost in its beauty, I move through this crystal garden as my warm fingers trace up and down, leaving a smudged pathway.
Mother’s voice interrupts, “Susan, come away from that cold window and get dressed or the school bus will leave without you!”
burning hoop pine
scent of a warm kitchen
oatmeal with brown sugar
- Alternating prose and verse elements
The Sentinel
I climb round and round close to the outside wall, to avoid the railing where the stair treads narrow about their central post. A semi-circular platform rests high above. Its glass windows provide a sweeping view. Counting the last few steps, I finally reach the top of the Moreton Bay Lighthouse, where I gaze in awe at the ocean below.
the rising sun
an endless pathway
of molten gold
Outside the lighthouse, lamp is rotating. I disengage it as there is no need for its warning light. Now the bold red and white stripes of the lighthouse itself will become the beacon. I study the turbulence of the deep waters churning the rocky shore below. The subtle changes in the wind, waves, and tides are entered in my log book – these brief markers of the ever-transforming seascape that surrounds me.
ebb tide
a foot print shelters
one tiny crab”
Here are some great sites that will help you write your poetry and count syllables
For Synonyms and Antonyms. When your word has too many syllables, find one that works.
Find out how many syllables each word has. I use this site for all my Haiku and Tanka poems. Click on the “Workshop” tab to create your Haiku or Tanka.
THE RULES
I will publish the Tuesday prompt post at 12: 03 A.M. Mountain Standard Time (Denver Time). That should give everyone time to see the prompt from around the world.
WRITE YOUR POEM ON YOUR BLOG as a post.
How Long Do You Have and Your Deadline: You have a week to complete the Challenge with a deadline of Monday at 12:00 P.M. (Noon) Denver time, U. S. A. This will give me a chance to add the links from everyone’s poem post from the previous week, on the new prompt I send out on Tuesday. I urge everyone to visit the blogs and comment on everyone’s poem.
The rules are simple.
I will give you two words that you need to use (in some form) in the writing of your poetry. This will be a challenge in writing your Haibun poem. Follow the rules carefully.
The two words can be used in any way you would like to use them. Words have different definitions, and you can use the definitions you like. Feel free to use synonyms for the words when the poetry form calls for it.
LINK YOUR BLOG POST TO MINE WITH A PINGBACK. To do a Pingback: Copy the URL (the HTTPS:// address of my post) for the current week’s Challenge and paste it into your post. You may also place a copy of your URL of your post in the comments of the current week’s Challenge post.
Because of the time difference between where you are, and I am, you might not think your link is there. I manually approve all links. People participating in the challenge may visit you and comment or “like” your post. I also need at least a Pingback or a link in the comments section to know you took part and to include you in the Weekly Review section of the new prompt on Tuesday.
BE CREATIVE. Use your photos and create “Visual POETRY” if you wish, although it is not necessary. Use whatever program you want to make your images.
As time allows, I will visit your blog, comment, and TWEET your POETRY
If you add these hashtags to your post TITLE (depending on which poetry form you use) your poetry may be viewed more often:
#Haiku, #Tanka, #micropoetry, #poetry, #5lines, #Haibun, #Prose
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR TWITTER ACCOUNT LINKED TO YOUR BLOG – I WILL NO LONGER TWEET YOUR POETRY… THERE IS NO SENSE SINCE YOUR TWEET BECOMES PART OF WORDPRESS.COM AND THERE IS NO ATTRIBUTION BACK TO YOU.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO LINK YOUR WORDPRESS BLOG TO TWITTER
You may copy the badge I have created to go with the Weekly Poetry Challenge Post and place it in your post:
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED LAST WEEK FOR OUR 48th POETRY CHALLENGE USING THE WORDS – STONE & TURN
(Please make sure to visit the other participants and leave a comment. Remember – sharing is caring)
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge No. 48 #Haiku #Tanka #Haibun: STONE & TURN – Ladyleemanila
Beauty at the shoreline – Jane Dougherty Writes
Edwina’s Episodes – Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Challenge – Stone & Turn
Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Challenge. | willowdot21
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge No. 48 #Tanka : STONE & TURN | But I Smile Anyway…
HAIKU COMPILATION – Mick E Talbot Poems
Flesh – #tanka | Trent’s World (the Blog)
Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Challenge Stone & Turn | Annette Rochelle Aben
The Cemetery (Tanka) – Uniquesus
Tanka: The Stone man – My Feelings My Freedom
Colleen’s Poetry Challenge 48 – The Bag Lady
Marked | Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo
Haiku : STONE | WANDSANDUNICORNS
If Looks Could Kill (a Tanka) | Darkness of His Dreams
Hearts of Stone | like mercury colliding…
#Haiku 68 (Triple Haiku): Stone & Turn | Charmed Chaos
“Finding the Heart Stone,” A Haibun – 🌼Colleen Chesebro Fairy Whisperer 🌼
September 2017 | method two madness
Whispering Walls – Smell The Coffee
#Poetry challenge – Stone and turn – Robbie’s inspiration
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge No. 48 #Haiku #Tanka #Haibun: STONE & TURN | M J Mallon Author
Stones Turned: Haibun | Yesterday and today: Merril’s historical musings
Don’t FORGET! If you are selected as my Poet of the Week, your poem will also be featured in my bi-monthly newsletter. Sign-up HERE.
This week’s Poet of the Week is Vivian Zens, from her blog called Smell the Coffee. I loved the evocative nature of her Haiku. The second line is my favorite because it reveals a poetic truth. The last line really hits home the message.

(# Haiku)
Pressing heads to stone
The walls whisper truths unknown
They don’t dare turn round
© 2017- Vivian Zems
Image credit: Pixabay.com
Here are the two words for this week’s challenge: Soar & Wait
(any forms of the words and don’t forget to use synonyms)
POETRY TUESDAY! JOIN IN AND GET YOUR POETRY ON!
Reblogged this on Sue Vincent's Daily Echo.
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have a lovely day, Colleen 🙂
https://ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.com/2017/09/05/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-49-haiku-tanka-haibun-soar-wait/
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https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2017/09/05/separation-2/
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Can’t wait to get back to doing these and what better words than these to start with ❤
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Way to go, Lisa. ❤
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Reblogged this on Frank J. Tassone and commented:
Haiku Happenings #3: Colleen’s weekly #Poetry Challenge 49
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Thanks again for sharing, Frank.
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My pleasure, Colleen!
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Love the prompt words again this week, Colleen. 🙂
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Ooooooh ! Thanks Colleen 🙂 :)- I’m chuffed. I’m going to tell my entire family!!!
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Yes! Good job, my friend. Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter. It will be listed there as well. ❤
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Excellent!
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Congratulations Vivian!!
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Thanks, Linda 🙂 🙂
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Here is my Tanka for this week’s challenge: https://trentsworldblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/05/to-soar-again-tanka/
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http://wp.me/p4ayEo-2nn My short link in case the ping back doesn’t work
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Here you are Colleen!
http://butismileanyway.com/2017/09/05/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-49-haiku-soar-wait/
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Hi, Colleen, Here’s my entry for the week.
https://theshowerofblessings.wordpress.com/2017/09/05/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-49-haiku-tanka-haibun-soar-wait/
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Lovely collection, this week, Colleen.
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Thanks, Michelle. I think these poets are spectacular! ❤
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Hi Colleen!
Here’s my attempt for this week’s prompt:
https://susmitamukherjee.wordpress.com/2017/09/06/eagle-haiku/
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thank you for sharing the challenge for this week. ❤
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Its always a great pleasure. Have a nice week:
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Your prompt was my treat, my bit of self-indulgence today. Thanks, Colleen 🙂
https://janedougherty.wordpress.com/2017/09/06/tanka-tuesday-soar-wait/
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OHHH, now that sounds wonderful! ❤
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It was exactly what I needed 🙂
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Hi Colleen! This is my entry.
https://smellthecoffeeweb.blog/2017/09/06/uncaged/
Thank you 🙂
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Hi Colleen,
How are you:) Here is my entry for this week
https://thoughtsandentanglements.wordpress.com/2017/09/06/soar-wait/
Have a great week every one:)
Pat
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Hugs to you Pat. I’m writing like a crazy person. ❤️
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That is always a really good thing:) Write on! 🙂
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https://radhikasreflection.wordpress.com/2017/09/07/tanka-soar-wait/
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https://methodtwomadness.wordpress.com/2017/09/09/away/
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Getting this in before I get to some work! 🙂
https://merrildsmith.wordpress.com/2017/09/10/an-autumn-haiku/
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I know nothing about Haikus, Coleen, but thanks so much for following my blog.
Best wishes, Pete.
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