The prompt words for this week’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge are “enchant and shape,” from which to find your synonyms. For enchant, I used “bewitched,” and for “shape,” I used “symmetry.”

The words came to me in a flash and I knew I was to write about the most notorious female spy of World War I… when inspiration strikes I don’t question the muse. 😀

440px-Mata_Hari_13

Image Credit: Mati Hari on Wikipedia

Unconfined allure –

possession of souls her vice,

corruption her game.

With bewitching symmetry

her promises she couldn’t keep.

© 2018 Colleen M. Chesebro

440px-Margaretha_Zelle,_alias_Mata_Hari

Mati Hari in 1906, wearing only a bra and jewelry; Image Credit – Wikipedia and quote below:

“Margaretha Geertruida “Margreet” MacLeod (née Zelle; 7 August 1876 – 15 October 1917), better known by the stage name Mata Hari, was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy for Germany during World War I[1] and executed by firing squad in France.[2]“

true storyPoetry! Get busy and write some of your own! ❤

28 thoughts on “Mati Hari – A Tanka”

    1. Thanks, Ritu. Isn’t it crazy the stuff that pops into my mind? LOL! Actually, she’s quite lovely, I think. A shame she was such a demon! LOL!

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  2. It’s interesting that the words led you to this. She must have been bewitching. I don’t know enough about her, but it doesn’t sound like she was a demon to me.

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    1. She aided the Germans and faced a firing squad for her choices. She knew what she was doing. She was a double agent. People died because of her.

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  4. Beautiful poetry. Veey befitting. She’d be proud…..I think😁. Not really seen her this way before. She was indeed bewitching. No wonder they fell at her feet.

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    1. Absolutely. She was an interesting character study figuring out her motivations, etc. Great for character prep. 😀

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    1. History is fascinating isn’t it? I read so many interesting books and articles. The words flowed on this one. 😀

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    1. Thanks, Robbie. My brain is forever churning with information and research for this or that. I guess I’m eclectic! LOL! ❤

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  11. Pingback: #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE, “Enchant & Shape,” NO. 81 RECAP, #SYNONYMSONLY – Colleen Chesebro ~ The Fairy Whisperer

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