Mati Hari – A Tanka
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. 😀
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
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]“
Poetry! Get busy and write some of your own! ❤
Love this Colleen!
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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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She was indeed a character!
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LOL! I’ll say. 😀
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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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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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she knew her power
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But it killed her in the end.
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Yes
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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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Those qualities made her a successful spy for sure! 😀
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Well, that was her job, wasn’t it? Good one, Colleen 🙂
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Absolutely. She was an interesting character study figuring out her motivations, etc. Great for character prep. 😀
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Very true 🙂
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This is brilliant Colleen, I love it 💜💜
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Thanks, Willow. She is quite the character study for sure. ❤
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Yes I have read about her an anathema for her era really. I did love your Tanka 💜
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You’re so sweet, Willow. Thank you. ❤
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All true 💜
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She was quite the scandal… Your tanka spelled it out beautifully!
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History is fascinating isn’t it? I read so many interesting books and articles. The words flowed on this one. 😀
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Lovely tanka, Colleen, about a colorful woman.
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Thanks, Michelle. ❤
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Brava. 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
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Thanks, Dorna. ❤
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A lovely idea for the prompt words, Colleen.
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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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Pingback: #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE, “Enchant & Shape,” NO. 81 RECAP, #SYNONYMSONLY – Colleen Chesebro ~ The Fairy Whisperer