Colleen’s #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge, “Belief & Strange,” No. 94 Recap, #SynonymsOnly

Welcome to the Tanka Tuesday Poetry Recap featuring the work of poets from around the globe. If you would like to participate in this challenge, you can learn the rules on the menu item called Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Guidelines.

Each week, I like to highlight a poet who I call the Poet of the Week, who has shared an exceptional message, or shown an impassioned creativity through words or form. Poetry is all about perception, so don’t be shocked if you don’t feel the same way about a poem that I do. ❤

PLEASE NOTE: Don’t forget to count your syllables. Use this site: howmanysyllables.com. Click on the workshop tab. Then, copy and paste your poem into the box, and click “count syllables” at the bottom.

I understand that accent and the way you say certain words will change the syllable count. Here is my compromise: Please try to get as close to the syllable count as possible. This challenge is not for free-verse poetry. ❤

CONGRATULATIONS to all the poets who participated. I’m thrilled to have you here. ❤

This week, I had a heck of a time trying to pick a Poet of the Week. So, I’ve narrowed it down to two!

*First, I selected Vashti Q. Vega, from her blog, The Writer Next Door. Vashti’s offering is a story and a poem. Not only is this story fabulous, she ran with the theme of a butterfly and included a butterfly cinquain!

This is creativity at its best. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your poetry and have fun, like Vashti did. ❤

~*~

A butterfly approached a horned viper and asked, “Are you a dragon?”

The viper narrowed its strange yellow eyes. “Is there something wrong with your sight? Can’t you see I’m a snake?”

The butterfly flitted around the snake’s head and said, “You look like a dragon to me.”

The viper hissed and slammed its tail on the grass. “I told you, I’m no dragon! Dragons breathe fire!”

“Your venom is fire to your prey. They are consumed by it,” said the butterfly.

“Dragons fly!” said the viper with an exasperated sigh.

“I’ve seen you in trees and on mountain tops where only flying things can go,” said the butterfly without a doubt.

The snake tilted its head and narrowed its eyes in confusion. “Dragons are huge creatures.” The viper’s voice was soft and uncertain.

“You are much larger than I. To me you are a giant.” The butterfly stood before the snake, its small wings aquiver.

“So––I’m a dragon?”

“Yes! It’s what I choose to believe,” said the butterfly.

The viper lifted its chin with pride. “I am a dragon!”

The butterfly cheered and did loops in the air.

“Now that you know you’re a dragon you must behave like one,” said the butterfly. “You must cleanse your mind of all things viper.”

The snake nodded and grinned. “So, what do dragons eat?”

The butterfly landed in a pirouette on the dragon’s nose. “Dragons do not eat butterflies.”

Then with a perfect Grand Jeté, the butterfly flew far beyond the dragon’s eyes.

◊

I am

A butterfly

You, a mighty dragon

I only ask for freedom to

Believe

What I tell you

Put behind your serpent

ways and risky ideas, don’t

eat me

◊