Colleen’s #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge Recap No. 112, “Cold & Safe”, #SynonymsOnly

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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 in the menu item called Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Guidelines.

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.

For some, this challenge is a way to learn more about writing in English, even though it’s the American version. English is a second language to many of our participants.

I also understand that accent and inflection play a key roll in the way you say certain words and this will change the syllable count. Here is my compromise: Please try to get as close to the syllable count as possible when writing these syllabic forms of poetry.

This challenge is not for free-verse poetry. ❤

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.

This week, I’ve chosen Jane Dougherty as the Poet of the Week. Her Etheree, entitled “Winter Beauty,” really spoke to me. I want you all to pay attention to the synonyms she used to describe her poetic event. 

Notice the second line, and how descriptive these words are: “grass was furred with white, a rime of frost.” You immediately get a picture in your mind of how this night looked to her. The third line engages your sense of sound which adds to the ethereal feel of this poem: “and every sound as brittle as breaking glass.”

The entire poem delights the senses with vivid images and sensations. You can feel the cold of the air, and by the end of the verse, for all of winter’s beauty, it still is no haven. I love the contrast!

Lastly, there is no image to distract from her words. In the blogging world we often enhance our writing with images, but just remember… sometimes, less is more. It’s all up to the poet and their message. ❤

Make sure you use thesaurus.com and dictionary.com to enhance your choice of words. Some words are  more expressive than others and more suitable for poetry. Synonyms also evoke emotions out of your reader which means they have the rare opportunity to connect with you on a different level. 

Please READ: 36 Poetry Writing Tips for more insight into your own poetry writing skills. ❤

Winter Beauty

The sky was clear last night and full of stars,
grass was furred with white, a rime of frost,
and every sound as brittle as breaking glass.
In morning sun, silver turns to gold,
melting night time chill, mist rises
into pearly blue. The sky,
moonlit still beams, fluttering
on scattered feathers­—
winter, no
haven.

© 2018 Jane Dougherty

I introduced the Nonet Poetry form last week. Similar to the Etheree, the Nonet has 9 lines. Check out the instructions: HERE.

HERE’S WHO JOINED US LAST WEEK FOR OUR 112th POETRY CHALLENGE USING SYNONYMS FOR THE WORDS: “Cold & Safe”

Tanka Tuesday: Winter beauty – Jane Dougherty Writes

Cold & Safe | Christina Herd Poetry & Flash Fiction

Running on empty – Playing with words

Hunted #etheree #doubleetheree | Trent’s World (the Blog)

BEWARE of the Globalist in poetry – Sharing With Others –

Yarn: Etheree Poem | Ethan Dale Eagar

COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 112, “COLD & SAFE,” #SYNONYMSONLY | But I Smile Anyway…

Wicked Chills~ #etheree #PoetryChallenge | Night Owl Poetry – Dorinda Duclos

Phoenix Song: a #TankaTuesday (11/27/18) #TankaProse – Frank J. Tassone

Colleen’s Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 112, “Cold & Safe,” #SynonymsOnly | willowdot21

Haiku: Icy Heart | The Dark Netizen

Wednesday Words Poetry Challenge: Safe and Cold (Synonyms Only) – My Corner

Smorgasbord Poetry – Colleen Chesebro’s Tuesday #Poetry Challenge 112 – #Etheree -Beast from the North | Smorgasbord Blog MagazineSquirrel in the Winter – #Tanka – Let Me Tell You the Story of…

Squirrel in the Winter – #Tanka – Let Me Tell You the Story of…

#Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge #Etheree | anita dawes and jaye marie

Chill #midnighthaiku | Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo

Lone Tree | WILLOW POETRY

#Poetrychallenge – Cold and safe – Robbie’s inspiration

Looking at Fire, Exploring the Cold – Yesterday and today: Merril’s historical musings

Winter Haiku – Your Mercies New

The Solace of the Night – thehouseofbailey

“The Wild Hunt,” A Nonet Poem – Colleen Chesebro ~ The Faery Whisperer

Winter Guardian: A Nonet Poem – Your Mercies New

Colleens Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge No 112 – #Travel #Lisbon #Photography #HardRockCafe #Music #Accident #Trip #Fall | M J Mallon YA/Paranormal Author

Winter’s Cocoon – Charmed Chaos

#Haibun – Magical Melody – Culture Shocks

For the love of Id – Aweni

Cold & Safe – D.G. Kaye, Writer

Homeless in 2018 #Tanka | Mucky Boots and Flawless Paws

Stretching Imagination | Stuff and What If

Cold & Safe | The Showers of Blessings

I hope I didn’t miss any of you. I feel like there were more poems, but I couldn’t find links or pingbacks. ❤ REMEMBER, the cutoff for posts is 12 NOON, Denver time ❤

REMEMBER: December is Poetry Review Month. Each Wednesday, I’ll be reviewing many of the challenge participants poetry books. ❤

Tomorrow is Tanka Tuesday! Get ready to write some syllabic poetry. ❤
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