Colleen’s 2019 #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge Recap No. 122, Poet’s Choice of Words

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.

One thing I will need your help with is the images containing your Haiga poetry. My intent was to add your images to the Recap. The ones that I could, I’ve added. If you see (#Haiga) and there is no image, you must click on the link and visit the poet’s website to get the true impact of their poetry. If possible, make your image accessible, so that I can just do a quick “save as” to grab your Haiga. Thanks.

AND… if the form on the challenge post (DID you hit submit?) doesn’t seem to be working, PLEASE email your poetry to me at colleenchesebro3@sgmail.com. This post takes around 4 hours to complete and it’s difficult to search for your work. Thank you. ❤

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.

The Poet of the Week will be published in the 2019 Poet of the Week Anthology, which everyone will be able to grab as a PDF in January 2020.

This week, I’ve chosen Ken Gierke from his blog, Rivrvlogr as the Poet of the Week, for his combined poem (a nonet, a tanka, and a senryū) called, “Love.” Remember Haiku is about nature and when we write about love and relationships those poems fall into the Senryu category, as Ken illustrates.

I chose this poem because I’m smitten with the idea of combining syllabic poetry forms. I like the idea of three, but you could create as many as you needed to tell a story or get your point across. Each of these poems stand well on their own. However, when you combine the forms… Wow! There’s such a great impact.

If you choose to try this method, (Merril Smith tried it), make sure you select one subject. You could have as many parts to that subject, as stanzas but just make sure your message flows.

"Love"

Understanding grows in words spoken
between kindred souls as eyes meet
in a shared spark ignited.
No simple chemistry
explains emotions
consuming them,
the sheer joy
as hearts
swell.

that heady perfume
permeating my senses
intoxicating
washing over me in waves
keeping me afloat with love

heartbeat so simple
its rhythm measuring love
your presence the source
©2019 Ken Gierke

HERE’S WHO JOINED US LAST WEEK FOR THE 1st of the Month POETRY CHALLENGE, Poet’s Choice of Words

False spring #Butterfly #Cinquain
Wings beat
against the rain;
dim light pours in wet mist.
Even the green is grey on this
morning
of false spring, when grassy ditches
run loud and no birds sing.
Butterfly, where
are you?
Jane Dougherty

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#Tanka
February snow,
Crocuses and I make bold;
Time wears many coats
Of blossom, rays, rain, and ice,
Thus, my words will don them too.
Antonia Sara Zenkevitch

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Morning Beckons - #Haiku
Clouds blush in crisp dawn
Tranquil sparrow chirps descend
Even winter smiles.
H.R.R. Gorman

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"Life", #haiku
Fish in the river
Swimming along with the flow
Doesn’t see the bird
Trent McDonald

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Bring me his heart. #Etheree.

Bring 
Me his
Heart I said
I long for him
He does not know l
Even exist, heart pounding
Just for him, blindly I asked
For his heart which you have bought me
Foolish words have caused me to lose him
I've unwittingly  lost all I desire.
Willow Dot21

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Northern Lights, #Haibun #Haiku

Seeking photon light emissions, the result of molecular collisions, in 
just the right atmospheric conditions, I traverse the wilderness that 
is Northern Alaska in the cold-dead-calm, of the waxing crescent moon,
this starless February night.

Where mesmerized by oxygen induced phosphorescent colors of near 
mystical proportion- I shout a challenge the Universe- “Inject me with 
such vibrancy of color- or release me from this life- I live in only black 
and white.”

I draw a line through
Aurora Borealis
Quivering black ink.
Violet Lentz

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Time & love #Senryu
Ebb of time so more,
Hearts still beating in tandem,
Love surfs through travails.
indishe

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Love, #Nonet
Love
is a 
curious thing.
It makes your heart
sing a new love song.
You wear a strange new smile
that the rain can't wash away.
A great treasure found in two hearts
love is serenity, your new home...
Anita Dawes

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 "Wistful" (#Haiga)
sensory pleasure
multiplies in meadows
wistful lone leaf flies
Reena Saxena

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Metamorphosis #Etheree
We
humans
have a quest
to undergo
metamorphosis
into what is perceived
as the measure of beauty
usually defined by others
but which does not necessarily
transform us into sentient beings
Sally Cronin

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Breach - A Tanka
a lawyer-pastor's
theft of offerings and souls -
double criminal
an ongoing breach of faith
bereft, her search continues
Pat R

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"Morning's Light" #Tanka
Clouded skies part ways
When, at last, the morning breaks
And my sun shines high
Tis then I am awakened
By the glory of the light
Dorinda Duclos

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Rescue Centre #Tanka
Seeking happiness
My fragility laid bare
Over the threshold
Like a precious question mark.
Waiting, quivering, I hope
Ben, the dog-poet

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Things we love #haiku
Things we mostly love
Positive affirmations;
Else just empty life
ladynimue

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 "Love," #nonet, #tanka, #senryū
Understanding grows in words spoken
between kindred souls as eyes meet
in a shared spark ignited.
No simple chemistry
explains emotions
consuming them,
the sheer joy
as hearts
swell.

that heady perfume
permeating my senses
intoxicating
washing over me in waves
keeping me afloat with love

heartbeat so simple
its rhythm measuring love
your presence the source
Ken Gierke / rivrvlogr

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Gadreel's Song, #Ballad (Promotional Poem for her Book)
Keenly, I watch my infants’ eyes,
dreading the stares, and soft sighs,
I’m blinded by what they surmise.
They mesmerize; they mesmerize.

Extraordinary off-springs,
Like new exotic samplings,
Shown with Dagon's unique offerings,
They're my blessings; They're my blessings

Soon there dawned an epiphany;
Daughters of our love's symphony,
Scintillas of our harmony.
True synchrony! True synchrony!

We shared moments evanescent,
When they flourished luminescent.
Now where fishes float florescent,
Is their descent, is their descent.

My heart was lilt in their gaze,
Wilts now in their absence and blaze
Deprived of their love, is to faze
As in a daze, as in a daze.

 Emptiness is all fills my core.
My soul burns with hunger once more.
My daughters, I long to adore,
Come to the shore! Come to the shore!
Vashti Quiroz-Vega

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Me and My Mat, #Haibun #Senryu
Arriving at the gym late tonight, I walk as fast as I can without running
 to the studio. I have to weave in and around the many machines and 
bodybuilders while chuckling to myself – my hurry in direct contrast to my 
yoga practice. Finally stepping into the studio, however, I take a deep, 
appreciative breath. I’m here. I’m ready. I roll out my mat, lie down, and 
close my eyes and reflect, “I’m so happy to be here.” In a room full of yogis 
but alone on my mat. This is my place. My time. My practice.

And oh, do I practice. Hour after hour, week after week, years now, I 
downward-face-dog, I warrior-3, I attempt tree-pose and fall again. I don’t 
care. It’s why it’s called a practice. I show up, I do the poses, I breathe, 
I grow, I’m alive.

You’re making a life
An exquisite creation
Be intentional
Donna Matthews

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Dreams and Wishes, #Shadorma #Tanka
More than cake—
remember magic
lives long. Let
it always
surround you, a breathing cloud,
a dance in kisses

and so, this—ask if,
but explore the secret stars
in a universe
time ghost-laughs a fevered breeze
and a heart blushes, flowers
Merril D. Smith

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Morning Feed, #haiku
Inca doves forage
pecking between rocks for seed
hawk's wide-eyed prey
Linda Lee Lyberg

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The cause #Tanka
Slapping a plaster
over a wound spurting blood
will do little good
identifying the cause
may help to staunch the bleeding

Does it? #Tanka
Can you see the light
At the end of the tunnel?
Does it shine brightly?
Does it beckon you strongly?
Or does it weakly waver?
Robbie Cheadle

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Spring is Coming, #Double #Etheree
We
Didn’t
Complain the
Four winter rains
Came seven days straight
Brought sixteen inches water
Measure by the water gauge
Garden soil soaked many inches down
Best time to add nutrient and prepare
Spring’s glorious blossoms coming to town
My chirping friends of mourning doves, blue jays
House finches, song sparrows and hummingbirds
Flapping back after southern stay
Crossing a thousand miles
With no GPS, satellite
Brought us big smiles
By showing up
And saying
to us
“Hi”
Miriam Hurdle

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Faded Valentines, #Etheree
glued
glittered
valentines
gifts for mommy
scribbled words of love
fly from children’s fingers
to rest in attic boxes
while affections stray to others
and in the dawn of a winter’s day
she unfolds her faded hearts, loved anew

And a bonus!
My Grandson’s Valentine’s Day Poem
(age 5)
Love is red
Love makes me happy
Love is connected to peace
Love is about Martin Luther King
I love my family
more than infinity
D. Wallace Peach

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See you tomorrow for the new challenge post!