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.

Each week, I like to highlight a poet who I call the Poet of the Week, who has shared an exceptional message, or shown 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 Sally Cronin as the Poet of the Week. Her double Etheree, “From Cave to the Stars,” told the story of humankind and how our writing, and words matter. Not only in the present but on into the future, too.

This double Etheree has great rhythm and flow. When we write the longer forms it’s always best to have a theme, like Sally chose. I also love the emotions expressed in her choice of words. It’s the wordplay that really gets the message across in this poem.

From Cave to the Stars #Double #Etheree
In the beginning we only had voice
to communicate our inner thoughts
and desires within our hearts
until that magical day
of the first cave drawing
and since that moment
we have evolved
and now pen
magic
words
to
express
every
aspect of life
from birth to the grave
and beyond to the stars
where we take our messages
of peace and hope for the future
not language but in digital code
to be received across the universe
Sally Cronin

HERE’S WHO JOINED US LAST WEEK FOR THE POETRY CHALLENGE USING SYNONYMS FOR

Night Visions, #Nonet
the matrix of my dream emerges
from dark mirrors, casting outlines
of stories on particles
of air—constellated
points of glittered light
following the 
movements of
inner
moons
Kerfe Roig

---

Flowering Dawn, #Butterfly #Cinquain
 A sign
in eastern sky
early rising spring sun
birth of a new season crowning
on the
horizon, a shimmering light
of rays as beauty bursts 
forth with lovely
flowers
Linda Lee Lyberg

---

"Creation", #Etheree
Sage
Woman
Celebrate
Emergence of
Bird of paradise;
A rainbow prominence
Expressive presentation.
Commit to paper miracle
Choreography, nature’s realm, an
Enlightening gift to all humankind.

Hélène - Willow Poetry

---

New Dawn  #Tanka
she scribles memories
as they emerge from the fog
dwindling recall
evident in speech pattern
in twilight, hopes for new dawn
Pat R

---

This Moment #Shadorma
Create this
draft in words, moments
remembered–
her smile, or
the scent of
coffee, waking you now, but
sending you back then
Merril Smith

---

"Once Hidden, Escapes", #Double #Etheree
I
Record
My feelings
Until I sense
The true connection
To the words, now fated
On what was but a blank page
Of plain white emptiness; my soul
Once hidden behind the darkened ink
Escapes, to become this glorious light
A fire which I cannot extinguish
The one I wish never to be tamed
For my spirit breathes in the life
Born, to these withering hands
That still continue forth
Never backing down
Until at last
Depleted
I am
Spent
Dorinda Duclos

---

The Process, #Tanka
Compose, line by line,
From beginning to end
Until its finished:
Every verse, every rhyme, and
Every single drop of blood.
John W. Leys

---

Biographer  #Shadorma
A career
So, a choice was made
Pen in hand
Paper bought
Words right from the horse’s mouth
Non-fiction author
©2019 Annette Rochelle Aben

---

"Origin & Write" #Tanka
pen touching paper
becomes tentative keystrokes
some shared, others held
always, from the beginning
poetry as therapy
rivrvlogr

---

Dad is Great #Etheree and #Tanka
Dad, 
Is great, 
From his birth, 
One of a kind, 
He likes a challenge, 
A dapper gentleman, 
Whose impeccable taste shines,
I'd describe him to impress you, 
Just like his grandfather before him, 
He dazzles all those he meets with his charm.

From the beginning
He was so adventurous,
Now ninety he sings,
Russian songs to our waitress,
For the record - he's handsome!
Marje @ Kyrosmagica

---

Song #tanka
With the dawning light
Voicing Words of creation
Souls awake to song
For the genesis of stars
Composing eternity
Sue Vincent

---

Emergent Compassion #TankaProse (#Haibun)
Memoria stone
a genesis of ruin
in every sip
all their raised fists and voices
all of my paralysis

A night so long ago. Her absolute enabled-tongue lashing you to 
mindless rage. Her slumped on the stairs, you above her, fists clenched, 
driving down. I, a boy of twelve, headlocking you off her. You, a 
middle-aged man, breaking free, shoving me against a wall. Then 
fleeing our tears.

starless night my knuckle-shaped dent in the panelling

Another night so long ago. Your absolute-enabled tongue eviscerating 
my being, until only raw woundedness remains. Me, shoving you 
away, grabbing your keys and escaping. Me, backing your car too 
quickly out of the driveway, striking the driver’s side front quarter 
panel against the basketball hoop’s steel pole.

black sky the sight of the road through tears

Other days and nights not so long ago. Staying by your side through 
your terminal illness. Standing vigil until your last breath. Watching 
your coffin laid into the ground. Bringing a wreath in winter, and 
flowers in summer, to your grave.

daybreak a dove takes flight

memorial stone
inscribed with words from the heart
despite everything
each day I forgive you both
a little more than before
Frank Tassone

---

"A Newborn in the Family" Double #Etheree
What 
A joy 
To welcome 
Baby Tori 
My niece’s first child 
Into the family 
Eager waiting is over 
Magic of baby’s first cry 
Cast away worries and doubts in mind 
Mother’s painful labor forgotten 
Holding and beholding the miracle 
Amazed by life’s fresh beginning 
Overwhelming excitement 
Shared by parents, grandparents 
Siblings, aunts and uncles 
New page of a book 
Invite us all 
To pen in 
Colored 
Stroke
Miriam Hurdle

---

“An Evening Senryu,” #Senryu
Words- scribbling… scrawling…
confusing web of genius-
horse’s mouth? Bourbon.
Holly Fister

---

Origin & Write #Haiku
at the muddy source 
deer and fox print their passing 
telling night stories
Jane Dougherty

---

Scrawled Poetry #Senryu
Inspiration Dawns,
When My Eyes Gaze Upon You.
Poetry Gets Scrawled…
The Dark Netizen

---

Dreams, #Haiku
Birthing endless dreams
Soft scribbles on the paper
Never to be reached
Elizabeth

---

Back to the Source, #Haibun, #Tanka

I sit, pen in hand, and stare into the distance. The spring has gone dry 
and the words have failed to flow. But then an image comes to me. Your
 image. There was a time when poems sprang to the page motivated by 
your eyes and your smile. Can I once more dip in that well, go back to 
the root and create something new? I lift my pen to the paper and note 
down a few dragging words.

I pen you a verse
Like one at the beginning
When it was still fresh
Inspired by a thought of you
Source of many silly scrawls
Trent P. McDonald

---

Origin & Write, #Etheree
I
am the
beginning
alpha, the light 
I am creation
I am that what I am 
never still, I record life 
I send a sign to guide the way 
Take out your pen, write what you see now
maybe a letter, a poem, just write...
Anita Dawes

---

Let Me Be Like Grass - #Shadorma
From a seed,
Mere, tiny kernel,
Comes grass, fields.
Freshly mown,
The fields grow lush, beautiful,
Free from old habits.

A winter
Of creative thoughts
Seems daunting.
Keeps haunting.
How can I compose again,
Burdened with pain?

Mow my mind –
Let me be like grass!
Grow anew,
Escape old,
Bring simple delights to all
Who seek the cut field.
H. R. R. Gorman

---

"can we talk" #Shadorma
can we talk
scribble with our breath
whisper here
something true
which we both already know
on the virgin air?
Dan Julian

---

Obsession #Senryu
Not willing to stop 
I carve my name on your heart
Beginning anew
Tina Stewart Brakebill

---

You be the Light, #Double #Shadorma
genesis
He saw it was good
this new light
go and share
the answer to the darkness
by it, we can see

you are hope
your words essential
be the light
pen the words
we seek in desperation
dispel the shadows
Donna Matthews

---

"Roots," #Tanka
Left bare - my roots dried
Below singing her sorrow
Human waste chokes life
She dawns a dress to pen Spring
Disease, it seems, lets it fall
Ethan Dale Eagar

---

Babble On, # Haibun #Senryu

In the beginning was the Word. So they say. They say the Word was 
spoken by the Creator, that speaking was Creation, and the idea was, it 
was to be all Good. They say that Creator was the first voices in the head, 
but it was scary because Creator was the Author and the Voice and the 
characters got confused. 

There was give and take. Deals were made; deals were broken. People 
needed a lexis to stand on. Books were made. Pages were taken from 
books. Words rained and reigned and reined.

The people marveled at the words in their ears and in their hands and 
in their power. But because they were not prepared to hear they could 
not. Unable to hear, they babbled. Still, they grabbed at sticks and 
scratched in the dirt and tried to draw themselves back towards 
Creation. 

Words the tools we wield
Sharp, blunt, cold; soft, warm, healing;
We create our world
D. Avery @shiftnshake

---

Take some time off. Tomorrow is the new Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge. Be ready!