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 Holly Fister and her Haibun poem, “Warmed by the Glow.” This poem sent me back into time where I remembered what it was like to finally get the kids into bed, and to finally sneak in a minute for myself. I really connected with her feeling and her descriptions are superb.

The Haibun is all about the poet’s perceptions at a specific moment in time. The rules for constructing a Haibun are simple. Take a moment and refresh your memory:

• Every haibun must begin with a title.
  
• Haibun prose is composed of terse, descriptive paragraphs, written in the first person singular.
• The text unfolds in the present moment, as though the experience is occurring now rather than yesterday or some time ago. In keeping with the simplicity of the accompanying haiku or tanka poem, all excessive words should be pared down or deleted. Nothing must ever be overstated.
  
• The poetry never attempts to repeat, quote or explain the prose.
  
• Instead, the poetry reflects some aspect of the prose by introducing a different step in the narrative through a microburst of detail.
  
• Thus, the poetry is a sort of juxtaposition – seemingly different yet somehow connected.

“Warmed by the Glow”

My head throbbed with each footfall as I walked down the dim hallway, but the children were asleep, which made me a conqueror. I was exhausted, but satisfied with the victory. Sharp light pierced my eyes as I emerged into the living room, and I cringed away from it. What happened to that fierce warrior? I snuck a peek out the window, and my breath caught- a golden glow had fallen across the yard. Trees in the distance split the light, sending dusty rays all directions. I hastily positioned myself on the edge of the chaise so that the sunbeams hit my face. They warmed my skin. I closed my eyes and saw the glow through my eyelids. The sun was quickly slipping downward, so I leaned forward and then stood, to chase the light.

sunburned sky will guide

heavy spirits up toward

cloud shaped memories

Holly Fister

HERE’S WHO JOINED US LAST WEEK FOR THE POETRY CHALLENGE USING SYNONYMS FOR “Follow & Lead”

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Recall the Dreams, #Shadorma

Recall when we
watched the moon, a peach
rising—and
crying for
us? The sad music of dreams
and a thousand whys—

we want to
run after her and
ask of death,
of whispers,
ugly shadows, yet let it
go, to sleep, aching.
Merril D. Smith

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rambling, #double #etheree
hope
evolve
breath, focus
intuition
moments and people
the message comes in clues
learn the rule of soul knowledge
shows up in mysterious ways
nothing should be able to steal it 
it isn't always clear at the moment
joy
is whole,
consciousness,
the commitment
authentically
an empowered person
pursue it without limits
and keep your senses synchronized
confirming that you are in peace now
letting go of any expectation
Elizabeth

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Gems of a Beautiful Life, Etheree
Seek 
moments 
where peace soothes 
your soul, welcomes 
love into your heart 
starts a revolution 
of pure magical thinking 
a flash where clarity prevails 
gleams like diamonds in golden sunshine 
these are gems of a beautiful life
Linda Lee Lyberg

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Follow & Lead: #cinquain
Grey skies 
replace the blue, 
spring storm brewing, trees creak, 
dandelions close golden eyes 
and wait.
Jane Dougherty

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Guide Me, #Shadorma
Show me where
My life's path should go
Guide me through
Teach me by
Kindness as your disciple
To accept your word.
WillowDot21

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Little Rascals #Shadorma
Mess cleaned up
Suddenly a crash
A new mess
Bigger still
As a result, she just sighed
Puppies in charge
©2019 Annette Rochelle Aben

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Trail of Spring  #Haiku
flock of geese
on the trail of spring -
innate guide
Pat R

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Constriction #Double #Etheree
Hard
Edges
Cage imposed
Limiting form
Counting syllables
Seeking conformity
Obedient to dictates
Narrowing the field of vision
To engender uniformity
The bias of judgement obeys its rules
Railing against apparent constriction
Forgetting existence is defined
Necessary separation
Failing to understand
Freedom's illusion
Made possible
By edges
Being
Hard
Sue Vincent

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"Worship," #Tanka
Wherever you go
I will be your own shadow
I'll never leave you
Be my escort to the light
Show me how to live just right
Ritu

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NOLA Gemini Moments: a #haibun

What must Mardi Gras be like?

Is it revelers pursuing yet another Krew’s ostentacious float? Is it music pouring
out of every open door and window? Or crowds of tourists casting down or tossing up
sets of beads? Is it influencers drawing onlookers with the lure of lavish costumes? It
it a mysterious alchemy of all these things?

Whatever it is, the festivities carries on right up to the last minute of Fat Tuesday.
But at midnight, police bullhorns announce the arrival of Ash Wednesday.
The party is over.

Perhaps Mardi Gras is the reverse of the traditional New Orleans Funeral
procession, during which Mourners process in tears to the cemetery, as a marching
band plays a dirge. Upon the procession’s return, however, the band strikes up a
wildly upbeat tune, and the processors dance and sing their way back.

Fast, then feast? Or feast, then hangover?

piles of dropped beads
the gray light of another
“Trash Wednesday”
Frank J. Tassone

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Huntress, #Senryu
Spent Months Tracking Them,
Now, I Will Take Out Their Head
With One Swift Arrow…
the dark netizen

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Follow & Lead, #Double #Etheree
I
attend
Sunday church
my soul transcend
sins everywhere
the walls run thick with tears
heads bowed in silent prayer
seeking forgiveness given here
candle lit, penance paid, sins vanish
I chase my shadow across the Rubicon
The die is cast, whose favour will it fall
my soul hangs in balance of payment
I track the desert wilderness
I seek the one who can help
to return me from hell
call me from exile
the hunt over
my own guide
I live
now
Anita Dawes

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Rains of March - #Etheree
Drops
Drip down
Paths routed
With the first rain.
Pitter-patter sounds
Knock on leaf-littered ground
Waking seeds from earth-tucked sleep.
Sprouts pop out and reach for the sun,
From instinct observing nature’s wish
To praise the sky for bringing heaven’s gift.
H. R. R. Gorman

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Unmasked, #Haibun

This face is not the one I wore yesterday. Recast as abstraction, it chases illusions that will 
pilot my borrowed dreams. Today I am a galaxy of song, light, color and dance.

If I turn around
will I recollect myself
or pass myself by?
Kerfe Roig

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How to Succeed in Life - #Etheree
If you strive to succeed in our wide world
then let me give you a helpful hint
learn all you can about the rules
before you show to people
your singularity
and ability
to thrive outside
the confines
of life’s
box
Sally Cronin

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"Beautiful New Paths", a Nonet
Let our thoughts govern our wildest dreams
Take us to places none can find
Through wilderness and portals
Imaginary doors
Unlocking our minds
As we pursue
Beautiful
And new
Paths
Dorinda Duclos

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The Blooming, Etheree & Haiku
 I,
Shadow
Trailblazer,
Trace my rhythms
Patterning unknowns
On to the chalk path chase
Drawing forms, colours blurred
Outline my chosen name to hunt
for sparks, brittle blooms still nourish bees,
Transparent petals
Offer nectar to the wings,
Stalks direct the globe.
Antonia Sara Zenkevitch

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Wanderlust #Triple #Shadorma

wanderlust
so much to still see
trails to hike
one step then
another; mountains to top
adventure awaits

you and me
we go together
where you guide
there I am
the trail unfolds as we go
we wander as two

for better
or for worse, we are
pursuing
a full life
my favorite traveler
where will we go next?
Donna Matthews

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“Warmed by the Glow,” #Haibun

My head throbbed with each footfall as I walked down the dim hallway, but the children were asleep, which made me a conqueror. I was exhausted, but satisfied with the victory. Sharp light pierced my eyes as I emerged into the living room, and I cringed away from it. What happened to that fierce warrior? I snuck a peek out the window, and my breath caught- a golden glow had fallen across the yard. Trees in the distance split the light, sending dusty rays all directions. I hastily positioned myself on the edge of the chaise so that the sunbeams hit my face. They warmed my skin. I closed my eyes and saw the glow through my eyelids. The sun was quickly slipping downward, so I leaned forward and then stood, to chase the light.

sunburned sky will guide
heavy spirits up toward
cloud shaped memories
Holly Fister

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