Colleen’s 2019 #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge Recap No. 133, #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 in the menu item called Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Guidelines.

I like to keep everyone informed on the challenge and recap post. Just so you know, I’m still having difficulties adding the links to your blogs on the recap. It usually takes two or more times to get the link to connect to your names. I’ve tried different browsers, cleared my cache, and it still continues. I’m thinking about not adding the links in the future. Afterall, most of you link your posts in the comments section of the challenge post. So, please ONLY link to the challenge post, not to the pages that describe how to do the different poetry forms. NO one will find your link. ❤

In addition, I’m finding that when I visit your blogs, it says that I’m not following you! I have no idea what that is about. If you participate in this challenge, I follow you, unless this is more technical difficulties from WP. So MUCH fun!

POETRY NEWS: Poetry Contests & Journal Submissions

Currently, UHTS is accepting poetry for the Autumn Issue of the Cattails Journal. Submissions for Autumn/ October issue open 1st July (midnight) GMT and close 15th August (midnight) GMT. 
Read the submission requirements: HERE. You can view the journal HERE. READ the UHTS poetry definitions that are acceptable for submission HERE.

UHTS also is sponsoring the “Fleeting Words” Tanka Competition. Submission Period and Deadline: May 1-August 15 of each year. There is a 10 poem limit on the number of submissions. If more than 10 poems are submitted, only the first 10 poems will be entered. Entries must be the original work of the author, be previously unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere for the entire time period it takes to complete the judging. Click HERE for submission requirements and read carefully to find the current competition.

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 Robbie Cheadle as the Poet of the Week. Both of her Tanka poem’s hit the spot for me. And, since there is a Tanka contest listed above, it makes sense to share a few as examples.

Tanka are written in the first person and express the thoughts of the poet. The third line is often called “the pivot” which indicates a turning point in the meaning. The pivot helps to tell a complete story in five lines and 31 syllables.

"Don’t do it"

Do you believe in
conspiracy theories?
Don’t exhaust your mind
seeking out hidden agendas
and proving the negatives

"A gift"

When given a gift
don’t diminish its value
by looking for more
than the giver intended
ignoring its true meaning

This week’s Honorable mention go to Frank Tassone and his poem, “An Epiphanal Invitation. The Tanka poems highlight his prose as they cause the reader to pause for a moment. As a reader, you get the connection as new incite into his words are gained from the addition of the Tanka.

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

---

“Riddles,” Triple #Cinquain by Kerfe Roig

What grows
invisible
and fills every corner–
what erases and then measures
the time?

What comes
gushing out of
open veins, cascading–
what removes and then replaces 
the cut?

What is
hidden until
it has always been there–
what rearranges memory
as light?

***

“Stars,” #Tanka by Jane Dougherty

no time that passes
eyes fixed upon heaven’s map 
or downcast to read
ancient words will change the fact
that only stars crowd the sky

***

“Eternal,” Double #Nonet by Elizabeth

Dreams suspended in the split moment
The breathe hoping for the magic 
Infinity blue passion
Waves bringing and taking
Lost between the thoughts
Soft sand and wind
Wandering
Being
Time
Healing
Letting go
The heaviness
Fences of the past
Always suffocating 
Wasted questions and answers
The lavish of infinity
Eternal link between earth and sky

***

“Blueprint for Purchase Foiled” #Tanka by Trent

I can organize
Use all my money on you
Plot all that I want
I find the Beatles were right
No design can buy your love

***

“Proposal,” #Senryu by Ritu Bhathal

Lavishing my love
With a proposal so rare
He cannot say no

***

“Sidewalk Brawl,” #Tanka by Pat

between two sparrows
a tumbling-mid-air-to-ground
brawl, a ruckus ploy

depleted, one pulls way back-
entranced, horn rouse me from wonder

***

“Blueprints,” #Cinquain by H. R. R. Gorman

Blueprints –
Incomplete dreams
Weigh heavy, lingering,
Until savings are devoted.
Mission.

***

“I, Supervillain,” by The Dark Netizen

I Pass My Days By
Plotting Evil Schemes, Yet Lose
To Pesky Heroes…

***

“My Earthly Bond,” #Tanka by Dorinda Duclos

Without intention,

My cause, will merely stagnate.

As others deplete,

I must rise above, strengthen,

The bond I have, with my Earth.

***

summer heat

sapping all of my fresh

intimate designs

the film of sweat lingers

on the back of my neck

Another summer vacation dawns. I begin the first evening of it in solitude. Frank plays for his high school’s graduation, which he, himself, will partake into years. Mira attends a Chi Gong class.

I savor the drone of evening traffic, the last singsong calls of rival birds, the hum of neighbors’ air conditioners. I imbibe the varying verdant shades of the backyard: Maple, pine, crabgrass. They all vie to become the flavor my eyes remember.

“I was oppressed by the velvety emptiness of the word and swathes of soft grass.”

Laurie Lee

But Something is here. Something pulses against my own determination to ignore it. A presence insists on acknowledgement, communion, being experienced. It exudes from the verdancy and the cacophonies occurring within this moment. And yet, I can barely hear it’s soft murmuring. It is gentle, and patience. It can wait.

Do I dare open myself up? With what story, what song, will I then incarnate this conjoining? Can I live with never being the same thereafter?

the energy

to expend transcending

my own limits

I listen for that murmur

within the wind

***

“The Magpie’s Prize,” Double #Etheree by Sally Cronin

It
was not
the intent
of the magpie,
to squander away
the opportunity
to steal the shiny bauble
that was displayed so temptingly
on the sill of the open window,
permitting spring air and thieves to enter.
The bird cared not of the significance
of this pretty locket and its chain,
nor the sadness its theft would bring
to its elderly owner.
It only saw glitter
not faces within
of a love lost.
Down it flew
for his
prize.

***

“Father & Son,” #Tanka by Willowdot21

I intend to stay
And while away this short day
In your company
I aspire to be happy
It’s my design to pass time.

***

“Time to Strategize,” #Haiku by Donna Matthews

come, let’s strategize
it’s time to splurge on bird seed
prepare for winter

***

 “Glass Castle” #Reverse Nonet by Violet Lentz

Very
much a
prisoner
in a castle
made of glass, founded
on the silt and sand of a
contrived, filtered past. Run through
by a pebble, of well placed truth,
web of lies becomes, a hangman’s noose…

***

“Shadows of Thoughts,” Double #Shadorma by Linda Lee Lyberg

Squander not
precious words and minds
ideas
are shadows
of thoughts seeking and drifting 
into splendid light

Luminous
colors of fire dance
brilliant mind
romancing
melodic syllables sing
music to poets

***

“Narcissist,” #Nonet by Vashti Quiroz-Vega

You made me doubt my own sanity

with your consuming gas-lighting.

I am tired of your methods.

I spent my entire life

trying to please you.

A person with

a twisted

disease.

Sad.

***

“Crossroad,” Tanka by Miriam Hurdle

Travel from afar

Crossroad fast approaching

No choice not to choose

Courage needed to decide

To risk promise of unknown

***

“Wonder in Rainbowed Worlds,” #Cinquain by Merril D. Smith

Wonder

as bright stars fill

night sky without design,

arranged by chance, dancing light sings

through time

~~~

find peace

in prismed glow

sparking within your soul–

rainbowed worlds where blue ponies graze,

content

***

“Balls for Ben,” #Senryu by Ben, the Dog Poet

Only one project
Lots more tennis balls for Ben
OH, joyous purchase.

***

“The Border,” #Haibun #Tanka by Debby Gies

My heart aches for the pain and suffering, and loss of life. What remains etched in my mind are the senseless deaths of many fleeing the only homes they’ve ever known, in hopes of asylum – only to find there isn’t any.

Beware the border

A failing system of hope

Yearning for freedom

Human life squandered in search

Where hopes and dreams go to die.

***

“Plan & Spend,” #Etheree by Anita Dawes

Plot

Each move

Like a game

Lay out pieces

Invest in myself

Employ the best methods

thoughts flood my mind thick and fast

Plans by mice and men, not this time

I tune into a higher power

ready to blow my investors’ minds…

***

“Plan & Spend,” Double #Tanka by Robbie Cheadle

Don’t do it

Do you believe in

conspiracy theories?

Don’t exhaust your mind

seeking out hidden agendas

and proving the negatives

***

A gift

When given a gift

don’t diminish its value

by looking for more

than the giver intended

ignoring its true meaning

***

Thanks for reading and sharing. See you tomorrow for the new challenge. ❤