Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 153 #SynonymsOnly

Posted byColleen M. ChesebroPosted inTanka Tuesday Poetry ChallengesTags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

WELCOME TO TANKA TUESDAY!

Hi! I’m glad to see you here. Are you ready to write some syllabic poetry?

Here are your two words for this week:

Grace & Style

HERE’S THE CATCH: You can’t use the prompt words! SYNONYMS ONLY! 

PLEASE support the other poets by visiting their blogs and leaving comments. Sharing each other’s work on social media is always nice too.

This challenge is for Haiku, Senryu, Haiga, Tanka, Haibun, Etheree, Nonet, Shadorma, and Cinquain poetry forms. Freestyle rhyming poetry is not part of this challenge. Thank you. ❤

For Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Challenge, you can write your poem in one of the forms defined below. Click on the links to learn about each form:

HAIKU IN ENGLISH 

SENRYU IN ENGLISH

HAIGA

TANKA IN ENGLISH 

HAIBUN IN ENGLISH 

CINQUAIN & the variations on Cinquain-Wikipedia 

ETHEREE

NONET

SHADORMA

Here are some great sites that will help you write your poetry and count syllables

synonyms.com 

This site even has a link so you can install the extension on Google Chrome.

thesaurus.com

For Synonyms and Antonyms. When your word has too many syllables, find one that works.

howmanysyllables.com

Find out how many syllables each word has. I use this site to compose my poems. Click on the “Workshop” tab, then cut and paste your poetry into the box. Click the Count Syllables button on the button. This site does the hard work for you.

I don't get it

THE RULES

I will publish the Tuesday prompt post at 12: 03 A.M. Mountain Standard Time (Phoenix, AZ).  That should give everyone time to see the prompt from around the world. The RECAP is published on Monday and will contain the poetry from the Poet of the Month and any Honorable Mentions.

You have one week to complete the Challenge with a deadline of Sunday, at 12:00 P.M. (Noon) Phoenix, AZ, U. S. A.

Follow the schedule listed below:

Let’s try something different. It would be great to see everyone’s poetry on one post. I’m trying to find a plugin that will help us with this issue. Stay tuned.

In the meantime…

Instead of a link-back, copy and paste your poem in the comments. This will work except for Haiga poetry. In that case, copy the link of your poem in the comments and let us know that it’s a Haiga.

 

Don't forget

As time allows, I will visit your blog, comment, and TWEET your POETRY. I have also been sharing some of your poetry on Facebook.

If you add these hashtags to your post TITLE on your blog (depending on which poetry form you use) your poetry may be viewed more often:

#Haiku, #Senryu, #Haiga, #Tanka, #micropoetry, #poetry, #5lines, #Haibun, #Prose, #CinquainPoetry, #Etheree, #Nonet, #Shadorma

You may copy the badge I have created to go with the Weekly Poetry Challenge Post and place it in your post. It’s not mandatory:

Have fun and write some poetry! Don’t forget to copy and paste your poem in the comments!

 

Published by Colleen M. Chesebro

An avid reader, Colleen M. Chesebro rekindled her love of writing poetry after years spent working in the accounting industry. These days, she loves crafting syllabic poetry, flash fiction, and creative fiction and nonfiction. In addition to poetry books, Chesebro’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She’s an avid supporter of her writing community on Word Craft Poetry.com by organizing and sponsoring a weekly syllabic poetry challenge, called #TankaTuesday, where participants experiment with traditional and current forms of Japanese and American syllabic poetry. Chesebro is an assistant editor of The Congress of the Rough Writers Flash Fiction Anthology & Gitty Up Press, a micro-press founded by Charli Mills and Carrot Ranch. In January 2022, Colleen founded Unicorn Cats Publishing Services to assist poets and authors in creating eBooks and print books for publication. In addition, she creates affordable book covers for Kindle and print books. Chesebro lives in the house of her dreams in mid-Michigan surrounded by the Great Lakes with her husband and two (unicorn) cats, Chloe & Sophie.

121 thoughts on “Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 153 #SynonymsOnly”

    2. Hi Colleen. Here is my poem for this week. Will be back to read.

      under the bluest sky
      and warm caribbean sun
      coconut palms sway –
      such grace and ease of design,
      no worries of wintry days

      Pat

      Like

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    1. Adroitly she glides across the floor
      Epitome of elegance
      She draws every eye to her
      Embodiment of poise
      Attire radiant
      Her smile aglow
      So splendid
      Is our
      Belle

      Like

      1. Beau
        Dapper
        As always
        Visage striking
        Every move perfect
        He dominates the room
        Exuding pure elegance
        His silk cravat expertly tied
        The belle alone standing at his side

        Like

  6. Hi Colleen thank you for the lovely prompt.. it brought my mother to mind.. so I have written a double etheree and I have used ‘Embellish and Flair’ it will be on my blog tomorrow, but lovely and easy to cut and paste here for people to read too..

    Double Etheree – The Duchess by Sally Cronin

    Age
    did not
    diminish
    her love of clothes.
    She would embellish
    the plainest of jackets,
    gracing her neck with silk scarves
    usually in shades of bright pink.
    A colour that she had adopted
    when a child as her signature palette.
    Her love of pink became legendary
    as did her fashion tips and advice.
    These included strict instructions
    in a letter when ninety,
    which jacket she would wear
    on her last journey.
    Rose pink of course.
    Elegant
    to the
    end.

    ©Sally Cronin

    Like

      1. Warmth

        It is a dark and cold November day. The clouds are dragging grey across the dull sky, faded dead leaves litter the ground. Even the fire doesn’t provide warmth. I need something to spark my flame. I need you.

        You beckon, drawing me into the bedroom. Beneath the sheets, you cuddled in my arms, I see lovers in the vibrant clouds. The setting sun glints rainbows on the tropical waters with horses dancing in the waves. A warm breeze over the cool, majestic mountains makes me forget the forecast of snow. Waterfalls near and far pulls me more into your allure.

        I search you out on a cold dark day
        Your agile tongue speaks in my mind
        I follow your elegance
        Dreaming with open eyes
        Bewitched by your tone
        Another land
        On your pages
        A book
        You

        Like

          1. Thanks! For the first time I combined with another prompt, and the prose part matches the picture used 🙂 But it is much funner without the picture, so there is more of a twist.

            Like

  9. Propriety be damned
    By Violet Lentz

    “If My Lady would indulge me.” He bows smartly at the waist, his pampered palm outstretched. Every rule of decency demands, I must elegantly accept.

    His spit shine and neatened whiskers a blatant effrontery of couth, as ill intention sweet as succor slips, past lewd lascivious lips.

    I smile through risen bile, endure his heated breath upon my nape. As stripped of everything but, title, all propriety be damned, I do as desperation dictates- and oblige- this deplorable ilk of man.

    dread of derision
    erases all decorum
    impropriety ensues

    I sure hope I am doing this right, Colleen. I haven’t participated in a while, and the posting rules have changed.

    Either way, It is my pleasure to be here again.

    Like

    1. Wow! This is fabulous! We were trying to figure out a way that everyone could read the poetry on the challenge post without me having to do all the work on a recap. You still do a post, just copy the poem here too – which you did. ❤

      Like

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      2. Here is the Tanka.
        *****
        Join me for this meal
        Lets give thanks as pilgrims did
        They survived hard times
        They left their homes full of hope
        Enjoy fruits of first harvest.
        ******
        💜

        Like

      1. It’s in the one above but here we go
        Strings cannot withstand
        the consummate elegance 
        of the wielded bow,
        low tears wrenched from moistened eyes,
        released by the cello’s mood.e go,

        Like

  14. Tanka
    *******
    Join me for this meal
    Lets give thanks as pilgrims did
    They survived hard times
    They left their homes full of hope
    Enjoy fruits of first harvest.
    *******

    Like

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      2. I haven’t got to reading through all that’s going on. Are we to share our poems in the comment section from here onward?

        Pat

        Like

        1. The idea is to still write on your blog and copy to the comments. This way, all the poetry will be on the challenge post for everyone to read. Should have thought of this before. ❤️

          Like

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  29. Hey Colleen! Here I have written a prose enveloped haibun. The theme of my poem is the sacred river Ganges that flows in India. In recent years, it has become the most polluted river in the world. I have tried to bring the issue into light through the poem. It’s a bit long haibun, so it would be difficult for the readers to read it completely here as I have explained the context at the end of the post. I would request you to please check it out through this link
    https://mistella.co.in/index.php/2019/11/14/ganges-at-six/

    Like

      1. Yea here I go!!

        Ganges at Six in the Morning

        6’O clock
        I and me, crossing the Ganges on a freight train, see the horizon enveloped in life. Indian women with their own elegance borrow water from the goddess. Men, after the holy dip, join their hands before the sun.

        Heart of India
        Lies in this stream, which spread and
        Sanctify their souls.

        I can see life and death at the same time. Bodies which no longer breathe, are being drown in it. Also, the bodies which breathe are drawing water to drink. But it’s difficult to find which body is alive and which one’s dead.

        Plastics, garbage, dance
        on surface, to enter bodies,
        Whether breathe or not.

        And now the river’s crossed. I look inside. The bodies beside mine have closed their eyes. Some are open, but are of no use. Their mouths are whispering to each other in their own fashion. Some talk of politics, some about the mythology. Oh! They also know the stories about the purity of Ganges. But…

        None of these stories
        Can sanctify the drops which
        Purify these mouths.

        Now I need to be ready, for my stoppage is arriving. I dare not call it my destination as it’s already decided. The sacred Ganges that I crossed is the ultimate end of this body. Like all of them, I also have to die before death. [“I’m a critic of left wing ideology.”
        “You’re right. They don’t respect the indian culture.”
        “By the way who will win the election this time. What do you think?”]
        And here comes my stoppage. Let’s meet new bodies, new eyes and new mouths.

        Like

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  36. The Peacock
    by ~RuthScribbles

    the peacock swaggers

    onlookers gaze eagerly

    feathers sweep the lawn

    elegant manner displayed

    fancy tail quivers and sways

    Like

  37. Hello Colleen! A little background one my post. Years ago, I had a session with an Indian Shaman, and he said one of my spirit animals is coyote, and named me Crystal Blue Coyote.

    #Haiku: Coyote

    HAIKU:

    desert coyote
    named my spirit animal
    charming and winsome

    Like

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  41. Haibun: Marceline’s Stage Fright (https://theresaly520.wordpress.com/2019/11/17/tell-the-story-marcelines-stage-fright/)

    Inescapable
    Nowhere to turn but the now
    Moon is spotlighting

    After meeting with lobbyists from various advocacy groups all day, Princess Marceline attempted to sleep. Despite residing in the comfort of her castle, she was entangled in her sheets and unable to rest in her bed as she tossed and turned. In her dream, she was supposed to pitch several ideas and initiatives to help her country recover from the damage caused by war by presenting a speech in front of the people she served. Wearing a brilliant blue gown designed by fashion designer, Pierre, she marveled at the beauty of the intricate lacy French brocade near her wrists.

    She pulled the curtains aside and stepped forward out to the balcony. As her subjects’ eyes attentively stared back at her, Marceline’s typical poise was disturbed by her inability to speak. She suddenly remembered something that a dear friend once shared with her which elevated her spirit.

    “Surfing in crowds is like mind over matter. If I don’t mind it don’t matter.” -Brodus Rogers
    Her trembling was imperceptible from such a far distance, but she refused to be daunted by the anxiety of her temporary muteness. She drew in strength from her loyal, dedicated audience and smiled. She turned to her interpreter on the right and began performing sign language. The interpreter read her hands and began speaking into the mike and out to the crowd before her, “Thank you for coming out today. Contrary to a popular critic’s prediction that the crowd will not come out due to the cold and rain, it seems like today is quite the exception!” Marceline slowly felt the anxiety melt away as the crowd cheered in unison.

    Lucid dreams present
    A chance to change the outcome
    Dignity and charm

    Like

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