Crafting Poetry One Syllable at a Time
Lisa Thompson’s photo selection sure set off our imaginations! There was a fabulous amount of poetry and all of it was different. I enjoyed reading and commenting on your poems. ❤
Congratulations to everyone for joining in and writing poetry! Here’s who joined us via Mr. Linky:
1. | willowdot21 | 10. | Elizabeth | 19. | Linda Lee Lyberg |
2. | anita dawes | 11. | Jules | 20. | kittysverses |
3. | Padre | 12. | D. L. Finn | 21. | Marsha Ingrao |
4. | Kim | 13. | theindieshe | 22. | Colleen Chesebro |
5. | Trent McDonald | 14. | Dolores | 23. | Ruth Scribbles |
6. | lisa thomson | 15. | s. s. | 24. | M J Mallon |
7. | Reena Saxena | 16. | Donna Matthews | 25. | Pith & Piffle Poetry |
8. | Myforever. blog | 17. | huwanahoy | ||
9. | Cheryl | 18. | Goutam Dutta |
I called this challenge Ekphrastic, because it explores writing inspired by visual art (photographs). What this means is that we use the photo to inspire our poetry.
When you use a photo for inspiration you should ask yourself questions about the photo. What does it remind you of? What is it? It’s your perceptions that matter when you write your poem.
For example, a toadstool reminds me of magic! To someone else, it could represent poison, or the evils in the world. Your poetry should speak to some sort of connection (or experience) you had with the art work. Brainstorm ideas and write them down. Use those initial responses to craft your poetry.
Remember the Japanese Poetry forms have definite rules to follow when you choose those syllabic forms: haiku, senryu, haiga, tanka, gogyohka, haibun, and tanka prose. Refer to the poetry cheatsheet HERE if you are not sure of the rules. Some of these forms are difficult but don’t let that hold you back. Keep practicing. That’s how we learn and get better.
The American syllabic versions: cinquain, and cinquain variations, Etheree, nonet, and shadorma have much looser rules to follow, but nevertheless, they also have rules. The cheat sheet is the best way to go.
This week I selected Trent McDonald’s haiku. He explored the three haiku forms: traditional (5/7/5), current (3/5/3), and the shorter of the current (2/3/2). When you write haiku, you don’t have to write your poem in all three of these forms. We sometimes do it for this challenge as a way to show the evolution of syllables compared to the traditional vs. the more current versions. It shows how easy it is to write a shorter form version of a haiku.
Remember, the shorter syllable forms (s/l/s) are usually what poetry journals are looking for. This is because they believe the shorter forms most closely match the Japanese forms. It all has to do with sounds in Japanese. vs. English. The Haiku in English form (5/7/5) is much longer than the Japanese ever intended the haiku to be written.
Congratulations, Trent McDonald, its your turn to pick the photo for next month’s Photo Prompt Ekphrastic challenge. Please Email me your choice at tankatuesdaypoetry@gmail.com before next month’s challenge.
a bit of fungus
a tower in fairyland
both visions are true
-or-
fungus rot
fairyland tower
point of view
-or-
fungus
fairyland
toadstool
©2020 Trent McDonald
source: https://trentsworldblog.wordpress.com/2020/09/15/toadstool-haiku/
See you tomorrow for the new challenge!
Brilliant take Trent looking forward to your photo for October. Thank you for the great challenge as always Colleen 💜
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You’re so welcome, Willow. ❤️
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🦮🎇💜💜💜🧚🧚
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I didn’t get a chance to participate this time, though I love writing ekphrastic poetry. Congratulations, Trent and good job all.
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Thanks, so much, Merril. ❤️
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Hi Colleen – I feel honored to be chosen this week 🙂 Thanks!
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You’re welcome. You have a ton of photos! I know you’ll find something amazing! 😍
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I half forgot about that part. I will send you something now 🙂
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Great! Just make sure to use the tankatuesdaypoetry@gmail.com address. My other gmail was hacked and I’m trying to shut it down. ❤
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OK, sent to new email address.
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Thanks so much. I appreciate that. ❤
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Another terrific week Colleen and well done Trent… ♥
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Thanks, Sally. It was a fun week. ❤️
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Congratulations Trent McDonald!
And thanks Colleen for such
enjoyable prompt week after week!
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You’re so welcome. ❤️
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I love Trent’s distillation.
I’ve been moving and offline for awhile and hope to get back into things this week. I did do a map poem and will post it at some point…time has gotten away from me, even further than usual. (K)
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Yay! I’ve missed you, Kerfe. I’m glad you’re getting settled. No worries, friend. We all have “stuff” sometimes that must be dealt with. Glad to hear from you. ❤
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I’m glad to be back. I missed everyone too.
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❤️❤️❤️
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Congrats, Trent! And thank you for sharing, Colleen.
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You’re so welcome, Franci. ❤
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I love Trent’s haiku progression!
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It’s cool, isn’t it? ❤️
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Yes, it is!
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The shorter forms are what the journals are looking for. But, for my challenge you can write your haiku in the 5/7/5 or s/l/s syllable count. It’s practice. 😀
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For individual haiku, I prefer the 5/7/5, but I do like the progression ones. You did one a while back that I really liked.
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Most journals won’t even consider the 5/7/5 haiku or Senryu. I’ve not found one yet. ❤️
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Do you mean journals devoted to haiku or journals in general? That rigidity in adherence to form sounds a little cultish.
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Journals in general. That’s been my experience. They’re not interested in the 5/7/5 haiku or Senryu. ❤️
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Well, that’s their loss, I would say.
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I know. That’s why I let folks submit to the challenges in the way the words come to them. ❤️
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In the end, if the form doesn’t serve the poem, break with the form.
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Japanese poetry is different. You write it accepting the rules because that is part of the tradition. ❤️
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I really liked the stories from this prompt. So much magic, Colleen, but you’re right about the role of perspective (in everything). Applause to Trent!
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Yay! Thanks, Diana. ❤️
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Congrats,Trent!
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