Happy Summer Solstice! Welcome to our weekly poetry stars celebration. This week’s challenge was to write our poetry based off of the artwork from Kerfe Roig using one of these forms: haiku, senryu, haiga, tanka, gogyohka, haibun, tanka prose, renga, solo renga, chōka, cinquain, and its variations, Etheree, nonet, shadorma, Badger hexastich, Abhanga, & diatelle poetry.

Here’s our monthly schedule:

Many thanks to Kerfe for the artwork and to everyone who joined in below:
What a fabulous image we had to work with! Personally, I used all six of my senses to “feel” the magic that slipped into my chōka poetry… and I must add a note about this form. I used rhyme in my poem which is not correct. I couldn’t seem to write the poem without the rhyme, so I called the form “chōka-like,” or “inspired by the chōka form.”
When we create our poems using the Japanese forms, we must stay as true to the rules as possible. However, I see no reason why you can’t get creative… as long as you do not claim the form to be the Japanese form that inspired you. Create & Write On!
There was so much stunning poetry this week. I can’t get over the creativity. When we deal with Ekphrastic challenges we should tune into the feelings the piece of art gives us. Those feelings should be the inspiration for your poetry. It’s not so much what’s in the picture as to how it makes you feel.
Here’s an example of what I’m talking about: Jules has written a haibun that incorporates what is happening in her day along with some of the feelings (the haiku portions) she received from the artwork.
I was really taken with Elizabeth’s tanka. Here’s what she says in her post: “My first thought when I looked at this artwork was about a party in the sky, and of course, the moon is the host of the party!” This tanka sings! The pivot, saluting the moon, shows that party in the sky between the constellations and the dancing birds. We get the second meaning by using the pivot and adding the last two lines! I especially loved the creativity of the phrase “the mystical nightdress.”
I selected this Etheree by Annette Rochelle Aben because she doesn’t describe what she sees, she shares how the image made her feel. What an inspiring piece of poetry!
"Within Reach"
there
they were
floating high
in the night air
worlds I sought to touch
sometimes, seeming so close
that all I needed to do
was to stretch as far as I could
and if I closed my eyes while reaching
I could pull myself up to where they were
©2021 Annette Rochelle Aben

This week, I’ve asked Annette to choose the Ekphrastic photo prompt for next month’s challenge. Please email your image to me at least a week before the challenge to tankatuesdaypoetry@gmail.com. Thanks.

Don’t forget to connect with the Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse at wordweavingpoetryjournal.com to learn the theme of this first journal. Submissions are open until July 15, 2021. Follow Word Weaving on Twitter @word_weaving.
See you tomorrow for the new challenge!
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Great selections, Colleen. That was a fun challenge. Happy Summer!
Happy Summer Solstice! 😍☀️
A truly cosmic image from Kerfe, well done everyone.💜
Great inspiration for sure, Willow! You know the rainbow light in her image was a message from the fairies. ❤️
Wow that’s amazing 💜💜
Well, at least it was to me. I often see them in refracted light. I always know they’re around when I see those rainbow colors dancing around my house. <3
Well I never that exactly what I always think of when I see rainbow or light reflection in the house or garden, beautiful fairies it always lifts my spirit 💜
Yes! It’s their way of telling us to lighten up and dance in the garden. LOL! <3
Yes but not today it’s pouring again!!,💜💜🌧️🌧️
It’s raining off and on here today, too. We had a cold front move through so it’s quite cool. Humid, but cool. I can live with that. LOL! 😀
It’s just cold and wet here…. Summer Solstice?
LOL! Yesterday it was 87 F. so I’ll take a couple of cool days. LOL!
Yes we had some hot days last week 💜
Thank you, Sis! <3
Well done! ❤️
Solstice blessings! Great poems this week, the artwork really made our mind flew up to the sky! Thanks for featuring my post! Annette’s is lovely!
You’re welcome! Happy Soltice blessings to you, Elizabeth. 😍☀️❤️
Happy Summer Solstice, Colleen! ❤️
Thanks, Franci! Many Solstice blessings to you! <3
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
Time to catch up with the participants in last week’s Tuesday Tanka Challenge courtesy of Colleen Chesebro.. The photoprompt was stunning and was created by Kerfe Roig – Head over to enjoy everyone’s creative interpretations.
Thanks so much, Sally for sharing this amazing poetry. 😍❤️
Pleasure Colleen..hugsx♥
Nice choices Colleen. I did enjoy all those I read as well.
I loved how everyone felt some of Kerfe’s magic! ❤️