TANKA TUESDAY POETRY CHALLENGE STARS | #PhotoPrompt

March 29, 2021March 28, 2021Colleen M. Chesebro 24 Comments

Welcome to our weekly poetry stars celebration. This week’s challenge was to choose synonyms for the words, “loose and tight,” using one of these forms: Haiku, Senryu, Haiga, Tanka, Gogyohka, Haibun, Tanka Prose, Renga, Solo-Renga, Cinquain, and its variations, Etheree, Nonet, Shadorma, Badger Hexastich (hexastich for short), and Abhanga.

Remember… the first of the month you can write any syllabic poetry form of your choice. The rest of the time, we write our syllabic poetry in one of the forms listed, and we follow a schedule (posted below). I do this for a couple of reasons. It requires those of you who would like to enter contests or to submit your poetry to literary journals to learn how to follow their rules. This challenge gives you that practice. Besides, why enter a challenge if you don’t follow the rules? That’s the challenge part. ❤

ALSO: Make sure you are grabbing the URL of your “published” post when you link back to the challenge and in Mr. Linky. If you need extra help with these features, let me know and I will help you. ❤

Many thanks to everyone who joined in below:

1.	Reena Saxena	6.	D. L. Finn	11.	Ruth Scribbles
2.	Trent McDonald	7.	Heather	12.	Ritu Bhathal
3.	willowdot21	8.	Jules	13.	kat
4.	theindieshe	9.	anita dawes	14.	Colleen Chesebro
5.	Cheryl	10.	Jude	15.	M.J. Mallon

Wowser! D.L. Finn’s photo was filled with magic! Please take a moment to read her post about the photo HERE.

This week, I selected Anita Dawes‘ Etheree poem to feature because she picked up on the model wearing a mask which turned her poem into a poignant view of our current world status. Truthfully, I thought little about the mask, which goes to show how normal mask wearing has become. I thought there was great pathos in the photo and clearly, Anita felt many emotions as well.

The classic Etheree form should be unrhymed and focus on one subject or idea. The poem should have great rhythm and flow. Etheree should have a title, but sometimes less is more. This is a great form to experiment with.

Look at filler words when you’re writing your poetry. Not everything has to be stated in a sentence. Phrases are acceptable. We don’t have to spell out everything to our readers. Let them pick up your meaning through adjectives and breathy phrases.

Words like: the, so, that, by, which, etc. add nothing to the poem. Think in descriptive words, and use verbs to convey action. Just because you have X number of syllables to use doesn’t mean you want to waste them with words that add no meaning to your poem. This is especially true when you are writing the Japanese forms of haiku, senryu, tanka, etc.

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

My
Broken
Friend, I hug
The world swallowed
By the hand of greed
I can give so little
Face covering a small step
It is hoped each will do their best
To stop the tears of pain and heartbreak
So the world can spin in harmony once more…

© Anita Dawes 2021

See you tomorrow for the new challenge!

TANKA TUESDAY POETRY CHALLENGE STARS | #PhotoPrompt, The psychology of color

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021Colleen M. Chesebro 37 Comments

Many thanks to everyone who joined in below and to Mr. Linky’s Magical Widgets:

1.	Reena Saxena	10.	Tina Stewart Brakebill	19.	Zander
2.	ladyleemanila	11.	Ritu Bhathal	20.	Ruth Scribbles
3.	Henry Chukwuma	12.	D. L. Finn	21.	M J Mallon
4.	Padre	13.	Colleen Chesebro	22.	D.G. Kaye
5.	Jude	14.	Eugenia	23.	G.R. MELVIN
6.	s. s.	15.	Cheryl	24.	kittysverses
7.	Gwen Plano	16.	willowdot21	25.	Sally Cronin
8.	Trent McDonald	17.	Jules	26.
9.	theindieshe	18.	Anita Dawes

This week, I asked you all to use the psychology of color in your poetry. Using color provokes strong imagery, engaging your brain to react to the symbolism. We write poetry to connect with the world around us. The addition of color helps us choose words to convey a deeper meaning.

Think about the color blue. This hue can be warm and comforting, while it can also signify coldness. Don’t forget about the act of feeling “blue.” Just that one word (one syllable) helps to convey a range of emotions.

There were some exquisite poems this week, so please visit the other poets to read their poems. The Badger Hexastich seems to be a popular form. Please read Sally Cronin’s poems HERE to get an idea of how your words and syllables should flow smoothly with meaning when using this form.

Those short syllables can be choppy, as I illustrated in my poem. I did this to emphasize the lack of emotion the color gray can invoke. When you compose your poetry, think about your reader’s reactions to your words.

I also like Jude’s haibun senryu. In the haibun portion he writes each sentence separately, like a verse, instead of in a paragraph. He stays true to the Japanese form, but adds his own personalization to it.

Check out his word choice. Desdemona is a character from the Shakespeare play, Othello. Just the mention of her name invokes a kind of gray sadness as the beautiful and innocent wife of Othello who meets a tragic end. This is excellent imagery.

I chose D.L. Finn’s tanka poem below to highlight this week. I enjoyed Denise’s creativity. The first three lines convey a specific theme: the angel’s gift. The last two lines pivot, and she gives direction to her poetry by sharing her reaction to seeing the gift. The pivot was a surprise! The imagery is precise, yet doesn’t share too much by saying she “…saw the soul of the world.” What does that mean to you?

This week, I’ve asked D.L. Finn to choose the photo for next month’s #Photo Prompt challenge. Please email your words to me at least a week before the challenge to tankatuesdaypoetry@gmail.com. Thanks.

THE GIFT

The angel’s gift shone
Like a rainbow umbrella
In a vile gray world.
Curious, I approached her
And saw the soul of the world.

©2021 D.L. Finn

See you tomorrow for another fun syllabic poetry challenge!

When Life Gives You Lemons…Write Poetry! #Poetry #WritingCommunity #IARTG #ASMSG #TANKA #CINQUAIN #HAIBUN @ColleenChesebro #tryingnewthings – Author D.L. Finn

August 14, 2020October 29, 2020Colleen M. Chesebro 11 Comments

D.L. (Denise) Finn has gone through a series of traumatic events this year. However, what thrilled me was how she immersed herself in the learning of a new craft – writing syllabic poetry! Her star shines bright.

Denise said, “When I write it (poetry), I’m visiting my soul, where I can reflect on my emotions and life.”

I can’t think of a better way to heal than spending time in nature and writing syllabic poetry! Please join me in wishing Denise a speedy recovery! Stop by, read her story and her poetry. Don’t forget to tell her hello. ❤

From D.L. Finn: “It’s been a strange sixteen months for me on many levels. There were several deaths of pets, friends, and family, plus a period of things breaking. Then came 2020 with high expectations. Halfway through this year, I find myself wishing for someone to shut down the rest of the year...”

Please click the link below to read the rest of the post.

Source: When Life Gives You Lemons…Write Poetry! #Poetry #WritingCommunity #IARTG #ASMSG #TANKA #CINQUAIN #HAIBUN @ColleenChesebro #tryingnewthings – Author D.L. Finn

“Books That Changed Me”– 2020 Summer Edition! @ColleenChesebro @dehauthor @jhawker69 @boom_lyn – Author D.L. Finn

June 25, 2020October 29, 2020Colleen M. Chesebro 11 Comments

This is a re-blog of D.L. Finn’s post, below. I was honored and thrilled for my book, Fairies, Myths, and Magic ~ A Summer Celebration, to make Denise’s “Books that Changed Me,” Summer edition list.

There are other authors and books listed as well. Please have a read. You might find your next favorite book.

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“The longest day of the year has arrived along with thoughts of swimming in our lakes and rivers. It’s the perfect time of the year to lounge under the stars gazing at the possibilities while being serenaded by the crickets. Yes, summer is here, and when I’m not swimming or watching for a comet to streak across the sky, I will be reading and posting my reviews.”

“Today there will be a different look for my “Books That Changed Me” Summer Edition. I’ve changed the format and won’t be re-sharing my reviews for the books anymore. I want to focus more on the stories or poems that moved me enough to “change” me…”

Source: “Books That Changed Me”– 2020 Summer Edition! @ColleenChesebro @dehauthor @jhawker69 @boom_lyn – Author D.L. Finn