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 on the menu item called Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Guidelines.
What a wild week to celebrate our 100th Poetry challenge! My blog is finally back to normal. Many thanks to the universe for stepping in to restore calm. Thanks to you all for patience. 😀
Did I miss your poem? Let me know in the comments and I’ll add your link. Some of the comments didn’t come through. I did get a few emails so that was great. Thank you.
What did you think of the free choice of words? Some poets told me they liked the structure of me selecting two words each week. Others relished the freedom of choice.
Would you like to make the first poetry challenge of each month a FREE CHOICE of words challenge where you choose the words for your Haiku, Senryu, Haibun, Tanka or Cinquain? Tell me your thoughts in the comments. The last thing I want is for this challenge to become stale.
PLEASE NOTE: Don’t forget to count your syllables. Use this site: howmanysyllables.com. Click on the workshop tab. Then, copy and paste your poem into the box, and click “count syllables” at the bottom.
For some, this challenge is a way to learn more about writing in English, even though it’s the American version. English is a second language to many of our participants.
I also understand that accent and inflection play a key roll in the way you say certain words and this will change the syllable count. Here is my compromise: Please try to get as close to the syllable count as possible when writing these syllabic forms of poetry.
This challenge is not for free-verse poetry. <3
Each week, I like to highlight a poet who I call the Poet of the Week, who has shared an exceptional message, or shown an 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 Aweni, and her three-layered Haibun poem called “Fear,” to be the Poet of the Week. The use of the triple Haibun, tells a story, punctuated by her poetry. I love the rhythm and flow of her words.
Fear came calling today.
Even though he had been many times before, I underestimated his strength still.
With a vice-like grip, he held me down against my will.
My heart, my eyes, my being screamed to be freed, but Fear did not heed my cries as he stripped me bare. Just like he did many times before, he proceeded to violate me, again and again. And just like before, I quietened and waited for him to finish and begone…..knowing it could take weeks, months, years, eons or my life’s breath.
Soft screams in the dark
Her, Fear’s named partner in crime
Who hated herself
Something was not as before this time. Smaerd was present. Only I aware of him.
As always, he did not intervene. He never does.
Instead, he asked, “do you seek to make him yours or would you continue as you both are?”
With the little strength left in me, I begged of Smaerd to enlighten me.
Truly willing heart
Will one more truth learn always
And truth begets truth
Smaerd said “the bones, flesh, and skin on his feet on which he stands strong are made of ‘I can’ts. You see his muscular upper limbs, they are made of ‘You can’ts’. But his heart, child, only if you knew of his heart. His heart is that of a child, needing discipline and easily won. When you believe you can, his heart heeds yours and his feet turns to jelly. He will fall on his knees and his hands must concede to a won heart. Fear left today. My chastity preserved. He says he will visit again…. only when I need him….. to encourage and never to violate….. I say we are buddies now. Smaerd begs to differ.
Her sworn nemesis
He was neither friend nor foe
Till she made him hers
© 2018 Aweni
Image: thienbao
Image Credit: Favim.com
HERE’S WHO JOINED US LAST WEEK FOR OUR 100th POETRY CHALLENGE USING SYNONYMS FOR THE WORDS of the Poet’s Choice:
Colors of the Morning: Haibun – Yesterday and today: Merril’s historical musings
Tanka Tuesday – Jane Dougherty Writes
Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge One Hundred & Participation | Annette Rochelle Aben
Tanka Tuesday – Pledge | Twenty Four
Tuesday Poetry Challenge! Celebrate 100th anniversary. | willowdot21
Poets Choice/But I Smile Anyway
A Celebration of Tanka Tuesday/My Forever Blog
September 2018/Leaf Koan | method two madness
The Kreme Master – Let Me Tell You the Story of…
A moment of clarity/Frank J. Tassone
Celebrating 100th #Poetrychallenge with Colleen – Emotional Shadows
Vibrance #Senryu #Poetry #TankaTuesday – Poems for Warriors
Poetry Friday ~ Exemplary & Sadness | The Writer Next Door|Vashti Q
Choose Your Own Words/DG Kaye Writer
You’ll find the new poetry challenge on the blog tomorrow! Let’s write some syllabic poetry! <3
Wonderful poem from Aweni. She’s so creative and talented. A triple haibun! Perfect.
I love when the creativity takes us all to new levels. <3
Oh wait…I just saw it. I’m kind of a mess this week too. Thanks Colleen.
I think I was lost last week…
https://methodtwomadness.wordpress.com/2018/09/05/september-2018-leaf-koan/
I actually like the word choice best. It’s a focusing point. Never stale! (K)
Hi Colleen! Great choice for Poet of the Week! Aweni came up with an amazing triple haibun. I enjoy the structure of working with your prompt words but I think a ‘Free Choice’ once a month isn’t a bad idea. Congrats again on your 100th poetry challenge! <3 xx
Thanks, Vashti. I like that idea too. Everyone needs inspiration. 😀
I agree. 😀
Hi Colleen. I think mine is missing. https://odaciuk.wordpress.com/2018/09/06/creative-foundation/
Sorry, Olga. ❤️
That’s okay. <3
You have such a busy blog Colleen, and Congratulations upon your 100th Poetry Challenge 🙂 And happy you are now all sorted.. 🙂
LOL! Writing keeps me sane. I do enjoy sharing great writing with other readers. It’s the least I can do. <3 Hugs to you, Sue. <3
🙂 I hope to spend more time when time allows here Colleen.. I am afraid I spread myself very thinly over WP.. lol… But I try to keep sane too 😉 even if some think me a little weird.. 🙂
Oh, I know… I try to visit too. I’m always busy. I love popping into your blog. I never know what I’ll find. <3
🙂 thank you.. 🙂
Hi Colleen, what an enthusiastic entry to celebrate your 100th challenge. I think mine is missing from the recap but no worry, I know you got it and tweet it. That’s good! I look forward to your new challenge tomorrow. <3 <3
What a mess, Miriam. Thanks for understanding. <3
I hope you didn’t pull any hair out, Colleen. <3 You have a way to keep calm to get through this mess. Just do whatever it takes and I hope WP is doing as quick as job as possible to fix this. 🙂
Thank you Colleen for choosing my poem. Totally unexpected and exhilarating.😊
Congratulations, Aweni. You did such a good job. Hugs to you, my friend. <3
😊😊😊😊😊and your 100th challenge too 😊😊😊😊
Hi Colleen,
Did I miss a lot here? It’s been a long time that I was away from blogging and from your site. Hope you’re well and I can’t wait to participate in this challenge..
Hello, Madeeha. The new challenge will be up tomorrow. Now, we’re using synonyms for the two challenge words. Each poem becomes more unique. Welcome back! ❤️
Wow! Your blog is stunning and an excellent group of entries.
Thanks, Eugenia. I think I have something for everybody here! LOL! Thanks for your support. <3
Great entries Colleen
Thank you. <3
Nice to see your post 👍
Thanks. ❤️
Wonderful entries!
Thanks, Ritu. We managed well in the midst of chaos. ❤️
😍