Welcome to my Sunday Book Review. If you’ve read my yesterday post, you’ll learn that I’m overwhelmed between grief and busyness – getting ready to move. Also, because I’ve been on a rip-roaring tangent of reading many books from grief to afterlife, and often, reading two books at once, I don’t have a review of my own written yet, so today’s book review is a reblog of Sally Cronin’s recent shining new review for Colleen Chesebro’s newest labor of love – Word Craft – Prose and Poetry – The Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry. If you enjoy either reading and/or writing poetry, you may want to expand your horizons and learn about the various styles of writing syllabic poetry.
Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – New Book on the Shelves and #Review – Word Craft: Prose & Poetry: The Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry by Colleen M. Chesebro
As a participant in Colleen Chesebro’s weekly Tuesday Tanka Challenge, I have discovered so many different forms of syllabic poetry and come to love creating poems in these formats. I am delighted to share the news of Colleen’s new release and also my release for the guide.
Blurb:
Are you ready to learn how to craft Japanese and American poetry? Consider this book the first step on your journey to learning the basics of how to craft syllabic poetry. Inside, you will discover many new forms, syllable combinations, and interpretations of the different Japanese and American forms and structures of haiku, senryu, haiga, tanka, renga/solo renga, gogyohka, haibun, tanka prose, the cinquain, and its variations, Etheree, nonet, and shadorma poetry.
So… what are you waiting for? Let’s craft syllabic poetry together!
Sally Cronin’s 5 Star review for the guide and poetry collection May 19th 2021
I have enjoyed poetry from childhood and would write stories in verse from an early age. I was introduced to Japanese syllabic poetry when I began participating in Colleen Chesebro’s Weekly Tanka Challenge three years ago. At first hesitantly, but then as my confidence grew under her tutelage, I became more adventurous.
Word Craft: Prose and Poetry shares an expanded guide to the various forms of syllabic verse shared on the author’s website, and includes the history and provenance of the traditional and more modern versions. It is fascinating and also humbling that we are in this day and age, creating poetry with such a lineage.
This guide reminded me of how much I still have to learn about the intent of each form and their accepted applications. Nature and the self are prominent, but in some there is a freedom to express emotion, irony and humour. Most forms tell a story and the challenge is to do so with sometimes as few as seventeen syllables and within the framework of the format.
I was very honoured to have some of my challenge pieces included with the talented poets who have participated, and whose poetry brings such pleasure to those who read it in the challenge recap… and that includes the author who always explains the intricacies of a particular form then shows with examples for even beginners to follow.
I recommend this guide and collection for all lovers of poetry who will enjoy the poems shared throughout the book, beginners who are looking for a way to express themselves with brevity, and more experienced poets who are looking for a new challenge. For me as a writer of short stories and novels, writing syllabic poetry has been a great way to learn how to make a few words convey more.
Visit Colleen’s Amazon Author Page for a list of all her books.
Visit Sally’s blog for the full post
©DGKaye2021
DGKayewriter.com 
Thanks for reblogging Debby and for sharing around the usual haunts…as always you are a star..♥♥
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My pleasure Sal. And the perfect post to fill in for one of my own reviews. ❤
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What a wonderful review. But then, Sally has a way with words!
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She certainly does 🙂
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Thank you very much, Jacqui. ❤
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A wonderful review from Sally, and it’s lovely to see you sharing it here. Colleen’s book sounds like the most fantastic guide. Sending you hugs, Debby, in the midst of all your hard work and sorrow. Toni xx
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Thank you Toni. Colleen has worked very hard on this book and I can’t wait to read it. 🙂 xx
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Thanks for your lovely comments, Toni.
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I need to read this book too, Debby. A great share.
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Thanks Robbie. No doubts we’ll both love it as we both enjoy syllabic poetry ❤
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Thank you again for sharing, Debby. Yes, you are a star as Sally mentions. I find poetry relaxing; verse invites us to slow down and savor, as is the case with Colleen’s collection.
You are so prolific, even as you grieve, that it’s hard to keep up with your activities. For instance, I didn’t know that you are planning to move. Blessings on all this, my dear! 🙂
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Thanks so much Marian for your kind words. And yes, I don’t even know how I’m doing everything, it’s just happening. Fast! ❤
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Thanks for sharing this lovely review of Colleen’s book, Debby! 😀 xo
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Most welcome Vashti. Sally gave it a great thumbs up ❤
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This does sound like a great book, Debby. I must get a copy and have a go at Colleen’s suggested poetic forms. She is an amazing poet.
It’s important to look after yourself and totally understandable that you haven’t yet had time to write your own review. I’m amazed that you can even find the time and energy to post at all. Well done, you. 💖
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Thanks so much Norah, I don’t know exactly how I’m functioning, just going through the motions. I hope you enjoy Colleen’s book. I’m looking forward to it too. Hugs xx
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Thanks so much for your support, Norah. ❤
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Colleen has been a magnet for poets and has inspired many people to try poetry and to explore new forms. I’m not a poetry writer (at least not yet), but I have enjoyed many of the contributions, and I continue to be amazed at the variety of forms and styles of poetry authors keep embracing. I have read many of Sally’s poems, and the anthology is a fantastic idea, and it will make a perfect gift as well. Thanks for sharing, Debby.
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So true about Colleen and her poetry Olga. I think Colleen has wrangled up quite a poetic community with her syllabic poetry. I enjoy dabbling in it sometimes myself. ❤
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Olga, thank you for your lovely support. Tanka Tuesday has blossomed and grown. I look forward to the day when you experiment with haiku. ❤
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I’m amazed at how you are still plugging away under your tragic circumstances! Wish I could say I’d read this book and give these syllabic poetry styles a shot, but that would be a bridge too far the next few years.
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John, I’m amazed at myself, and I don’t mind saying it! 🙂 x
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Thanks for reading John. This poetry keeps your brain young! I love it. 😀
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Debby, I don’t know how I missed this post. My notifications are so haphazard. I’m so sorry it took this long to thank you for sharing Sally’s lovely review of Word Craft: Prose & Poetry. Thanks for your support always. Love you, Sis. ❤
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My pleasure Sis. We all get there eventually 🙂 ❤ xx
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