Colleen Chesebro’s Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge Synonyms Only – Hollow and Ghost
Tanka Tuesday on Saturday
Welcome to this week’s Poetry Challenge from Colleen Chesebro – The Fairy Whisper. We choose our form of poetry and must include synonyms for the two words given to us by Colleen – Ghost and Hollow. Today I’ve written a tanka.
Today’s tanka poetry was inspired by my book Words We Carry.
Words
Hurtful words leave scars
Egos bruise so easily
An empty hole grows
A shell of our former self
When the spirit is broken
COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 106, “GHOST & HOLLOW,” #SYNONYMS ONLY
The Rules:
For Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Challenge, you can write your poem in one of the forms defined below. Click on the links to learn about each form:
HAIKU IN ENGLISH 5/7/5 syllable structure. A Haiku is written about seasonal changes, nature, and change in general.
TANKA IN ENGLISH 5/7/5/7/7 syllable structure. Your Tanka will consist of five lines written in the first-person point of view. This is important because the poem should be written from the perspective of the poet.
HAIBUN IN ENGLISH Every Haibun must begin with a title. Haibun prose is composed of short, descriptive paragraphs, written in the first-person singular.
The text unfolds in the present moment, as though the experience is occurring now rather than yesterday or some time ago. In keeping with the simplicity of the accompanying haiku or tanka poem, all unnecessary words should be pared down or removed. Nothing must ever be overstated.
The poetry never tries to repeat, quote, or explain the prose. Instead, the poetry reflects some aspect of the prose by introducing a different step in the narrative through a microburst of detail. Thus, the poetry is a sort of juxtaposition – different yet somehow connected.
Cinquain ALSO: Check out the Cinquain variations listed here: Cinquain-Wikipedia These are acceptable methods to use. Please list the form you use so we can learn from you.
Etheree The Etheree poem consists of ten lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables. Etheree can also be reversed and written 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The trick is to create a memorable message within the required format. Poets can get creative and write an Etheree with more than one verse, but the idea is to follow suit with an inverted syllable count. Reversed Etheree Syllable Count: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Double Etheree Syllable Count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Senryu in English 5/7/5 syllable structure. A Senryu is written about love, a personal event, and have IRONY present. Click the link to learn the meaning of irony.
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dgkaye
D.G. Kaye is a nonfiction/memoir writer, who writes from her own life experiences and self-medicates with a daily dose of humor.
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12 Comments
Diana Peach
A sad one, Debby. You capture the essence and long-term effects of such hurt in so few words. Beautifully done.
dgkaye
Thanks so much for your lovely compliment Diana. Poetry does tend to draw us into what’s current in our souls. <3
Robbie Cheadle
This poem have very sad overtones, Debby.
dgkaye
It does Robbie. But life is like that sometimes. 🙂
sally cronin
Very powerful Debby and does not matter how much oil you pour on those scars they fade but never disappear completely. ♥♥
dgkaye
Thanks so much Sal. No truer words. <3 <3
Balroop Singh
A beautiful response to the challenge Deb. I like how you have replaced ‘ghost’ with a more meaningful ‘spirit.’ 🙂
dgkaye
Thank you so much for your poetic praise Balroop. 🙂 x
Vashti Q
Beautiful and poignant Tanka, Debby, but also true. I read and loved “Words We Carry” and one of the things I love about this book is that you can read from it whenever you need to and there’s always takeaway message.
dgkaye
Oh wow, thank you so much Vashti for your poetry praise and your lovely words about my book. <3 xxx
Michelle James
A beautifully written response to Colleen’s challenge, Debby. I can feel the sadness and relate to your words. Love and hugs, my friend.
dgkaye
Thanks so much Michelle. <3