#TankaTuesday: Tanka Puente, Best and Worst Moments 10/01/2024

Death is Old, Death is New

Do not mourn for me
Though you hear the sullen bell
Summer’s beauty dead
No more time so idly spent
—a satire of decay

~ for as the sun is daily new and old,
so is my love still telling what is told ~ *

Do not mourn for me
The sullen bell you hear lies
Love will not decay
Instead evermore enlarge
And be fodder for your day

Copyright ©️ Selma
*William Shakespeare, Sonnet 76
Source: Poetry Foundation

(I’m not sure I did it the right way)

I also considered this couplet for the Puente for this poem.
~ so long as men can breathe or eyes can see, so long lives this, and this
gives life to thee ~ *

*William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18


Written for Tanka Tuesday hosted by Robbie Cheadle on October 1, 2024
–A Tanka Puente with the theme of best and worst moments.

The Puente ?

As this challenge is syllabic in nature, the first and third stanzas should be tankas
in the standard form of 5/7/5/7/7.

1st stanza: separate thought, equal number of lines (5/7/5/7/7)

2nd stanza: one line enclosed in tildes (~) to distinguish itself from the last line
of the first stanza and the first line of the third stanza. No syllable count, but
keep it brief.

3rd stanza: separate thought, equal number of lines (5/7/5/7/7)

The poem should be titled.

Thanks for reading today.

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 30 Comments

  1. Michele Lee

    Gorgeous poem and weaving of Shakespeare’s words! Your last three lines will linger with me. 💞

    1. Selma Martin

      Delighted you liked this one, dear Michele Lee. Blessings. Xo

  2. Sadje

    Such a profound poem Selma 👍🏼

      1. Sadje

        Most welcome my friend

  3. Gwen M. Plano

    Beautiful, Selma. I often feel my mom and dad near, and I sense the presence of others at times. Your line, “Love will not decay” echoes in my heart. ❤️

    1. Selma Martin

      Love will not decay so let’s share it generously. Thanks, Belladonna. 🤗

  4. willowdot21

    Selma as always your words touch me deeply and give me food for thought 💜💜

    1. Selma Martin

      Dear Willow. Happy to know this dear one. Thanks for the lovely comment. Blessings

  5. Colleen Chesebro

    This is stunning work, Selma. I’m captivated by your words and how well you wove in the Shakespeare quote. Brilliant!

    1. Selma Martin

      So happy it worked. Thanks for reading and the beautiful comment, Colleen.

  6. Ingrid

    Beautifully woven, Selma ✨

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks so much, Ingrid.
      And thanks so much. Blessings

  7. msjadeli

    Love the concept, the bridge, and how you executed it (figuratively.) Love is one of those things that carries on. I like the paradox of the title as well.

    1. Selma Martin

      Lisa, I’m grateful to you for the comment. Blessings

  8. Balroop Singh

    ‘Love will not decay’… Thanks for articulating my deepest thoughts, Selma. Brilliant poetry!

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