We’re having fun writing some syllabic poetry at Colleen Chesebro’s Word Craft
Poetry Website. Come join us. Click the link for details, dear friends.
Here are some sites, compliments of our lovely host, to help you get started:
Here are some sites that will help you write your poetry and count syllables: Not sure how to write syllabic poetry? READ THIS FIRST: How to Craft Syllabic Poetry Tanka Tuesday Cheat Sheet PoetsCollective.org traveldailylife.com/syllables synonyms.com thesaurus.com Word Craft: Prose & Poetry – The Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry @ Colleen M. Chesebro
🍃🍂 Your Tanka Tuesday challenge invitation is Synonyms Only. That means you have to select syllables for the two words below. Use must use the synonyms in your poem. Do NOT use the challenge words, only synonyms for them. If you write a freestyle poem, please include a syllabic form with it. 🍃🍂
QUIET & SEEK
You're distraught that we're running out of time and vexed at how loud people quarrel beyond heat waves, floods, hurricanes yet nothing moves the needle of a globe in decline: no one is untouched Earth keeps spinning as Earth must-- take stock first ssh listen no matter how grave it looks ripple effects dwell the more and more we do is propelling new vigor and glimpses of boundless virtues of splendidly tinged life lessons that lend strength to the most disoriented let us begin to scout our uniqueness not sabotaging the ebb and flow that gets us close to each other where we embrace our essence face to face reflected in our human-ness to help us thrive in the fight as one race © selma ********
Aside:
Something is off with me right now,
and my coping mechanism is
to air it out here on this platform.
Many moons ago, while researching for a newsletter on a memorable letter I wanted to
publish for my small pen pal audience–8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon of 115 W. 95th
St., who wrote to the editor of The Sun Newspaper to inquire about the existence of
Santa Clause–I used that example and had Virginia ask an even bigger question:
Is there anything more threatening than nuclear weapons? [incl.link for that newsletter]
Yes? No? Well, the answer is yes! And here's my response to all precocious 8-year-olds and old souls:
Oh yes, Virginia. There exists a greater threat than nuclear weapons: Hate! Hate is a far greater threat as that’s what makes the use of nuclear weapons possible. Especially a hatred as blind as that which exists in the darkest heart beating inside a man’s chest as deranged, perverted, desensitized, unjust, and pitiful as the one belonging to the totalitarian, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. He epitomizes the existential threat of our time. No Government can eradicate hate. Can NOT. Only we can do that. Hate is borne of prejudice and can be quenched only from within. Best to eradicate it before it consumes our life force and we become Putins.
The one thing worse than nukes is the prospect and imminent scare of
someone using them. (Let’s hope this doesn’t happen. Ever!)
Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding as love to eradicate hate. Remember, Virginia! Let's make it our purpose to love more and to schedule more joy, imagination, and relaxation into our lives. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, love will continue to make glad the heart of all humans, including those hearts, hardened at childhood.
In writing today’s post, I begin by stating something all of us feel today: We’re
running out of time/losing the battle of the global crisis. That would quiet us; be
the end.
While I think we are the players in the state of our world, I also believe that if we
don’t embrace everyone as participants in this dire situation and begin to see one
another as participants working toward the same goal, we will never recover from
what will happen.
reminds me of the power of believing in something greater than my fears
So, for those who might be feeling like I’m feeling:
Each of us has unique qualities to employ towards this global crisis.
Let’s seek them out and together work in unity for our globe.
(Let’s be the change we need. Always!)
Thanks for reading.
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Amen.🙏🏼❤️
Melissa dear, thanks for joining forces with me here. I appreciate you. Amen.
Selma, this is so powerful. This is why poetry is so important. It helps us voice our innermost fears. Who knows? it might change someone’s mind. One can only hope. Thanks so much, my friend. Some things just need to be said. ❤️
Thank you sincerely, Colleen. I hope Universe sends this message out for us far and wide. We need a reminder.
I don’t watch the news; I cannot handle it. But things seep into my psyche and I bubble over. Overwhelmed.
Thanks for reading and finding it powerful and important. Bless you. Let’s keep writing words that matter. xo
I keep track of the news, but then it has to go back into that little place… there is so much in this world out of our control. I think of you often. 💕
Thanks so much for saying that, Colleen. You’re in my thoughts too. xoxo
Happy to have arrived at the month that will take us into autumn. Every year I await this time with open arms. Thanks for commenting. Bless you.
It’s the same for me, Selma. It’s been a warm/hot humid summer. Here’s to Autumn!
Here, here 👏 🍂 👏
Selma, I share your concerns as stated in this post. Yesterday, I learned that Russia is obtaining munitions from North Korea as well as Iran. We watched YouTube videos from Norm Chomsky and others about the possible underlying reasons for the war in Ukraine and ideas about how it can be ended without causing a world war or a nuclear war.
This is only one issue among a host of disturbing issues bombarding us in the news every day. It is important that we do not let the disasters and the hatred consume us or bring us to despair. We need to step away from the news for a while every day and find the joy and the hope in everyday life. We need to spend some time in our happy place!
Take care, Selma. <3 <3 <3 I would go to the beach today if I could. Maybe you can go for both of us!
Cheryl. I don’t watch the news. I figure that my dear husband will tell me when the inevitable happens. But still, I feel things.
And with North Korea right at our backyards…testing those missiles and taunting us… well, I am overwhelmed too.
Thanks for this lovely comment. I am all for spending time in my happy place. I’m most comfortable there!
As for the beach, I would go for the both of us, but today the weather is bad so cannot. Typhoon weather.
Be well, dear Cheryl. Sending blessings.
Amen! Beautiful sentiments Selma
Thanks, Sadje. Thanks for joining this cause that’s affecting us all. Bless you. Amen.
You’re always welcome
Aameen!
Beautiful your sharing.
Aameen, Raj. I’m so glad you added your voice to that strong word: Aameen. Thanks for being here. I bless you.
I can always use it’s words then we doing prayer our prayer hall with our community. Every day Evening & Early morning.
I love it, Raj. Prayer is a powerful tool. Thank you. I pray nightly too
Blessings.
I Love too! Yes, it’s in power! God bless you!
Wow, amazing, you are brilliant at writing poetry, love that it looked like a sand timer.
Diana, you saw that sand time. That was intentional. Thank you for seeing it and mentioning… Glad you enjoyed it. Bless you, my friend. xoxo
You are clever at creating poems and even if it were intentional, it is not easy.
💗
Selma, you are putting your talents as a writer into reminding us to stay on task, it is too important not to. I appreciate your effort, your skill, and your influence by putting these reminders out there to multiply through us all.
We must stay on task. And reminders are necessary, well with so much going on sometimes one doesn’t know what is what. Thanks for appreciating my efforts this time. You do a phenomenal job at reminding us as well. Let’s not get derailed. Thanks for reading and commenting. Blessings.
Beautifully expressed Selma, 💞
AJ, I’m so happy you read and found it beautiful. Thanks for being here with me in this lifetime. I bless you.
Powerful thoughts so important to share Selma and feeling your sorrow and concern. ❤️❤️
Thanks for saying, Cindy. We are in this together…
I trust you are back to being your lovely self again–hope that recent sickness didn’t take away your sense of taste that I hear many experience afterward. Blessings, dear Cindy. xoxo
Absolutely, Selma.We sure are. I eat better than ever and taste buds are up which is the weirdest thing. Some weird brain fog.. a real thing i really didn’t get till now. thanks for asking❣️
💯
reminds me of the power
of believing in something
greater than my fears – thank you for this Selma, this is what i need today.🙏
Gracias.
I’m so happy to be a conduit for something you needed today, dear Mich.
When completing my encouragement Sunday Press that will go live later today, I kept thinking of you. The amazing (I think she’s amazing AND courageous) lady that makes the post is an eloquent speaker from your beautiful country. I hope you read my post. 🤔 maybe. No pressure. (But I was really thinking about you) 😉 🤗 Happy Sunday 😘
Happy Sunday Selma and I’m gonna wait for your post later.
Wow! Selma, you’ve compressed the whole world into this post and I admire you for the way you have made an appeal to deal with global crisis. I agree with you – nothing can be more powerful than hatred. Thanks for highlighting it.
Balroop, I’m so happy and all warm inside for having read your words. Thank you. Hatred must stop–It’s the only way we will get anywhere sane. Bless you. xoxo
Selma, your poem and thoughts in between are stirring, not just to action, because we can’t cure all of this mess by action. As you pointed out, the cause starts in our hearts where we harbor hate. That is such a huge topic – way beyond understanding. We must continually guard against it and pray that it doesn’t envelop our world. Thanks for the beautiful post. 🙂
Marsha, I’m with you on that: we must guard against it and pray it doesn’t ensnarl us in its ugliness. Thanks for reading and for the lovely comment. I bless you. Happy transitioning into autumn. xoxo
Thanks, Selma. It’s cooler and raining today and feels very fall-like. I love it!
Aww. Nice. 👏🏽
An exceptional poem, Selma. The first step in dealing with any crisis is to gain perspective. This planet and humanity have been through times of great adversity many times, the planet has always survived.
The planet always bounces back… I hope this continues forever. We must guard against hatred. Thanks for reading and commenting, dear Robbie. I hope you’re feeling better (as per your last post I read) Blessings.
“Exceptional” is exactly the right word to describe this poem of yours, Selma! Simply amazing.
Much love,
David
Your poetry is relevant in these times, Selma. And, I can’t help but agree with your response to Virginia. Hate is more dangerous than nuclear weapons. But are we sure Putin is the only perpetrator of hate. He is the only one who does not hide his hate behind a mask. But there are many, many others. I like that you ended the letter on a hopeful note. XOXO
Oh there are others. Putin reigns right now. And his compatriots here in Asia are making me shake.
Sure there are more. What a nightmare. If only we could eradicate hate.
Thanks for reading and commenting. Bless you. XoXo
Yes, if only we could. But with poets like you who care enough to write about it, it’s a start and there is hope. Hugs.
Let’s keep hope at the forefront of it all. Blessings.
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