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The Corollary: #TankaTuesday #Ekphrastic

THE COROLLARY

vivid model of life
the skull imparts a gift
grave spur to a mind shift
grants life past death
|
Abhanga
© 2022 selmamartin.com
image by Britta Benson for Tanka Tuesday

Picture credit: Britta Benson. This photograph was taken inside St. Cecilia’s Church (built in 1739), Heusenstamm, Germany. 

The Corollary

dramatic archetype of life’s symbolism
the skull proffers profound introspection
vital spur to positive transformation
to explicate for this life beyond death

then death delineates life in retrospect
to a virtuous prototype once gone through
the butterfly, of its stages, has no clue
lest its species’ survival it negates

This post is for Colleen M. Chesebro’s Tanka Tuesday Photo Prompt, in which I’m happy
to participate. Thanks to Britta for inspiring me to be this creative this week.

The Abhanga is what I worked on first. But then I saw more from the wonderful photo
and added two extra columns.

Updating: Hello, friends. After reading David’s post, I found out that the column
section is known as a cleave poem.

In its most basic form, a cleave is three poems:

  • two parallel ‘vertical’ poems (left and right)
  • a third ‘horizontal’ poem being the fusion of the vertical poems read together — like
    life and death– which is what I saw in Britta’s wonderful photo.

Adding: The best way to appreciate the cleave poem is on your browser. If you’re on
your phone & in Reader, I encourage you to switch to browser mode by clicking on the
globe icon on your screen.

Thanks for reading,
I wish you miracles
.

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 26 Comments

  1. ben Alexander

    This is most excellent, Selma. Well written!

    <3
    David

    1. Selma Martin

      Cleave poem. That was the word that escaped me when I wrote this. Yours of long ago left an impression on me. That’s what I was alluding too.

      But the boxed columns I put them in might make them hard to read. Maybe.
      I just read yours. Mesmerized as always. Bless you.

  2. rajkkhoja

    Nice skull photo. Beautiful poem.

  3. Nope, Not Pam

    Wonderful poems Selma, such a joy to read

    1. Selma Martin

      It’s encouraging to read this comment. Thanks, D 💕

  4. memadtwo

    Skulls give us much to contemplate about life. Well done. (K)

    1. Selma Martin

      Yes, they remind us of things we lose touch with. Thanks for appreciating this. Blessings.

    1. Selma Martin

      ☺️ thanks— we real 😎 cool!
      You heard this one, Tricia?
      We Real Cool
      by GWENDOLYN BROOKS
      The Pool Players.
      Seven at the Golden Shovel.

      We real cool. We
      Left school. We

      Lurk late. We
      Strike straight. We

      Sing sin. We
      Thin gin. We

      Jazz June. We
      Die soon.
      👏 👏 👏
      Gwendolyn Brooks, “We Real Cool” from Selected Poems. Copyright © 1963 by Gwendolyn Brooks. Reprinted with the permission of the Estate of Gwendolyn Brooks. 👏

      1. Tricia Sankey

        😄 Hadn’t read that before, it’s going to be stuck in my head now, though! Thanks, Selma! 😎

  5. Colleen M. Chesebro

    This is definitely a creepy image. Britta says this image is from the Baroque period, very dark indeed. Selma you captured that feeling!

    1. Selma Martin

      Aww… you made me smile with such a comment. Thanks.

      1. Colleen M. Chesebro

        It’s really quite interesting when you look at the church it’s in and where the sculpture(s) are place. 🥰

  6. Ingrid

    Skulls are fascinating, aren’t they? Thought-provoking work Selma!

    1. Selma Martin

      Ingrid. Thanks, my sweet.

      Aside: There comes a time when one must go inward; shun some, in order to bring out a new thing into the world. I’m there right now. Getting undone but Enjoying it tremendously. I’m sure you’ll understand. 😉
      Forgive if I haven’t reciprocated of late.
      Gotta grab it when it comes, right?
      Bless you xoxo

      1. Ingrid

        Hope you’re ok Selma 🙏

  7. Sadje

    Great take Selma.

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks, Sadje. I’ve been on a race with myself. A turtle race, at that. Please forgive that I can’t do more.
      The race has me trying to do more before my next birthday. Gosh, slow but what an undoing of self. I’ll visit you more soon. I’m nearing the end. Bless you and all the support to give me, dear Sadje.
      Blessings be yours.

      1. Sadje

        Always a pleasure Selma. Don’t worry about visiting. The blog will still be there when you have time

  8. msjadeli

    Skillful crafting in this poem.

    1. Selma Martin

      Hi, Lisa. I appreciate you saying. Thanks. I bless you.

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