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You Dot I’s, Cross T’s, Now Trace Your 8’s #TankaTuesday

I fell in love with figure 8 the day I turned 8. I remember how I took pleasure at tracing the continuous motion into infinity with my finger over everything,
over and over, eight–
in the air, and my palm too.
I also promised myself that 8 would be my number from that day onward. And, I kid you not, eight has been my lucky number because I’ve ascribed it so much value for many years now.

I thought of this for today’s poetry challenge and wrote down my ditty in no time. Hope it doesn’t put you to sleep:
8 lines
8 syllables
no rhyme.

Written for #TankaTuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 264, 3/8/22 #Create Your Own Syllabic Form with Colleen. Thanks, Colleen.

peace comes from combined energy
and the glow of a stroke that binds
helps you see you in the people
and the people inside you, whole

start with private thoughts you harbor
and words from your lips you let flow
then stand back and watch how karma
moves mountains, builds bridges: maps eight

What am I calling this form, you might want to know: Great Eight *wink*
Image by JL G from Pixabay

I’m glad to have shared this with you, so thanks for reading. I wish you miracles.

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 43 Comments

  1. yvettemcalleiro

    This is wonderful, Selma! And you are so right: peace starts within each of us. I love it! 🙂

    1. Selma Martin

      Yes. Peace starts there: with us. And same with every other human connection possible.
      We need to be of the mindset that we are not alone. We belong to one world. We belong to one community.
      We reap what we sow.
      Thanks for being such a wonderful human. Your support means the world to someone like me. I bless you. XoXo

  2. memadtwo

    When we look in the mirror we should see not just ourselves, but all life. Well said. I like the infinity symbol too. This form has a good flow. (K)

    1. Selma Martin

      Thrilled you liked this, my sweet. And you said it right: we should see ourselves in community (makes us less lonely) and also see the community in ourselves. One for all: all for one.
      I appreciate the comment. I bless you. xo

  3. WildChild47

    Wonderful …. a great small form and I think it probably will/could lend itself to a selection of topics/content. 🙂

    I like your story for its conception and the meaning you ascribe …. and I like your poem too … it’s a lovely and important way to remind ourselves that we’re all not so different, and we should remember, we are the “other face” in the mirror, regardless of the differences we perceive, or the gulfs that (supposedly) divide us …. we should be looking deep within and remembering, we need to build bridges within our own lives and communities.

    1. Selma Martin

      Yes yes. To be able to see ourselves in the community teaches we’re not alone.
      and to see the whole community inside of us, reminds how deeply we are connected. Out of many, One. One people!
      Thanks for the comment. Blessings.

  4. harmony kent

    I love the infinite possibility of peace in this form and poem, Selma 💕🙂

    1. Selma Martin

      So glad to know. Aww precious. All for one. I bless you 👏

  5. Ingrid

    I like it Selma! And of course, if you turn ‘8’ on its side, you get infinity 😊

    1. Selma Martin

      Yes, you do. Infinity indeed. I feel it’s a number that’s inclusive. Everyone in the world in one happy number. I always loved 8
      Clap. Blessings.

  6. utahan15

    peace friend
    then again
    from sir paul s
    cd flowers in the dirt
    the wonderful cut figure of eight
    cool beans

  7. D.L. Finn, Author

    Love it and your story behind the love of 8s, Selma!

    1. Selma Martin

      😃 so glad, my friend. And thanks for what you did on Instagram. Hehe. Made me laugh. Thanks. xoxo

      1. D.L. Finn, Author

        🙂

    1. Selma Martin

      Aww. Thanks, Colleen. So precious of you. These lists you make are priceless. I appreciate all the hard work you do. Bless you. xoxo

  8. cindykolbe

    Your post today made me smile! My grandson is 14 months old, and his favorite word to say is “eight.” He has a wooden “8” that he carries around and does a happy dance when he sees an 8 anywhere else. So, you and Rory have something in common. 😉

    1. Selma Martin

      Oh, my. Yes, we do. I adore Rory even more now. He’s onto something big here. Bless him. Go, little man, go! 😉

  9. Sunra Rainz

    Excellent poetry form, Selma, and so well rendered! <3 Love that last line 🙂

  10. rajkkhoja

    Amazing poerty. So silence means of 8 (eight) write up poem. I like!👌✍️

      1. rajkkhoja

        Yes, really I like your’s 8!
        You teach me it’s 8!

  11. I love this reflection on the experience of writing number shapes. I remember feeling this way too about particular cursive letters and numbers.

    1. Selma Martin

      Little idiosyncrasies peculiar to us. Some we grow out of others stick around. Thanks for reading and commenting JYP. I value you. Stay sweet. xoxo

  12. Daphny Aqua

    I love this one dear Selma, and I’m so glad to know you love the number 8. For as long as I can remember I’ve always thought 8 was a very lucky number for me and I still do. 😁

    1. Selma Martin

      You too? So glad to know this. Eight has been like a talisman in many ways. That’s why I stick with 8. May you never run out of 8s, my friend. Stay sweet. Happy Thursday. I bless you.

      1. Daphny Aqua

        Yup, it is for me as well. May we never run out of 8’s 😁 Happy Thursday to you as well dear friend. ❤️

  13. ben Alexander

    Selma, can we break the eight lines into any number of stanzas? (I see you broke it into two stanzas of 4)

    -David

    1. Selma Martin

      Yes we can. 😉 I figured I needed a pause just right there, this the line break. 😁 easy form. XoXo

  14. Jules

    Eight is one of my numbers too! I think it worked out numeroligy wise with my birth day month and year… 😉
    Nice message too.

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks Jules. Glad 8 works for you as well. Thanks for reading and commenting on The 8. 👏

      1. Jules

        Meter and rhyme not so much, for me.
        But I might try ‘The 8’ sometime 🙂

  15. JoAnna

    The glow of a stroke that binds
    helps you see you in the people
    and the people inside you, whole…
    We are much more alike than different. When more and more people see this, what a wonderful world it will be. May our good energy combine and make it so. Thank you for being part of the bridge building.

    1. Selma Martin

      Exactly! more alike than different. Sharing messages of the caliber you do, messages that bring light into the darkness will make us all come to SEE. Let’s continue building these positive bridges, JoAnna. Thanks for being here with me. Together, our energies will bring change. Stay sweet. Happy spring.

      1. JoAnna

        Yes! Thanks for your hopeful enthusiasm, Selma. I can feel the positive energy growing.

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