The Versesmith

  Time for the post A to Z posts post.  That doesn't sound right, but that's what it is.  After the A to Z there is a prompt from the A to Z team called " Reflections ."  I think it's important to participate in this, as the team works hard to bring us this annual April event.   Below are the questions they want to know the answers to, with my answers in   blue .  I have two blogs, and participated in the A to Z with both.  I will post this on both. Reflections is an additional bloghop connected to the challenge. It is a chance to tell the team and the world your thoughts on the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2024. Some points to consider for your reflection post:  😎 Did you win?   Yes!  Did you post an alphabet of letter-inspired posts?   Yes!  Did you HOP to other A to Z participants?   Yes!   Do you believe your blog saw an increase in traffic and comments during April 2024?   Yes, a big increase.   Did you check the MasterList to be sure your entry was

  24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 32  Grain Rain (April 19 – May 4) Koku 穀雨 " This week: Your writing invitation is to experiment with the renga form. " " I’ll give you the hokku portion for the Northern & Southern Hemispheres, and you write the wakiku portion. (I’ll add the kigo words to the hokku).  BONUS: After you write the wakiku in reply to my hokku, please add your own hokku (haiku) on your post. In the comments on your post, I’ll add the wakiku portion! " an empty attic the sound of April showers thunderous rumblings so different from winter's silent snowfalls on my roof For my hokku I have used the kigo "wisteria," as mine is blooming. with lilac petals the wisteria perfumes the air as we pass ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  #tankatuesday #kigo #tankatuesdaypoetrychallenge #tankatuesday24seasons #rengapoem #renga  #syllabicpoetry #wisteria

 Z – Zip Ode We've come to the end of another April, another last letter in the A to Z Challenge.  For Z I offer The Zip Ode, an invented form from O, Miami and WLRN .  Your zip code is the basis of a poem!   When you're done, you can even submit it on the O'Miami page.   www.wlrn.org/write-an-ode-to-your-zip-code Write or type your zip code down the left side of the page.  Each number determines the number of words in that line.  Alternatively, you can use syllable count. If your zip code includes a zero, it's up to you, it's considered a wild card.  Blank, emoji, punctuation, words...  This is not my zip code now, but the one from the city where I grew up. 94595 If I tried to climb those hills now, I doubt I would make the top without rest. Then, I’d run to my father as he came down from the bus. ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved That was fun!  Let's do it again next year!  I already have plans!

 Y - YaDu Yadu is a Burmese climbing-verse poem. YaDu means "seasons" so will include a seasonal reference.   It also has the following rules: * up to 3 stanzas * 5 lines in each stanza  * lines 1-4 have 4 syllables * the last line has either  5,7,9, or 11 syllables * the climbing is a staircase rule, which applies to lines 1 - 4 xxxa xxax xaxb xxbc line 5 ends with a rhyme of line 4 so: 4/4/4/4/last line  5, 7, 9, or 11 I have color coded my staircase rhyme words.  The winter’s done every one sing the sun will shine this di vine day skipping along the path way ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved 

 X - Xanthic Oh, X.  The problem letter for many of the A to Zers! I have used the word xanthic. Once you read the poems the meaning of the word will come clear!  Or, you may be familiar with it already. I wasn't.  I discovered it looking for an X word prompt!   https://freepngimg.com/png/4849-banana-png-image The daffodil wasn’t yellow, nor was the banana, unripe. They both were xanthic in color. Now, don’t you put up a gripe. Xanthic is important to describe a yellow with green. Once you’ve seen it, you understand, so just stop being so mean. ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  Xanthic: https://thecontentauthority.com/blog/xanthic-vs-xanthous

  W – window  An old NaPoWriMo prompt asked us to look out a window and jot down words of what we see. Then, mix and match those words to build a poem.   NaPoWriMo has some great prompts, so you may wonder why I use old ones. They are released day by day in April, and I need more time to prepare for the A to Z Challenge.   My Out-the-Window words: Clouds, moon, stars, Venus, bare branches, cedar trees, steam from the mill, black, shades of grey, shades of blue, blowing My poem: The branches of the cedar tree, silhouetted against the black sky, filter moonlight. Steam from the mill rises white. To the east the horizon pink, as dawn nears. ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved