The Versesmith

Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge: Tanka Puente Theme: Best and Worst Moments  Robbie Cheadle is host for this first #TankaTuesday challenge in the new series.   "A Puente poem comprises of three stanzas with the first and third being separate thoughts but sharing an equal number of lines. The second stanza is the bridge stanza and is a single line enclosed in tildes (~) that acts as a bridge between the thoughts in the first stanza and the third stanza.  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." I close my eyes, wish to dream, and far within sleep to chance upon you s

  dVerse prompt for Sept. 9, 2024 For your Prosery prompt, I have selected the first line from her (Tina Chang) poem “Love”: “ I am haunted by how much our mothers do not know. ” Write a piece of prosery of up to or exactly 144 words, including the given line in the order in which it has been given. You may add or change punctuation, but you may not add or delete words. I purposely did not read the rest of Tina Chang's poem, as to not influence my first thoughts by her words and their meanings.  I was recalled back to an overheard conversation between a group of teenage girls, who didn't realize I could hear.  They were trying to come up with alternative ways they could have gotten "hickeys," or "love bites," what to tell their parents.  I laughed and told them  their  parents told  their  parents those exact same things, and no one was fooled!  No one would believe they "ran into a door knob," yet that's one that seems to pass through the gene

   24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 50 White Dew (September 7 – 22) Hakuro 白露 "Your writing invitation is to write tanka prose with me! The use of the kigo words are OPTIONAL. If they work for your poem, use them." I have used the kigo word Dew in my tanka prose.  It was just today when the first morning condensation was on my windshield.   So welcome was the sight, I took it's picture!  You know it's been a long summer when condensation is photo-worthy! The days are still hot.  90s and low 100s hot.  However, the nights are finally cooling, making it easier to sleep in a non-air conditioned room.   The most obvious sign that autumn is nigh is today was the first morning there was condensation on the car windshield.  It may not be as romantic as spring’s first blossom, or winter’s first snow flake, but after the summer I've had it’s the most welcome.   dew coats the windows an early morning surprise obscuring my view one more step before leaving a minor

Quadrille #207 Poem Spin Cycle " Don’t go into a tailspin. Just spin us a poem of precisely 44 words (not counting the title), containing some form or other of the word spin. Post the poem on your own blog and link up using the Mr. Linky below. Then spin out into that beautiful blogosphere to enjoy all the amazing poems. Some of the most incredible poets spin their stories right here at dverse. The Q is open all week long, so be sure to come back and take a second spin around the track. " He spins in circles ‘round and ‘round, a silent hunter, makes no sound. He eyes the prize, and sets to motion. He will get that thing, Land o’ Goshen! Now he’s so woozy, the silly boy! He’s found his tail is not a toy! ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #dverse #quadrille #wordcount #poetryprompt @mickey_chicky_boom_boom 

 For DVerse's Quadrille #206  - Around the Bend  "Pen us a poem of precisely 44 words (not counting the title), including some form of  the word bend (past tense of it is ok also.)" praying mantis on gladiola ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson Her forearms bent in prayer, she slowly moves  among the blossoms. She pauses, turns her head to look warily at me. You have nothing to fear  from me, Mantis. I welcome you  and promise to protect your future progeny  'til spring ushers them forth.  ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved praying mantis egg case winter 2023   ©2023 Lisa Smith Nelson #quadrille #prayingmantis #prayingmantispoetry #dverse #quadrillemonday

 dVerse Poetics: Picking up the Pieces "So, for today’s Poetics challenge, I would like you to write about grief (in general or personal). If that is something you don’t want to share, you can write about healing, dealing with loss or the general state of our world that brings grief to you." While I've written, and posted, poetry speaking of grief in general, much of it, unbeknownst to the reader, as personal.  I may have mentioned, or alluded to the loss of my husband, but never came right out (that I recall) and wrote about it.  I've typed and backspaced, typed and deleted, and now, I've only been able to write one line, an American Sentence.     My heart was left so shattered, there was no way to pick up the jagg'd shards. ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved Other poems on the subject of grief, and loss, can be found on the left by clicking "grief" in the Labels area.