The Versesmith

 Poets and Storytellers United #155 : May Bite! The prompt this week is "... create poetry or prose while considering the phrase “Careful: May bite! ” I shall wear a sign around my neck. " Careful: May bite !" No one will know if it's true, so, neither will they take the chance. I'd like to bite them, those nosy parkers, the " just thinking what's best for you " relatives. Go to hell Aunt Ruth, tell it to the devil.    It will be a big sign, made of chipboard, painted white.  Bold text in red, so they can't miss it, and tied with jaunty blue ribbon.  They’ll all deem me crazy and talk behind my back. It’ll be fair warning to back off. They’ve been warned before, but with this persistent bunch of meddlers, there are no guarantees. Let's only hope they'll leave me alone.  If not, next time I will bite.   2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved

TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge: Silver Linings This week Yvette asks us to " focus on creating a syllabic poem that centers around the idea of silver linings. You can choose to write a poem that contrasts struggles and blessings. You can also choose to focus on any contrast between dark and light ."  I thought I might be too cynical, however when I took this quiz  I was found to be only 29% cynical!  Huh... quite a surprise.  So, if I'm not cynical, maybe silver linings, the darkness before the dawn, the blessings in disguise, are just not a me thing.  So, a photo haiku cynical look at silver linings from a 29% cynical person.  ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson #tankatuesdaypoetrychallenge #tankatuesday #photohaiku #syllabicpoetry

  For dVerse's Q213 , where we are asked to write a quadrille using the prompt word with .   A quadrille is a dVerse’ poetic form of 44 words, not including the title. With you. Without you. No telling which is best. After all our years together you would think it would be easy. With, you say you're whole. Yet, without you I am myself. Why can't with and without merge, to form a compromise for love?   ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved 

Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge: Specific Form Cheryl has asked us to write a syllabic poem using the form of the shadorma.  The shadorma is six lines with a specific syllable count per line.          3/5/3/3/7/5 Multiple stanzas are permitted and are called a shadorma series.  Shadormas are usually unrhymed.   Even though I have written shadorma poems before, the three syllable lines were the most difficult for me this time.  I tried several poems to end up with one I was pleased with.  These are my results, and I am not terribly pleased with any!  This is not fishing for compliments, just the truth. Speaking of truth... Liar I like rain. No one sees my tears, just wetness on my cheeks. They can't see my heart shatter when I say “I'm fine.” Winter Chill   Ice-cold breeze this November day. Blasts of wind, trees stripp’d bare. You'd think it was December seeing snowy hills. Spring is in the  Air  Mailbox  Cat...

 Ronovan Writes Ovi Poetry Challenge 73: DARE is your inspiration While we wait these troublesome days, oppose the hate, our voices praise. Soon enough they'll reappraise, and realize their folly. For hatred is a bitter seed, and on one's own flesh will it feed. Soon recognition that indeed their choice was idiotic! ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #ronovanwrites #ronovanwritesovipoetrychallenge #ovipoetry #ovipoem #darepoetry #syllabicpoetry #syllabicpoem 

  Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge: Synonyms Only  I have written a tanka.  The synonyms are in red. your word is your bond yet I hear the double-talk  actions speak louder like an umbrella with holes  no relief from rain or tears   ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #tankatuesdaypoetrychallenge #tankapoetry #syllabicpoetry #tankatuesday #synonymsonly

Poets and Storytellers United #151: "a box full of darkness"   Magaly invites us to write poetry or prose inspired by the following lines, from Mary Oliver’s “ The Uses of Sorrow. ” My unopened box of darkness, pushed to the furthest back of the shelf, beyond my fingers reach, was a gift. An unwelcome gift. I need no more darkness in my life. Gift me brightness and happy days. If not sunshine, at least give me rainbows with the rain. I have no use for sorrow, I’ve had my fill. My cup of sorrow ran over long ago. ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #poetsandstorytellersunited #freeversepoetry #maryoliver