The Versesmith

I am thrilled to share these five poems that were  published  today on  I Write Her: The Short of It , edited by Susi Bocks. She “ aims to find those poets and writers with something big to say in as few words as possible .”  I wrote three haiku, one tanka, and a short free verse (4/4/4/9) in the style of a haiga .  These forms are usually not given titles, but have been here.  Feathered Messenger  poised on the lamp post raven's keen dark eyes stare down harbinger of news Benny  my house panther snores a big boy once, now wasted spends last days with me   Moon Music sultry summer night cicadas shrill serenade nocturne in moonglow Silent Muse   the poet fails, sobs words have left him, blank paper laying on his desk mock the once great man of verse his muse no longer whispers Portrait of a Nun The new submission cycle for The Short of It will open July 1, 2027. #haiku #tanka #theshortofit #iwriteher #shortpoems...

Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge: Haiga This week Melissa asks us to create a "'... haiga using a photo or illustration and a haiku ."   She asks that we remember in a haiga " The image is not an illustration for the poem, nor is the poem a caption for the image! Each should be able to stand alone, and neither should need the other to complete it." photo ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson #tankatuesdaypoetrychallenge #tankatuesday #haiga #photohaiku #haiku #syllabicpoetry 

 H - Haiga Haiga is a Japanese form combining a painting or drawing and a haiku written directly on the artwork.  In English we usually include the combination to include photographs.  However, in Japanese there is a word for photo-haiku, shahai, haiku + photo . * 3 lines  * syllable count of short/long/short - traditionally 5/7/5, but can be 3/5/3, or 2/3/2.   * the haiku is the most important part of the haiga, and should not rely on the image to complete it, or make it understandable.   * no title, no rhymes, no punctuation (as in haiku) * include a kigo, or seasonal word or phrase (which all haiku need!) So, here is a haiga, or what in English we usually call a haiga, which is really a shahai. ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved 

 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 24  Wintering Insects Awake (March 5 – 19) Keichitsu 啓蟄 " Your syllabic poetry writing invitation is to choose a kigo word or phrase from the seasonal kigo list on the post, or you can choose from the spring category on the kigo word list links below. Share your kigo word on your pos t." It's been raining.  It's been snowing.  Then more rain.  It's muddy.  Very, very muddy.  So, what kigo phrase would be more fitting right now than Spring Mud ?  Nothing I can think of.   It was made for me considering I took the photo below just two days ago!  I wrote a h aiga . ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #tankatuesday #kigo #tankatuesdaypoetrychallenge #tankatuesday24seasons #haiga #syllabicpoetry