The Versesmith

 Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Challenge #492 Words: night and bird  ©Lisa Smith Nelson 2023 owl - silent night-bird waits in the cedar watching too late vole spies him  ©2023 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved The image is of bones from an owl pellet found under my cedar trees.  Pellets aren't the only thing owls have left behind.  I've found several large birds without their heads. #ronovanwritesweeklyhaikuchallenge #ronovanwrites #haiku #haikupoetry #owlpoetry

 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 11 Heavy Snow (December 7 – 20) Taisetsu 大雪 "... choose a kigo word or phrase from the seasonal kigo list on the post, or you can choose from the winter category (world kigo database) on the kigo word list links below. Share your kigo word on your post ." I have chosen two to include in a shadorma.  " North wind " from In the Sky , and " rosemary " from In the Ground and Water .  The prostrate rosemary will be blooming all winter in zone 8b. photo credit: Lisa Smith Nelson ©2023 ROSEMARY   Rosemary laughs in North Wind’s face. She laughs and flourishes, unmoved by Wind’s biting chill, his sharp icy gusts. ©2023 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #tankatuesdaypoetrychallenge #tankatuesday24seasons #kigo #japanesepoetry #24seasons #taisetsu #rosemarypoetry 

  24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 10 Light Snow (November 22 – December 6) Shosetsu 小雪 " The 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry challenge is inviting participants to write three dodoitsu, a form of Japanese poetry, following a 7-7-7-5 syllable count pattern. Each poem should contain a specified kigo phrase relating to either the northern or southern hemisphere ."  Use one kigo phrase in each of your three poems. #1: “early winter dusk” #2: “chilly north winds blow” #3: “warmth around the hearth” in the neglected flower beds the browned leaves swirl, a wild dance a last bright petal rises chilly north winds blow strive to keep my usage down make do with nature’s lighting it’s harder in December early winter dusk  sparks fly from the shifting log small out-of-season sparklers  children squeal in mock alarm  warmth around the hearth  ©2023 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #tankatuesdaypoetrychallenge #tankatuesday24seasons #dodoitsu #kigo #japanesepo...

  24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 9  Light Snow (November 22 – December 6) Shosetsu 小雪 "...choose a kigo word or phrase from the seasonal kigo list on the post, or you can choose from the winter category ( world kigo database ) on the kigo word list links below. Share your kigo word on your post." I chose " woodsmoke " from the In the Sky list.   Woodsmoke was on my mind as colder weather has arrived and people are firing up their wood stoves.  While they seem like a clean, natural way to heat, back-to-nature if you will, and burning wood does smell wonderful, they can be a significant source of air pollution.  Years ago, in the mountains of California, the air was thick with smoke all winter.   image source Woodsmoke hangs heavy the valley shrouded in grey fragrant pollution ©2023 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  #tankatuesdaypoetrychallenge #tankatuesday24seasons #haiku  #kigo #japanesepoetry #24seasons #ritto...

Tanka Tuesday 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge No. 8   The Beginning of Winter (November 7 – 21) Ritto 立冬 "Below you will find the three kigo phrases (five syllables each). You can use them as the “turn lines” or “pivots” (third lines) for each of your three tanka, or as the first line of your tanka. You must use one kigo phrase in each tanka as either the first line or the pivot line in each of your three tanka poems." The kigo phrases are: #1: “the first month with sleet” #2: “late winter garden” #3: “blanket by the fire” the first month with sleet these early cold days are hard since I've been alone the nights are so much longer I don't know how long I'll last squash dead on the vine withered tomatoes turned brown late winter garden  hang up the garden hoses close the garden shed door tight the first cold morning mug of hot cocoa in hand blanket by the fire warms my legs and the old dog memories for when he's gone * ©2023 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights R...

  Ronovan Writes Ovi Poetry Challenge 19: MINE is your inspiration. Oh!  The days of roses and wine! Toasting our future, you were mine. When since then did I miss the sign your love for me had died? ©2023 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #ronovanwrites #ronovanwritesovipoetrychallenge #ovipoetry #ovipoem #truthpoetry #syllabicpoetry #syllabicpoem 

  Tanka Tuesday 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge No. 7    The Beginning of Winter (November 7 – 21) Ritto 立冬 "... choose a kigo word or phrase from the seasonal kigo list on the post, or you can choose from the autumn category... Share your kigo word on your post ." I have chosen " ramen " from the list In Our Lives , and " close the north windows ," found here . image close the north windows  let the panes fog with the steam  of fragrant ramen  ©2023 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #tankatuesdaypoetrychallenge #tankatuesday24seasons #haiku  #kigo #japanesepoetry #24seasons #ritto