Tag Archives: Tanka

A Tragedy

I don’t know how I did this, but I linked to LAST week’s prompt! Time is standing still for so many of us, isn’t it? I can sense our collective gasp as we watch our government heartlessly try to unravel any forward movement in the gun debate – which should not be a debate. I still believe this time is different. The children give me hope.

Maybe I was meant to revisit last week’s prompt. Though I know…I owe you another poem Colleen. For now, there is this…


A Tragedy

no courage in the
hallowed halls of congress,
in their attachment
to power and lobbyists
they entrench death into law

but for the passion,
the rage of our brave children,
all honor is slain

~kat

A Tanka/Senryu for Colleen Chesebro’s Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge using synonyms of the words, character: courage, honor and affection: passion, attachment.


Empathy

it takes empathy
the kindness of bleeding hearts
freaks who care too much
to restore our dignity
and grace, our reputation

~kat

A Tanka for Colleen Chesebro’s Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge using synonyms only for the words:

affection: kindness, grace, empathy

character: reputation, freak, dignity


Grappling with fate

grappling with fate

nothing thrills me more,
not fortune, nor happenstance…
serendipity
rouses my soul to believe
in kismet, in providence

felicitous flukes
that bind us intrinsically
you know…pure magic

~kat

For Colleen Chesebro’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge inspired by these words and their synonyms:

Destiny: fortune, serendipity, happenstance, kismet, fate

Challenge: rouse, thrill, grapple.


Ochlocracy

ochlocracy

they crave attention
vowing no obligation
to covenants, revealing
loyalty in collusion
with the one who swears for sport

power corrupted
democracy is dying
while everyone sleeps

~kat

A Tanka/Senryu for Colleen Chesebro’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge inspired by synonyms of the words: Bond-obligation, swear, vow, covenant, collusion, loyalty and Seek-plead, crave.


Fire and Ice


Mount Mayon rages
billowing ash, eclipsed, the
cerulean vault,
molten bowels oozing, etching
her passionate apologue

black obsidian
destruction’s cool residue
fire and ice collide

~kat

For Colleen Chesebro’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge, a Tanka-Senryu inspired by nature’s latest rumbling…the Mount Mayon eruptions, and employing synonyms of the prompt words: myth – apalogue and write – etch.