Home › AmWriting › #NaPoWriMo: A Poem A Day – Day 12 and #TankaTuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 269 #Colleen’s #SpecificForm #TankaProse @ColleenChesebro

#NaPoWriMo: A Poem A Day – Day 12 and #TankaTuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 269 #Colleen’s #SpecificForm #TankaProse @ColleenChesebro

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Hi everyone! Today is day twelve of the national poetry month competition, and also Colleen’s weekly Tanka Tuesday challenge. Today, I’ve combined the two challenges into one.

Here’s my offering >>>

DAY  TWELVE:

[Instructions:] From NaPoWriMo Day Twelve … write a poem about a very small thing … whether it’s an atom, a button, a hummingbird’s egg, dollhouse furniture, or the mythical world’s smallest violin. And from Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday challenge … This week’s form: Tanka Prose. TANKA PROSE: We write Tanka prose from the first person point-of-view. The prose paragraph(s) must also seek to be, if not poetic, at least something that grabs our attention. It must compete with the verse in its style, intending to be inventive and expressive all on its own.

The tanka portion is 5-7-5-7-7, or short, long, short, long, long. To keep us all on the same syllable count, we use SodaCoffee Syllable Counter.

soil and leaves
Image courtesy of Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/photos/floor-earth-ground-dry-land-2128870/

 

“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust” we mourners are told. No matter our chosen method of removal, our body returns to “ash” and “dust” and joins the cycle of nature yet again. Still, I’d sooner hold your rough palm in mine than a pile of damp, comfortless dirt. The modern way is to recycle and reuse. … If only I could renew you so easily, my love.

 

The smallest speckle

Of grit in my grief-filled hand

From damp earth we come

To the dirt we must return

Woe’s tears scorn eternal dust

 

 

Have a wonderful day, everyone, and I’ll see you tomorrow with Day Thirteen on the NaPoWriMo 30 Day Poetry Challenge 🙂 

 

© Harmony Kent 2022

 

48 Comments on “#NaPoWriMo: A Poem A Day – Day 12 and #TankaTuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 269 #Colleen’s #SpecificForm #TankaProse @ColleenChesebro”

  1. <blockquote>Still, I’d sooner hold your rough palm in mine than a pile of damp, comfortless dirt. </blockquote>I’m so sorry for your loss, Harmony…

    Sincerely,
    David

    • Memories of deep loss linger long. And if we live long enough, we all share such experience. Thanks, David 💕🙂

  2. Lovely Harmony.. I have left instructions that there is to be a big party, and my ashes are to scattered to the four winds so I can continue to create mischief… I have no wish to be beneath the earth or locked in an urn.. ♥

    • That is so wonderful, Sally. And for certain, a celebration of life. Hugs 💕🙂

  4. Mourning is a process. But death, no matter when that Angel visits…
    can be devistating.
    May we find peace with those still living.

    • Oh, wow! That’s awesome! Thanks so much, Colleen 💕🙂 Doing my happy dance 💃😁

  11. So poignant. So vivid. Beautiful Harmony.
    Thank you for introducing the ‘Tanka Verse’ form. I’m learning so many new things –big and small–this month:)

  14. Hi Harmony. I tried doing something similar, talk about our minute existence. Turning to dust. I find yours more vivid. The prose especially. I’m yet to try the Tanka prose. You just inspired me.

    • Small world! I’m thrilled to have inspired you. Thanks so much, Sonia 💕🙂

  16. You said this with heart. Thanks for this. Lovely.
    An aside: looks like I can leave comments but only when I’m on computer, from the link I collect from Disqus. Not from the Reader. It’s sad, cause I’m on the Reader and on my phone most of the time. Anyway, Glad I could drop you a line today. Keep going. Happy writing. I bless you, Harmony.

    • I’m so pleased you can comment from the computer. I don’t know why reader will allow some blog comments and not others.

      Thanks so much for your wonderful words, Selma 💕🙂

  18. You really captured the nature of losing a loved one and the return to the earth, Harmony. Well said.

    • Sorry about the wrenched gut, and I’m so pleased to have moved you so much. Thanks, Staci 💕🙂