Home › Fiction Prompt › #TANKATUESDAY Weekly #POETRYCHALLENGE #275 #THEMEPROMPT @ColleenChesebro

#TANKATUESDAY Weekly #POETRYCHALLENGE #275 #THEMEPROMPT @ColleenChesebro

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Hi everyone! 🙂

Today, I’ve joined Colleen’s weekly TankaTuesday challenge, which asks for us to create a syllabic poem based on a Theme Prompt from Kerfe:

‘USEFUL’

As ever, we need to avoid ‘ing’ ending words if at all possible.

You can find Colleen’s post HERE.

Empty Vessel

 

of what use is an

empty pot?—more than

the space within the vessel?

best vacant or full?

life brings push and pull—

with such things we must wrestle

 

esse is more than

achievements that span

the years in which days nestle

cup spills if too full

the mess left awful

too busy is not special

 

better to sit an’

reflect—be still—than

coat yourself in the speckle

of the useless pall

of doing it all

twisted up like a pretzel

 

the pragmatic man

walked before he ran

balanced work with the restful

drop by drop—stream full

listen first then call

for a life quintessential

 

Today, I chose an Alouette.

From Poet’s Collective: The Alouette, created by Jan Turner, consists of two or more stanzas of 6 lines each, (12 lines or more) with the following set rules:
Syllabic: 5/5/7/5/5/7
Rhyme Scheme: aabccb
The form name is a French word meaning ‘skylark’ or larks that fly high, the association to the lark’s song being appropriate for the musical quality of this form.

 

I hope you enjoyed today’s poetry. Have a lovely day! 🙂

 

© Harmony Kent 2022

 

52 Comments on “#TANKATUESDAY Weekly #POETRYCHALLENGE #275 #THEMEPROMPT @ColleenChesebro”

  6. Your first verse reminded me of the story of ‘Stone Soup’ – in short the empty pot becomes filled with enough for all to share.

    Breath in and out, take one day at a time, one step at a time 🙂

    • That sounds like the “magic porridge pot” I learnt about as a child. Thanks, Jules 💕🙂

  7. I really like the way each verse is shaped like a vessel. And quintessential–what a great word, and how well it fits into your last stanza.

  9. Beautiful, Harmony! I’ve not tried the Alouette but you’ve definitely mastered it. Bravo! 💗

  11. In elementary school, we learned a song called “Alouette” and I remember it to this day. (Didn’t know it meant “skylark” though.)

    Great work, Harmony. And thanks for the history lesson along with the form name.

    • Thanks, Staci! Now you mention it, I may vaguely recall a French song we were taught at school but not what it meant, lols. 💕🙂

  13. too busy is not special. The open at all hours mindset hurts. Lovely, Harmony. Thanks for sharing. My post will be live by the time you awake. I hope. All the best with the launch. xoxo

  16. Harmony, I loved how you shaped your poem and the pretzel analogy was brilliant. 🙂

  17. Harmony, this is a well written thoughtful poem. The Alouette form speaks to you! I love this stanza: “better to sit an’

    reflect—be still—than

    coat yourself in the speckle

    of the useless pall

    of doing it all

    twisted up like a pretzel”

    Not only are your words wise, but the fluidity and rhythm of your words is so pleasing to hear spoken. Well done! <3

  18. I love how ever stanza looks rather like vase 🙂

    Harmony, also – random question: do you happen to know why I can’t leave you a comment via the WP reader?

    <3
    David

    • I don’t know why the reader doesn’t show comments. I’ve tried so many work-arounds, ugh. Thanks so much for persevering!

      I loved that aspect of the poem too! Thanks, David 💕🙂

  19. I like the flow of this, Harmony, and how it delivered the message.

  22. Such a wise and beautiful message in this poem, Harmony. A great response to the prompt!

  23. I like how each stanza dwells on a different thought. Well done Harmony. Thanks for introducing me to a new form, it sounds good to work on.