Category: crimson’s creative challenge

Those koi, again

Chris Hall39 Comments

“Not so coy koi, or maybe a daydream.”

I walked around a pleasant park. I often go there. I love to stroll by trees, bushes and colourful flowers, the scent is always magnificent. There are bugs, bees and birds, so much to look at, and maybe take a few photos with my phone; but my favourite part is the beautiful pond where those not so coy carp, or rather those koi (like from Japan) would bubble up and ask for food – and I can.

Then often I would sit, or even lie down, to continue to watch them, and maybe have a daydream or two. And then I might pull out a notebook and a pen to write a little poem.

dream, dream and enjoy
a delightful day in spring
what could be better?

~~~

This week for #TankaTuesday, Yvette asked us to write a poem about a dream that came true or a dream that fell apart.

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #096

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 74, Oh, to Dream! 7/21/26

Young robin

Chris Hall34 Comments

Everything about this young bird shouted ‘robin’ despite it lacks the distinctive adult colouring. – Crispina Kemp

~~~

I’m a young robin
and I’m very proud indeed
my plumage is great
even though I am freckled
both mum and dad said next spring
I’ll be a red robin then

~~~

For Colleen Chesebro’s Tanka Tuesday invites us to write a bussokuseki.
This form is like a tanka, but there is an extra seven syllable line at the end of the form. Choose your theme.

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #095

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 73, bussokuseki, 7/14/26

Oystercatcher

Chris Hall34 Comments

He’s an Oystercatcher. They nest in the adjacent grassland. – Crispina Kemp

~~~

I am a wader
and my plumage is striking
there’s mud, grass, water
as I’m looking for mussels
since my brood is quite near here

~Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.~

it had been early
and it was still very dark
there was a warning
screech, alarm, I was on it
but everything had been fine

– Rabindranath Tagore

~~~

For Colleen Chesebro’s Tanka Tuesday invites us to write a Tanka Puente.
Her suggested/optional theme is light versus dark.

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #094

TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 72, Tanka Puente, 7/7/26

Just a small forest…

Chris Hall42 Comments

“I’ll race you,” grinned one of the boys.
“That will be fun,” said the other.
So off they went on their bikes along the scrubby lane. It was almost neck and neck when they both stopped, and rather suddenly.

“Such a small straight track.”
“Let’s go that way.”
So the two of them made their way across the field. They had only a tiny squabble as they decided who would go first. And off they went.

A bit later they both stopped.
“Gosh, it was further than we thought.”
“Still this small forest seems excellent.”
“I wonder what we’ll find?”
“The highest part is over there.”
“It will be dense and quite dark too.”
“And that’s what we like.”

So off they went. And they had a great time. They hoped that they would find a couple of unicorns, and it could have been. A small sighting, they both thought.

~~~

150 words
🦄

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #093

Those two boys… again!

Chris Hall33 Comments

“We’d love to go with you,” said the two boys.
“Okay, pop in,” grinned Uncle Bill. “My Land Rover is ancient but still fine,” as he lurched off onto the road.

“Where are we going,” asked one of the boys.
“Aha,” said he, “you’re going to like this, it’s right by the Fens. I’m going to drop you off for a while.”

Then one of the boys said: “We’re getting pretty close to that wonderful windmill, is it this?”
“It is,” as Uncle Bill pulled up. “You can poke around there, although it’s a shame you can’t go in. I’ll be about an hour,” and off he went.

The two of them had some fun, and even better, an old guy happened to be there, letting them in, and very interesting it was. Then Uncle Bill was back with some pies and ice creams, and not necessarily in that order!

~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #092

Colours and trees

Chris Hall48 Comments

Oak leaves showing us a full range of colours – Crispina Kemp

~~~

a beautiful sight
all those wonderful colours
there’s russet and red
bumblebee golden, chartreuse
and plus magnificent mauve

such a good season
it rings it’s changes so well
what else will it say?
young leaves are gorgeous, and that
oak will be extraordinary

~~~

Robbie is our host this week at #TankaTuesday, and she asks us to write about trees.

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #091

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 69, All About Trees 06/16/2026

What on earth…

Chris Hall40 Comments

‘What’s this?’
‘Bizarre.’
The two boys had just stopped by one of the shops.

‘I don’t remember seeing this.’
‘Me neither.’
‘But what is in this window anyway?’

Then one of them looked up to see the sign.
‘It says that this is a barber’s shop, but it seems, well, odd.’

The shop door opened with a happy ding-dong bell, as a large jolly man waved some scissors at them. ‘Want to do you’re short back and sides then, young boys?’

The two of them grin, then one of them said. ‘It was only last week, so no thank you.’
Then the other one said. ‘Please can we see what’s in the window?’
‘Do come in. You’ll like this!’

‘See, they should sing but not until the fourth one is back. Just a little crack to make him better. Then it’ll be a barbershop quartet, and that will be lovely.’

~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #090

Food for thought

Chris Hall38 Comments


~~~

big buttercups, buzz
darling daisies walk the talk
golden butterflies
fling nectar through those tall trees
the summer time vibe goes on

Summertime, and the living is easy. —Ella Fitzgerald

let’s lie on the hay
drinking some boozy bourbon
eat eggs and mustard
just a mellow afternoon
as a black crow cracks a joke

~~~

TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 67, Yellow Things, 6/2/26

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #089

Baa-lambs

Chris Hall41 Comments

~~~

ahh baa-lambs
so very, very cute
delightful

skip and jump
there’s almost always
two, they’re twins

spring, summer
are both very nice
oh, but then…

they slow down
they’re more mature
just staring

so off to market
we must not mention this, no
bye, goodbye, baa-lambs

so something
very different now
more than good

we’ve some spuds
some lovely mint sauce
‘lamb for lunch’

~~~

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 66, Exploring Haiku, 5/26/26
Crimson’s Creative Challenge #088

Such a fun treat!

Chris Hall43 Comments

‘What fun,’ grinned one of the boys.
‘Yes indeed,’ said the other one, ‘especially since we hopped on a bus, then we got out by this river in the Norfolk Broads.’
‘We have brought some sandwiches and we are wearing our wellies.’
‘And we have some fishing tackle, and we might even catch a couple of fishes.’

The two boys walked purposely.
‘It’s a bit deep by those reeds, and that’s going to be rather tricky,’ as one of them remarked.
But a moment later they heard an interesting sound.
‘Ooh, it’s a chug-chug-chug noise, and it’s getting closer.’
And very soon a cabin cruiser appeared.

‘Do you want to hop over here on the next bend?’ shouted an old guy on the boat. ‘I’m sure both of you will enjoy this.’

And so they did.
The two boys didn’t manage to catch a fish, but it was still fun.

~~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #087