Category: crimson’s creative challenge

That’s an interesting tree…

Chris Hall30 Comments


“Shall we stop for a bit?” asked one of the boys.
“Yes, good thinking, we’ve been riding for ages.”
“Such a good place here, and right by the nice village pond.”
So, the two of them got off, and put their bikes down, then walked down to the pond.

“This is great, isn’t it,” grinned one of them.
“Should we have a little paddle?”
“We could, although it looks a bit deep, or at least a bit uncomfortable.”
“Okay, let’s walk a little further.”

“Now look at this, this is fab!”
“Gosh, this tree is ancient, isn’t it?”
“It’s called a weeping willow tree, I think.”
“Well, it looks like the Whomping Willow in Harry Potter’s Hogwarts school grounds.”
“I do like that idea of that – a magical tree…”
“… although that could be pretty dangerous.”
The two of them grinned for a bit, then said together: “we’ll ride again.”

~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #105

Those two happy boys!

Chris Hall33 Comments


The two boys had just left that rather nice woman, who had said that she would be happy to see them some time in the future.
“Fun, eh,” grinned one of the boys.
“Oh yes, that huge house was amazing.”
“It’s called The Old Hall.”
“That’s right.”
She had laughed a lot, since she said her name is Ms Hall.
“Still, we need to get moving now,” as the two boys started to pedal more quickly.

Then they continued to bike by the little lane.
“Look just over there. There’s two lovely cows who are munching in the long grass.”
“But that’s not where they stay normally, surely?”

The two of them slowed down to see what was going on.
“Oh look, that farmer is just there, he’s going to herd them back where they are supposed to be.”
“Well, I’m saying, phew.”
“Quite right.”

So off they went smiling.

~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #104

The Old Hall

Chris Hall38 Comments

“Is this all for me?” she thought, as she opened the car door, and looked up and around. It was huge. She grabbed her phone and several pages of notes, then got out, closing and locking the door. “Habit,” she muttered to herself.”

The key was hidden under a big bush near the main door as the solicitor had said on email. She held it up for a moment, then poked the key in the lock.

It was dark inside, since all the windows had been bricked up. Still there was a large torch somewhere. But then she saw two young boys on their bikes appear.

“Hello,” said one of them. “Do you need some help?”
“We can see it’s dark, but we’ve our front lights on our bikes and easy to remove them.”

She grinned back and said, “you’ll be handy, and you two will be my new friends!”

~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #103

A scarlet ship

Chris Hall47 Comments


now this is a super scarlet ship
and she’s massive and marvellous,
she’s sleek and swift in the seas.
there are many major
operations on
this fine vessel.
so what’s next?
shall we
see?

it
was a
dangerous
mission this time.
the crew were clever
as always, as the waves
were lashing and moaning, but
she was able to aid, for all,
such a splendid, superb scarlet ship.

~~~

Crispina Kemp‘s photo – a fascinating fleet! – https://esvagt.com/services/fleet-list/ –

For Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge No. 80, Alliteration, Robbie has asked that we write a syllabic form using alliteration. Plus a lovely painting down there.

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #102

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 80, Alliteration 9/01/26

A little red car up there

Chris Hall38 Comments



those trees and bushes
are elegant in different hues,
so many green shades
in the great colour wheel,
very blissful and calming.

Colour, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.

but what is up there?
gosh, it’s a little red car!
vibrant, isn’t it,
but how did it get to there?
no clue, but fun, we’re grinning!

– Pablo Picasso


~~~

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #101

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 79, Color as a Metaphor, 8/25/26

Tread with trepidation…

Chris Hall34 Comments


Tread with trepidation

It’s so, so dry. Look at the grass, it’s brown. It’s dying or dead. Ridiculous! Actually it’s not just ridiculous, it’s rather worrying. I have never known a summer as scorching as this. Although 1976 was pretty similar. Gosh, that was a long time ago.

The worrying thing now though is this. It’s El Niño effect. And that is going to be brutal. It’s already beginning. There is drought, wildfires and heat waves too. Then on the other side there will be torrential rain with floods.

Now we need to think. Crops, livestock and infrastructure will reduce food production and disrupt markets. As supply falls, prices rise and food becomes less affordable. When combined with existing pressures such as conflict these climate shocks can quickly increase hunger.

so brace, brace and brace
many things will be required
let us keep alert

~~~~~~~~
145 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #100

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 78, Tread with Trepidation! 8/18/26

Is it autumn?

Chris Hall41 Comments


Autumn? Is it? You’re quite sure?
Surely it’s spring around here?
It’s certainly complicated
and I do like to be sure.

You see I’m a water maiden
I’m really rather shy though
but I’m bright and beautiful
and I’ll say that quietly.

I am by a lovely lily.
It’s a white water lily
and it’s so sweet and vibrant
and I love to sit with it.

So now I’m thinking to myself
it’s almost an equinox
and that is pretty pleasing,
it could be fall or vernal.

~~~

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #099

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 76, Celtic Autumn, 8/11/2026

Yet another nonsense poem

Chris Hall39 Comments


aha, I am here
as I muttered to myself
as I almost stopped
I knew I’d forgotten something
but what was it I wondered

I was half way now
on this pretty hump-backed bridge
but it’s bugging me
it was bugging me so much
as I dithered, and dithered

so what was it then?
as I stared at the river
but no clue was there
so should I go back, or not?
but no, let’s go, well why not!

~~~

Melissa, from Mom With a Blog, is our host this week at #TankaTuesday, and she asks us to write about forgetting things.

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #098

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 75, Oops, I forgot! 8/5/26

It’s up there…

Chris Hall31 Comments

“I can just reach it, well almost. Why don’t you try… you’re a little taller than me, aren’t you?”
“Ah, that’s it.”
“Oops, don’t drop it.”
“Impressive, isn’t it?”

“Now give it to me. I am going to open it. And smell it. Hmm, seems fine. So, another sniff… mm, I’m liking this.”

“You don’t want to smell it?”
“Thanks, but no.”
“But you do want to stay with me, don’t you?”
“Sure, of course.”
“Well, phew!”

“Now it’s time to have a little sip. Luckily I can tip it up with both hands. And slowly too.”

“Wow. That’s strong. It’s certainly an interesting aroma.”
“Hmm, is it nice?”

“Well, I will have another tiny sip. Just to make sure. It’s certainly warming.
“And that’s a good thing?”
“Sure. Now, another shot…, definitely nice now. Are you sure you don’t want some…? Oh well, all for me. Glug, glug, hic!”

~~~

150 words

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #097

Those koi, again

Chris Hall42 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