Category: poetry

Nonsense, or is it?

Chris Hall47 Comments

canva.com


~~~~~~

dead metaphors, like
those dead poets who witter on:
loyal treachery and
melancholy merriment
want some affordable caviar?

such a nonsense poem
pretty dreadful I would say
so anything else?
tortuous spontaneity
that’s a nice one, isn’t it.

those dead poets are
buried in Poets’ Corner
shall we have a look?

~~~~~

For Colleen Chesebro’s TankaTuesday #47 – 13 January 2026 where this week’s host Robbie Cheadle’s invitation is to ‘choose an oxymoron and write a syllabic poem to demonstrate its meaning.’

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 47, Oxymoron, 01/13/2026

The Lake and the Moon

Chris Hall40 Comments

The Lake and the Moon

It felt like a dream,
a very strange dream, she’d been
in a weird island.

She’d stared at the lake,
so vast, so deep, exquisite
with gorgeous colours.

Hues screamed out: azure,
cyan, mauve, and even mango,
but over the top…

that blood moon!

~~~~~

Image credit: Sean Pierce @Unsplash

This image shows blood moon over strange rock formations at dusk at navy beach/mono lake (CA) The rocks stand out against a velvet purple sky.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #323 photo prompt.

What do you see # 323- 12 January, 2026

Just happiness

Chris Hall47 Comments

just outside in my office

tanka Puente

a new brood, that’s life
these are guinea fowls, cheeky;
here’s the family
there’s mom, dad, aunt and uncle
and here’s the best one – young’un!

~~ “Tame birds sing of freedom. Wild birds fly.” John Lennon ~~

a new guinea fowl
learns to chatter and squawk, a lot
he’s bigger each day
and now he’s a teenager
such fun we’re having, we’ll wave

~~~

For Colleen Chesebro‘s TankaTuesday #46 — 6 January 2026, where this week’s host Willow Willer’s invitation is to write syllabic poetry in the form of a puente [using a quote as a three-stanza poem’s bridge]. The selected quote’s topic is to be the writer’s choice. On the topic(s) of ‘new beginnings for the new year or your life.‘

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No.46, New Beginnings Puente Poetry, 01/06/26

That letter

Chris Hall69 Comments

She’d been walking on the beach for hours.
There was no-one around.
Just her.

It was cold, damp, miserable. Both the sea and the sky was the same colour.
Everything was grey.
Including her heart.

She opened the letter. Yet again. It was crinkled and damp.
She’d read it so often, she knew it by heart.
But there should be two hearts here.

She stopped and looked out to sea.
She heaved a sigh, then ripped that letter in tiny pieces.

And then she felt so much better.

~~~~~

Image credit:  Pan Xiaozhen @Unsplash

This image shows a fully dressed woman on the edge of a rocky beach. In this black and white photo, she is looking down at something in her hand.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #322 photo prompt.

What do you see #322- 5th January 2026

Choo-Choo!

Chris Hall55 Comments

A railway, a railway!
The two boys smiled happily.

How fun it is
to ride on a train,
and they could take
their bikes with them.

Only a short trip,
but that was fine,
always lucky to be on holiday,
as they grinned again.

~~~~~

Image credit:  Tobias Reich @Unsplash

This image shows a scene from a railway station. The platform on the photographer’s side is empty, and you can see a train on the opposite side, leaving, engulfed in smoke/fog.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #321 photo prompt.

What do you see # 321- 29 December 2025

Another South African Christmas

Chris Hall47 Comments

figs from my garden and in my kitchen

it’s Christmas
a buffet, a treat
a fun day

there are figs galore
the smell, the taste is divine
so much going on

we will eat
and enjoy the day
squirrels too

yes, that’s right
they pick lots of them
naughty ones

so open presents
and sit outside, lovely, and
a little champagne

~~~

Loved your quartet of American cinquains, Robbie, really fab
– we’re only around the corner (kind of).

For Colleen Chesebro’s #TankaTuesday #44 – 23 December 2025, where this week’s host, Robbie Cheadle’s invitation is to reflect on holiday Christmas celebrations and family gatherings, using one, some or all, of the five senses as muses in a syllabic poem.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 44, Holidays, 12/23/2025

Christmas cheer?

Chris Hall36 Comments

Yes, I am a sheep
and only for Christmas time
and a bit longer.

Yes, I’m on a tree,
not a real one, obviously,
there’s tinsel and lights.

And are we happy?
Hard to say, since we don’t speak,
and we never have.

So we continue
to spin slowly for Christmas
and New Year as well.

Then back in that box
and for everyone, until
next time, see you then.

~~~~~~~

Image credit: Renata Kidd @Unsplash

This image shows a close up of a Christmas tree, with two little woolly lambs hanging from it. One is white and the other is grey.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #320 photo prompt.

What do you see # 320- 22nd December’25

Beach time

Chris Hall55 Comments

‘Beach time,’ she shouted as she grinned happily. ‘It’s so warm, it’s so pleasant.’ She grabs her sunglasses – so funky, a tangerine colour, so bright. She pops her floppy hat which is decorated with little hearts and butterflies – very cool. She started to sing to herself as she went to get sunscreen – she knows she should be wise since she wouldn’t want to burn. ‘It’s going to be blazing by the beach,’ as she jumped into her snazzy car. ‘Broom, broom!’ and off she goes.

she’ll run down the beach
she’ll potter around the sea
she’ll take some shells back

~~~~~

Image credit: Amera Pawlik @Unsplash

This image shows an embroidery frame, coloured pens, a pair of child’s plastic glasses and tic tock signs. In the embroidery frame- different emojis are embroidered.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #319 photo prompt.

What do you see # 319- 15th December 2025

Laughing Buddha

Chris Hall36 Comments

a sculpture in our yard

our lovely fat Budai
he loves to chuckle and grin
he throws happiness and joy
here’s a gift, petals!

~~~~~

The Dodoitsu is a fixed folk song form of Japanese origin and is often about love or humour.

The name, Budai, literally means ‘cloth sack’, and refers to the bag he is usually depicted carrying as he wanders aimlessly. His jolly nature, humorous personality, and eccentric lifestyle distinguish him from most Buddhist masters or figures. He is almost always shown smiling or laughing, hence his nickname in Chinese, the Laughing Buddha. Budai is traditionally depicted as overweight and having a huge stomach (possibly a symbol of abundance or forgiveness) and many stories surrounding Budai involve his love of food and drink – perfect for us too!

For Colleen Chesebro’s #TankaTuesday #42 – 9 December 2025 where this week’s host Yvette Calleiro’s invitation is to focus on the word gift/gifting, as a noun or verb and to write a syllabic poem.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 42, Gift/Gifting, 12/09/25

It’s almost Christmas

Chris Hall60 Comments

what a wonderful time it is
so much happiness and joy!

all those little businesses are busy
since they will be closing soon.

we peer in various shops
is there anything else we need?

no, we think we have everything
let’s run home now!

~~~~~

Image credit: Deep Doshi  @Unsplash

This photo shows a snowbound scene from a street in Quebec, Canada. There are Christmas trees outside almost every home and they are sprinkled with snow. People, warmly dressed are going about their business.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #318 photo prompt.

What do you see # 318- 8 December 2025