Category: poetry

Fish Feast

Chris Hall59 Comments

a view from our stoep

it’s almost Christmas
and we will have a fish feast
elegant, possibly
but don’t miss any lovely juice
since we will have some mussels
~~~

Keith Floyd’s Moules Marinière 

Ingredients

  • Fresh mussels, cleaned and de-bearded
  • Butter
  • Shallots (or onion)
  • Garlic, unpeeled and crushed
  • Fresh parsley
  • Good white wine

Instructions

  1. Prepare the mussels: Clean them thoroughly, removing any beards or barnacles.
  2. Melt the butter: In a large saucepan, melt a generous amount of butter over high heat.
  3. Sauté aromatics: Add the chopped shallots, crushed garlic, and most of the parsley to the melted butter. Stir for a moment.
  4. Add wine: Pour in the white wine and let it come to a boil.
  5. Cook the mussels: Add the mussels to the pot, cover tightly, and cook over high heat for a few minutes until they open. Shake the pan occasionally.
  6. Discard any mussels that remain closed.
  7. Serve the mussels immediately with their juice and sprinkle with the remaining parsley.
  8. Enjoy: It is customary to serve with crusty bread for dipping in the flavourful sauce. 

~~~~~

For Colleen Chesebro’s #TankaTuesday #41 – 2 December 2025 where this week, Colleen’s invitation is ‘to write a syllabic poem on the food/or foods that are served according to your December traditions.‘

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 41, December Foods, 12/2/2025

Seagull World

Chris Hall59 Comments

Seagull World

Another beautiful day,
said one.
Where shall we go today,
said the other.

They potted around the lovely beach.

So warm isn’t it,
said one.
Well, it’s summer on the Cape, isn’t it,
grinned the other.

They potted a bit further, as they looked out.

I know, let’s go right to the end.
You mean the Table Mountain?
No, even further… the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula.
Let’s enjoy the Cape of Good Hope just now.

And off they went!

~~~~~

Image credit:  Thibault Moluenko @Unsplash

The image shows two birds standing in the water of the ocean, at a beach. The sky overhead is cloudy and lit golden by the rays of the sun, which are reflected in the water too. There are waves coming in towards the beach.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #317 photo prompt.

What do you see # 317- 1st December 2025

Just gratitude

Chris Hall45 Comments

view from my kitchen window

Brimming with happiness
so warm and so bright
who’s busy outside, let me have a little look
as I open the big door
and slowly step out.

I look around and up
here’s two pretty doves
they’re canoodling together on that rafter
so why don’t you nest here
good idea, my dear?

I’m sure you’ve been before
both of you last year
and that when so well, we all remember that
so get some twigs and stuff
time to be broody!

~~~~~

Written in response to this week’s Tanka Challenge hosted by Melissa, from Mom With a Blog
The Double Ennead is a form created by Colleen Chesebro for 99-word stories at Carrot Ranch. The Double Ennead is composed of three stanzas of 33 syllables each, for a total of 99. Each stanza has lines with the following syllable counts: 6/5/11/6/5. For an example of a Double Ennead poem, click here.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 40, Double Ennead, 11/25/2025

Was that me?

Chris Hall60 Comments

Was that me in a different life? Is it possible to be reborn again without knowing?
Something drastic happened. Everything disappeared completely.
Not just dark. Just nothing. Nothing at all.
Gone.

And yet…
Something rebooted, eventually.
Eyes opened. But looking upside down, and back to front. Just like a brand new baby.
And then it all came back again. So, I’m thinking that’s what happened.

a new chance
many lovely days
lucky me!

~~~~~

Image credit:  Mohsen Karimi @Unsplash

The image shows a blurred girl/woman through a rain-streaked window. The background is not clearly seen.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #316 photo prompt.

What do you see # 316- 24 November, 2025

Coffee, please!

Chris Hall51 Comments

The first cup of the day,
delightful,
warming and waking her up.
What will she do today?

Such a beautiful morning,
fresh, gorgeous,
as she opens her laptop.
It has to be a poem!

What will she think about,
she’s musing,
as she continues to drink.
Perhaps another coffee?

Aha, that’s it!
This is my poem
about coffee.
(more please)

~~~~~

Image credit: Jon Tyson @Unsplash

The image shows a cup sitting on a wooden table. On the cup you can read the inscription – “ My cup runneth over”.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #315 photo prompt.

What do you see # 315- 17 November 2025

Who is she?

Chris Hall53 Comments

She’s a busy lady!
She’s beautiful,
She’s clever,
She’s making a nest.

She weaves, and weaves,
Delicate but strong,
She continues to weave,
Until she’s happy.

She’ll finds some food,
More than she needs,
But she’ll keep it for later,
Now she’ll doze for a while.

A few days later,
She’s even busier,
She’s making more silk,
It will be her nursery.

Do you know her?
I’m sure you’ve guessed…
She’s more than just a spider,
She’s a lucky lady!

~~~~~

Image credit: Doncoombez @Unsplash

In this image we can see branches of a pine tree. There is an intricate spider web woven between two of the branches. The background is blurry, but the golden light suggests a forest or garden setting.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #314 photo prompt.

What do you see # 314- 10 November 2025

A Veil

Chris Hall38 Comments

canva.com

tanka Puente

a veil of mystery
whatever can be revealed
something hides its face
the waves draw back and forward
a pinnacle will fly out

“Mysteries are feminine; they like to veil themselves but still want to be seen and divined.”
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel

my moon is displayed
so bright – full of energy
yet the veil pulls down
such a strange conundrum
dear moon, come back again… please

~~~~~

Written in response to this week’s Tanka Challenge hosted by Yvette M. Calleiro
Yvette has chosen the word veil. There are several definitions for veil. Choose whichever version of the word that speaks to you, and write a syllabic poem of your choosing.

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 37, The Veil, 11/04/25

Just a cat…

Chris Hall50 Comments

that is no such thing
as ‘just’ a cat – ‘just’ a cat?
definitely not.

she’s always regal,
pretty, beautiful – of course,
and she’ll stare, and stare.

what is she thinking?
we will never really know,
she’s just amazing!

could we pry?
nope, definitely not.

~~~~~~

Image credit: Haoli Chen @Unsplash

A white and fawn cat is hiding behind a partially open curtain hanging on a window. Through the window we can see green trees. The cat is also watching the trees.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #313 photo prompt.

What do you see # 313- 3rd November’ 25

Just a bit mad…

Chris Hall35 Comments

a random photo

I’d been hanging on the ceiling
Not an easy task
Then I’d dropped down
And set to work.

I’d drawn a picture
Then I began to write
My handwriting was very squiggly
And I even wrote in the margin.

Culture? What’s culture?
Well, there’s pressure in my head
But that’s not a problem
You see, I’m actually an influencer.

~~~~~~

Val‘s Scavenger Hunt – 13th prompt
Write a free verse poem that incorporates the words: culture, ceiling, margin, pressure, influence.

Looking to Slide into Seasonal Change

What fun!

Chris Hall55 Comments

Just a mushroom?
No, it’s definitely more than that.

It’s beautiful.
It’s crimson, golden, even russet.
Come on, let’s get closer.

They knelt down carefully.
We shouldn’t disturb it.
Well, not just yet.

It’s a beauty.
It certainly is.
Okay, let’s pick it.
Now!

~~~~~~~~~

Image credit: Benjamin Lehman @Unsplash

This image shows a golden cap mushroom growing in a forest floor.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #312 photo prompt.
Plus, hooray! Congratulations, it’s four years for WDYS. Well done, dear Sadje!

What do you see # 312- October 27, 2025