Category: Scavenger Hunt

Ooh, a séance

Chris Hall58 Comments


A séance, are we happy to go there?
A bit scary certainly,
but looks interesting though.

Rather dark with three black candles, but oh,
there’s a skull, a cracked mirror,
and withered old roses.

Are we sure, I mean, what might happen here?
Come on, we can sit by there,
hmm, maybe not… let’s run!

~~~

Image credit: Paula Morin @ Unsplash

This image shows a table covered in a black tablecloth, and has various objects on it; A candle stand with 3 lit candles in it, a grey colored skull, a cracked hand held mirror, a vase with wilted roses in it. There are 4 butterflies in this scenario too.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #364 photo prompt.

Val‘s Scavenger Hunt – 6th prompt
Write a Kimo. This is a post-haiku form from Israel having 3 lines with a syllable count of 10-7-6. There is no rhyme.

What do you see # 364- 26 October, 2026

Looking to Scavenge the Season

That Cat!

Chris Hall76 Comments


She’s sweet and fluffy and really gorgeous,
and she’s staring intently at something,
that cat.

She’s thinking many thoughts, you can tell that,
and she is mightily intelligent,
that cat.

She’ll pounce, she will, and very soon, you’ll see,
that tail is wagging now, a definite sign,
that cat.

She’s going, she is, she is jumping down,
she’s looking up, lunch-time hooman, and now!
That cat!

~~~

Image credit: Kim Magno @ Pexals

This image shows a fluffy cat sitting in a half opened window where it can see both outside and inside the room. Its tail is hanging down the window sill. Outside the window, the scene is foggy and nothing is visible.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #363 photo prompt.

Val‘s Scavenger Hunt – 14th prompt
Write a Dixdeux. This form is an alternative to the Haiku. Dixdeux means ten- two and refers to the syllable count of the lines of the tercet: 10-10-2. When more than one tercet is written the last line become the refrain and is repeated as the last line in subsequent tercets. There is no rhyme and no title.

What do you see # 363- 19, October- 2026

Looking to Scavenge the Season

Just a snail

Chris Hall43 Comments

These chunky snails arrived with the Romans or the Normans – Crispina Kemp

~~~

I’m a pretty snail,
I’m patient and persistent,
I do like my house.

I’m a pretty snail,
I am rather chunky
but that’s not a problem.

I’m patient and persistent,
I admit I’m slow,
but slow is often good.

I do like my house,
it’s an excellent place,
and I bring it with me!

~~~

Val‘s Scavenger Hunt – 6th prompt
Write a Troiku, a form devised by Chèvrefeuille.

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #107

Looking to Scavenge the Season

We’re little aliens!

Chris Hall60 Comments

we’re little aliens,
and we’ve found a big balloon,
we are going up!

this is wonderful,
but how high can we go,
since we need a plan.

where’s the mothership?
we are looking all around,
ahh, we can see it!

we will jump across,
lucky that we can do that!
soon we’ll be back there.

happy days, we grinned,
as the mothership moves off,
a new galaxy!

~~~

Image credit: Jean Carlo Emer @ Unsplash

In this image, we can see a huge hot-air balloon being filled with hot air. The balloon is shades of orange and red. We can see the big flames of air heaters. In the background we can see other balloons already in the air.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #361 photo prompt.

Val‘s Scavenger Hunt – 10th prompt
Write a Scifaiku, that is a science fiction/fantasy themed poem that follows the haiku structure of 5-7-5 syllables.

Looking to Scavenge the Season

What do you see # 361- 5 October, 2026

A damsel…

Chris Hall44 Comments

An Emerald Spreadwing Damselfly – Crispina Kemp

~~~

is the damsel in distress?
well, we don’t think so,
smart and beautiful she is.

shall we get closer to her?
she’s magnificent,
oh, but off she goes, bye then!

~~~

Val‘s Scavenger Hunt – 8th prompt
Write a Kelly Lune. (Created by Robert Kelly) This American form of Haiku consists of a tercet. There is no rhyme required but it is allowed.

Looking to Scavenge the Season

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #106

I’m a peacock butterfly

Chris Hall46 Comments

Peacock Butterfly – Crispina Kemp

what happened to me?
I’m a peacock butterfly
look, I’m so pretty
I’m going to have a mate
and a family, but what then?

such a whirlwind month
I’d been a caterpillar
and before an egg
at least, I think so, but now
I’m afraid I’ll be no more

~~~~~~

Jisei – A traditional Japanese Buddhist death poem which discusses death and the meaning of life in the last moments before death. This form uses the syllabic form of the Tanka (5/7/5/7/7) and is generally serious though it can be humorous. We have all mused on our own demise – try to do it in this form.
Plus, I felt I needed two of these.
Thanks, Val

~~~~

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #081

Looking to Scavenge the Month

Love letter

Chris Hall43 Comments

I jumped up quickly,
this is what I ought to write;
not a ‘Dear John,’ no!
Oh, this must be eloquent,
but will he think about me?

He’s such a nice guy,
always helpful and useful.
We are both good friends,
but could we be more than pals?
He’ll begin… ‘We’re soul mates.’

~~~~

Somonka – write this Japanese form consisting of 2 Tanka (syllable count of 5/7/5/7/7 without rhyme) written as love letters. Although traditionally a collaborative form, one author can write both. Make this love letters to yourself taking two different points of view.
Thanks, Val

~~~

Image credit: Alexander Mass @Unsplash

This image shows  a woman in a night gown, sitting in front of a writing table and writing something on a sheet of paper. There is a window behind her showing that it’s day time and the bed is unmade.

Written in response to Sadje‘s What Do You See #335 photo prompt.

What do you see # 335- 6 April, 2026
Looking to Scavenge the Month

It was him

Chris Hall42 Comments

WWII sea mine – Crispina Kemp

It was him!

It was a sea mine
To keep our coasts safe.
World War Two was dreadful
As many lives were lost.
So victory was needed.
He was in the right place and the right time.
It was Winston Churchill,
Man, War Correspondent and Prime Minister.

~~~~

Acrostic – This form requires that the first letter of each line forms a message. It was used for messages in code between lovers, spies, and mischief-makers. Write a message to other poets.
Or possibly a writer, an artist and more much.
Thanks, Val

~~~

Crimson’s Creative Challenge #080
Looking to Scavenge the Month

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

Springtime

Chris Hall40 Comments

my little friend

Dawn is up, and already little creatures are on the move
Geckos and lizards are warming up, and skittering near to the rim
Young squirrels hurry down the huge palm tree and up again

The sky is tinged with pink and turquoise, doves are courting merrily
Male weaver birds are busy making many nests, looking hopeful
Dawn is up, and already little creatures are on the move

Pond skaters glide across the water, striding with purpose
A dragonfly flies fast, then hovers, seeking for a mate
Geckos and lizards are warming up, and skittering near to the rim

Bright butterflies with glorious rainbow colours dance with glee
And pretty flowers wave to the bees asking them to pollinate them
Young squirrels hurry down the huge palm tree and up again

~~~~~

Val‘s Scavenger Hunt – 5th prompt
Write a Cascade poem using a season of your choice.

Looking to Slide into Seasonal Change