he is a poet
and he walks outside today
and he’s pottering
as usual while he is
pondering a new poem
he is fiddling
around the garden, picking
bits and pieces, here
and there, as he drops broken
pots into the rubbish bin
an interesting thought
appears like a dart, as he
rushes inside, grabs
a pen and a notebook as
he scribbles the first stanza
~~~
🌹🌹🌹🌹
it’s Valentine’s day
come on, let’s go and eat here
we’ll sit together
we’ll have a little smooching
since both of us are soulmates
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
~~~~~~~~
a posh bottle and some leaves
tanka Puente
not normal… that’s me
what can I say? and who’s this?
a strange animal
and that is completely fine
it’s a mental block – just odd
~~ “You need a little of insanity to do great things.” Henry Rollins ~~
my head exploded
I was going to heaven
but then I came back
not normal – magnificent!
what can I write next – let’s see
~~~~~
Written in response to Yvette’s challenge to write a poem about mental wellness or the lack thereof.
She’s mine!
She is a comely gal, mindful though,
but then she’ll munch and crunch happily.
Goodness gracious!
She’s persistent, for sure, proudly too.
She’ll be on the prowl, then strike quickly.
Goodness gracious!
She’ll see a visitor, and she’ll wink.
There’s an opportunity, but no.
Goodness gracious!
She’ll sulk for a couple of hours,
but then she’ll open her pretty mouth.
Goodness gracious!
She will try her luck again, grinning.
You see, she is a Venus fly-trap.
Goodness gracious!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For Colleen Chesebro‘s #TankaTuesday #48 – 20 January 2026 where this week’s host Melissa Lemay’s invitation is to follow poet Marianne Moore’s syllabic pattern in one of her poems.
I chose the pattern of 9-syllable lines and a 4-syllable refrain.
~~~~~~
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.’
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.‘
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.
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.
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
Instructions
~~~~~
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.‘
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.
luna's on line 