Ladybird,
or maybe,
Ladybug.
Either way,
it matters
not a bit.
I have red
and black too,
polka dots!
It’s summer
afternoon
busy time.
I’m lucky
and also
good fortune.
Now I will
eat aphids
and many!
~~~~
Ladybird
Category: #TankaTuesday
Dear Mother Nature
Honeysuckle leaves – Crispina Kemp
~~~~~
dear mother nature, enjoy this place
see this lovely honeysuckle
it is a wildlife hotel
there’s bees and ladybirds
the scent is gorgeous
it’s nectar-rich
how happy
it is
ahh
she
smiles
with little
animals like
dormice and squirrels
it’s a wonderful world
and now a celebration
sun is above the equator
since twice a year it’s the equinox
~~~~~
spring and autumn equinox and thank you Willow for Mother’s Day.
He is a poet
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
~~~
Valentine’s Day 💘
🌹🌹🌹🌹
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
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
~~~~~~~~
Yet another nonsense poem (and why)
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.
The Pretty Plant
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.
Nonsense, or is it?
~~~~~~
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 happiness
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.‘
Another South African Christmas
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.
Laughing Buddha
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.
luna's on line 