Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Tuesday Challenge No. 54: GHOST & HAUNT
I dream in colour,
But now everything is dark,
Where has the light gone?
Oh, cruel leafy canopy?
No green meadow, just blue thoughts.
A spectre haunts me,
Through the trees he drifts slowly,
I hear no weeping,
Just a tall, grey wall of sighs,
Twigs snap, and nothing changes.
Oh dear, that was sad and depressing! …. Why am I always drawn to writing such misery? Don’t answer that!
Hope you like my Tanka’s (even if they’re sad,) and the contrasting photos I took of the trees.
To join in with Colleen’s challenge follow the link: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/10/10/colleens-weekly-poetry-tuesday-challenge-no-54-ghost-haunt/
Bye for now, time for a smiley Sunday face! It had to be done!
My social media links:
Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon @curseof_time
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Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!
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Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge No. 51 #Haiku #Tanka #Haibun: GIFT & SONG
It’s my wedding anniversary on Tuesday and my hubby has a special surprise planned. I don’t know what it is and that makes it more exciting!
To celebrate I’m having a Kindle Countdown deal the weekend after my anniversary, so keep an eye out for that. It starts 29th of September with a price drop to 0.99 pence for a day! Then next day it goes up by one pound, and another pound the next day until it is back to where it started!
To join in Colleen’s challenge follow the link: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/09/19/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-51-haiku-tanka-haibun-gift-song/
Bye for now,
My social media links:
Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Twitter: @curseof_time
Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge No. 48 #Haiku #Tanka #Haibun: STONE & TURN
My Tanka this week is just a funny story really. This is what happened…
The day before our daughter Tasha was due to go to South Korea to teach English as a foreign language my youngest disappeared. She’d been out for a driving lesson and no one had heard from her. Her mobile had been left on the bed with her debit card too… now we knew something was up. How strange. Hours later she turned up safe and well… at home where she’d been all along! No one had seen her, or heard her. She’d been watching TV in the downstairs lounge, and had crept back up to her bed and scooted under the duvet, all without anyone noticing – that’s taking playing at hiding, just chilling to a new level!
Equally as strange was this cloud formation Tasha and I had seen. The photo doesn’t do it justice, it resembled a giant bird taking flight and within twenty four hours that’s just what Tasha did – flew away.
Yesterday morning, my husband drove us to Heathrow so that Tasha could catch her flight to Seoul, and then on to Busan. I knew I’d miss her – I’d been taking every opportunity to spend time with her. I have to admit I was overwhelmed by my emotions. As she left for the departure gate my eyes filled with tears and my youngest Gina saw me crying and started to cry a bit too. For a moment it brought back memories to three years ago when we dropped Tasha off in Brighton to begin her University course. Miraculously, I hadn’t cried then, but I made up for the lack of tears by crying spectacularly now!
It isn’t easy to see your children leave for a year but we couldn’t be more proud of her. It takes courage to embark upon a life-changing adventure when you are only twenty one. Or craziness! There’s a lot of her grandfather in her. My dad left Scotland and travelled to the Far East many, many years ago. At the time, he was told that he was crazy to do so and now it seems that his granddaughter is now following in his footsteps.
I hope you enjoyed this Tanka and personal anecdote.
If you have sons or daughters leaving home to go far away, perhaps to study or to work, I’d love to hear your experiences, let’s share a tear or two.
Much love,
Bye for now,
To join in with Colleen’s wonderful poetry challenge: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/08/29/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-48-haiku-tanka-haibun-stone-turn/
My social media links:
Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!
Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Twitter:@Marjorie_Mallon
Twitter: @curseof_time
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge #46 – #Haiku #Tanka #Haibun: HONEY & WINE
I’m participating in Colleen’s challenge and the prompt words this week are perfect to introduce you to my main male character Ryder in my debut novel – The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone.
You can join in Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Challenge by clicking the following link: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/08/15/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-46-haiku-tanka-haibun-honey-wine/
Don’t forget about my online party to celebrate my kindle book release on 26th August which will be held here, on Facebook, and on my social media.
Here’s a buying link to my Amazon UK page:
Bye for now,
My social media hang outs:
Twitter: @marjorie_mallon
Team Awesome at my Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge # 45 – #Haiku #Haibun or #Tanka: Hate & Pride
Colleen’s prompt words this week for her poetry challenge are hate and pride.
It brings to mind a conversation I had with my daughter about the Pride Festival in Brighton this August. My daughter has recently left Brighton (having completed her University degree) and missed Pride but some of her friends were at the event and were shocked at some idiots (only a few thank goodness) who’d come along to cause trouble and disharmony. I just can’t understand this kind of mentality. What is wrong with people? Love is love, that’s my view. People are people, whatever their sexual orientation, religion, or colour of their skin.
Fortunately, the event was enjoyed by a huge amount of people and this kind of stupid behaviour wasn’t at large.
To join in Colleen’s poetry challenge: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/08/08/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-45-haiku-haibun-or-tanka-hate-pride/
Have a lovely Sunday. xxx
Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Twitter: @curseof_time
Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!
My link to my kindle book on Amazon:
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge # 44 – #Haiku #Haibun or #Tanka: HUNT & FIND
It’s my last day in Edinburgh, sigh… Sad to go today, have had a wonderful time visiting my mum, dad, brother, mum in law, and friends. I’m managed to pack a huge amount in six short days. My highlights have been going to see the kelpies, a fantastic theatre show at the Pleasance #EdinburghFringe – The Curse of Cranholme Abbey – https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/curse-of-cranholme-abbey
Eating lots of scrumptious food both at home (my mum is an amazing Malaysian cook!) and at local restaurants. Walking around the fun and unusual shopping streets, I’d definitely recommend Cockburn Street for its quirkiness!
It’s fun seeing all the street performers and these young people from Korea – Beyond The Mirror – caught my eye – https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/behind-the-mirror
Here’s a spectacular view wouldn’t you agree?
Whilst in Edinburgh during the International Festival and Fringe you inevitably see some extraordinary sights, so with this in mind, here’s my Tanka.
To join in with Colleen’s poetry challenge: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/08/01/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-44-haiku-haibun-or-tanka-hunt-find/
Have you ever been to the Edinburgh Festival? I love it and always try to go every year.
Bye for now,
My social media hang outs:
Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Fellow Administrators of The Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club: myself,
https://colleenchesebro.com/ and https://dgkayewriter.com/
Twitter: @marjorie_mallon and @curseof_time
Buying Link – The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone:
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge – #Haiku #Tanka #Haibun: HEAT & CONFUSE
Colleen’s prompt words this week are heat and confuse.
I reckon I’ll write a passionate Tanka this week! Why? I’m feeling happy having just set up my author page on Amazon: Amazon Buying Link… for my debut novel The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone, even though it was stressful setting it up….
Yes, formatting isn’t my favourite job. It made me confused, hot, headache prone and more than a bit irritable, so let’s have some passionate poetry to make me feel less stressed! Lol…
To join in with Colleen’s wonderful weekly poetry challenge follow the link: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/07/25/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-haiku-tanka-haibun-heat-confuse/
Keep an eye out for my next post – my book cover reveal!!! Yippee!!!
Bye for now,
Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club
Fellow Administrators of The Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club. #ABRSC, myself
Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon
Twitter: @curseof_time
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge – my #Tanka – Calm & Wild
I’ve been scarce on social media of late as it was my daughter Natasha’s graduation this week and we had several days in Brighton enjoying the seaside and celebrating her success.
It’s been a time tinged with a touch of sadness and oodles of happiness too. Sadness that she is leaving Brighton and her much-loved university – Sussex – but happiness and promise to come. I can’t believe that it has been three years. It seems like yesterday that we dropped her off at her student accommodation. Her time at Sussex University has had its up and its downs – her first year was tough, especially as she fractured her ankle early on (just before Valentine’s day!) and she lived in a third floor flat on campus, (not a good idea on crutches) at what seemed like the furthest point from her seminar and lecture theatres. More about that here: An Unusual Valentine’s Adventure!
But, she didn’t come home; she carried on, braved it out and showed great character. I admire her resilience greatly, and couldn’t be a prouder mum!
I’m so glad she studied in Brighton, as this has meant several wonderful visits there! I have a great affinity to the sea, I’m always happiest when I can walk on a beach – even the squawking sea gulls don’t faze me!
So my Tanka this week is with that in mind, and the promising future that awaits my daughter and graduates this year. Seize those opportunities guys before the seagulls snatch ’em up!
I was particularly struck by an inspiring speech that Sussex University’s chancellor, the well-known comedian Sanjeev Baskar gave. He said that he took ten long, difficult years of struggle before he became successful. More about that here:
So don’t be disheartened if you are back home living with your parents, have a pile of debt or are not successful straight away. To begin with Sanjeev Baskar @TVSanjeev wasn’t even accepted as a student at Sussex University, but look at him now. Such inspiring food for thought.
Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Challenge – #Haiku #Tanka #Haibun: CALM & WILD
Do comment, has your son or daughter graduated recently? Do you love the sea too?
Bye for now… much love,
My social media links:
Facebook: Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon
Twitter: @curseof_time
Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!
COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #POETRY CHALLENGE 41 – #HAIKU #TANKA #HAIBUN: MUSIC & ART
I couldn’t have asked for better prompt words – music and art.
Both feature as a wonderful source of inspiration in my writing. In our family, there’s always music playing – my husband is a keen guitarist and loves to strum away whenever he can. He serenades me at night in our garden…. Our next door neighbours get cranky about this! We are lucky to have a room dedicated to music with many guitars and an electronic piano too.
Creativity, Photography and Art inspire my writing to such a degree that I have decided to collaborate with one or perhaps two artists/friends to showcase the character/s, and crystal cottage that feature in my book The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone which I intend to release late this summer. More about that to come…
One of my artist friends Catherine S. Walker had her first open studies event last weekend. My friend Timea and I had a lovely time visiting her and viewing all of her awesome art. I’d love for Catherine to create a stunning art piece of the crystal cottage that features in my book…
Take a look at Catherine’s awesome artist page on Facebook: Artist Page: Catherine S. Walker, scroll down her facebook page to see her Acrylic and Watercolour paintings and line drawings: trees, rocks, flowers and landscapes. And detailed buildings too…
So, my Tanka this week… is especially for Catherine, wishing her much success. We spent the day enjoying her art, sitting in her garden, and blowing bubbles!
My good friend Timea looked so wonderfully elegant in these photos…
Bye for now, time for a celebratory cocktail… No bubbles, just a parasol!
My social media links:
Facebook: Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon
Twitter: @curseof_time
Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!
COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #POETRY CHALLENGE # 40 – SUGAR & SPICE
Colleen’s prompt words this week are Sugar and Spice – after her two cute Pomeranians:
So with Sugar and Spice in mind I’d thought I’d introduce you to …
Zog, a little friend of mine who visited us recently. I thought Sugar and Spice might like to hear about this very cute doggy true life Tanka and Tale:
Zog The Gentleman Dog
I’d been in London for the day but knew Zog was coming to stay. What I didn’t approve of was that three rather naughty men, (including my husband,) where going to leave him alone in our house while they went off to the pub. Talk about men behaving badly! Humph…
Guess what? My daughter popped home and in his bid for freedom poor Zog rushed out the door and refused to come back in the house. Can you blame him? He must have thought his owner had abandoned him and he was now being re-housed with a strange new family! My daughter Georgina panicked, believing that Zog would do a runner. So she called me on my mobile, expecting me to miracle a solution in typical wonder mum fashion! I know this blog is often referred to by its original title: Kyrosmagica, (crystal magic) and I still like to think I have some magical skills but this was beyond my white witch capabilities! I couldn’t jump off the train particularly as I now had a bunch of fellow travellers who were now pretending not to listen to my frantic instructions to rescue Zog on my mobile phone! I had no chance of physically helping in the quest to save Zog from escaping, so Georgina called her boyfriend, who popped over, reassured Zog and convinced him to come back in. What a hero! By the time I arrived home poor Zog seemed much happier, and we all had fun taking him for a walk at separate intervals to keep him occupied.
When I had the dog-walking pleasure, I realised that:
- Dogs go crazy excited when you pick up their leads. And leap up your leg in a spectacular fashion (even if they are pretty small.) Their enthusiasm is kind of infectious and enchanting.
- He might look small and cute but he pulls at his lead like a maniac when he sees a cat or another dog! I had to show him who’s boss!
- When do they ever pee or poo? This dog refused to do either? Perhaps the trauma of being away from his owner had caused him to be constipated, and unable to pee? Poor Zog, or maybe he was just being polite. Maybe he didn’t want to do so in view of us ladies!
***
Later that same evening the rascals, (three men behaving badly,) came back from the pub. In, proud Zog fashion he turned his nose up at the idea of forgiving them! Moreover, he had nothing to do with his owner.
By now, Georgina had disappeared – after the stress of nearly losing Zog she needed some respite – besides teenagers are never in… so I became Zog’s new best friend. He followed me all around the house – I couldn’t even take a pee, or have a shower without him coming!
The next morning I opened the patio door to let him out – he was bursting to explore (or do a pee,) I’m not sure which. Later, I realised Zog had been on a mission. A very special mission. He came back with something in his mouth that he deposited on my kitchen floor. Being used to cat’s offerings – dead mice, decapitated mice, etc… I took a step back, somewhat alarmed, but I had no need to be. Zog’s mission had been to gift me a tiny flower, (a pretty weed,) – but in his eyes it must have been the finest specimen of his appreciation that he could find. Isn’t that so lovely? So Zog is my inspiration for my tanka today.
Here he is. Zog the Gentleman dog.
Isn’t Zog so cute? What a sweet dog. I’m smitten!
Hope that Sugar and Spice enjoyed my special Tanka for them, Colleen.
To join in Colleen’s weekly poetry challenge, please follow the link: https://colleenchesebro.com/2017/07/04/colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-40-sugar-spice/
Much love,
My social media links:
Facebook: Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon
Twitter: @curseof_time
Fellow Administrators of our Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club #ABRSC on Facebook, myself, my good friends Colleen Chesebro and Debby Gies. Click on Colleen’s and Debby’s photos to be directed to their awesome blogs. These ladies rock!
