Category: Poetry

COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 109, HAPPY NOVEMBER – “POETS CHOICE OF WORDS”

This week Colleen has given us total freedom with a free choice of words so I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to explore a new form of poetry too. Etheree poem…

Etheree The Etheree poem consists of ten lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables. Etheree can also be reversed and written 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The trick is to create a memorable message within the required format. Poets can get creative and write an Etheree with more than one verse, but the idea is to follow suit with an inverted syllable count. Reversed Etheree Syllable Count: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Double Etheree Syllable Count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

I had a wonderful walk in the Botanic Gardens in Cambridge during my lunch break and came across this beautiful tree. It was so beautiful and magical that I struggled to part with it! This Etheree is in its honour.

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Tree,

Darling,

Sweet Beauty,

Transfixed am I,

Brilliant orange leaves,

Surrounding you – autumn,

Mighty Miracle Magic,

Thrilling feather-light touch of  leaves,

I breath in your enchantment deeply,

Lingering in your botanic kingdom.

 

 

I  walk amongst your crisp leaves marvelling,

But time calls me – I must leave too soon,

Touching your bark quickening heartbeat,

I steal a leaf feel aflame,

My feet begin moving,

But my heart stays here,

In paradise,

Crowned autumn,

Darling,

Tree.

To join in Colleen’s challenge: https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/11/06/colleens-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-109-happy-november-poets-choice-of-words/

Hope you like my Etheree, I’ve never done one before. That was fun!

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I’m a contributing author in the Plaisted Publishing House Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018 with my story Ghostly Goodbye.

Available on Amazon, Apple, Nook, Kobo, Scribd, 24S, Playster, Indigo, Angus &Robertson, Mondadori Store: Universal Buying Link

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COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 91, “Magic & Green,” #SYNONYMSONLY

Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Pembroke College with the SCBWI group – writers and illustrators. We had a fantastic time.

A statue – Figure in a Shelter – by Henry Moore caught my eye and I wrote a short piece of flash fiction using it as inspiration. So today I thought I’d share with you the photos and flash fiction plus a Tanka too.

For Green I used greenery and devilry for magic.

This ended up very Dr Who like!

 

Behold a statue,

What devilry can this be?

A woman captured,

Fooled by the lush greenery,

Buckled, damaged by a child.

A statue dominated the landscape of green, lush perfection. Two halves beckoned to her to approach. She hesitated, unsure. Captured within she imagined that a triangle of light fell on the woman within enveloping her hunched over body. But she couldn’t see her expression. She didn’t smile, frown or speak. It was as if a terrible freak of nature had broken the woman’s heart and left her mute.

One side of the statue curled inwards pointing an accusing, gnarled finger. It resembled a walnut cracked – its hard exterior broken and lost without its other significant half.

The missing part curved into a perfect mould  with no sharp edges or broken pieces. Its womb-like space quivered dancing away from her – out of reach.

She sighed.

She felt a hand grip her fingertips. A child’s hand, small, urgent. The voice of this hand spoke to her. ‘Come on!’

It was her four-year-old niece urging her to move away from the statue to come and play.

This small person reminded her that she was needed. Wanted. She felt a tug and another and another.

She gazed at her niece’s playful grey eyes and saw the truth. Tiny freckles speckled across her face like displaced rays of sunshine.

‘This is for you,’ she said.

It was a sunflower. Such a beautiful gift, but wilted.

The woman cried.

‘Why are you crying, Aunty?’ asked the little girl.

The statue murmured. The two halves moved inwards to caress the woman.

The girl vanished.

And so did the woman.

© M J Mallon 2018

My lovely SCBWI friends and I enjoying the sunshine and sharing our work:

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To enter Colleen’s challenge please follow the link below:

https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/07/03/colleens-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-91-magic-green-synonymsonly/

M J Mallon _ YA Author

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Buy Paperback Book link: http://mybook.to/TheCurseofTime
Unique Selling Point: Unique, Imaginative, ‘Charming, enchanting and richly layered this is purely delightful.’

“This delightful book will appeal to teens and young adults who love stories filled with magical crystals, dark family curses, and mysteries waiting to be solved around every corner. Each chapter leads you on a journey of discovery where Amelina earns the right to use three wizard stones to reset the balance of time and finally break the curse that holds her family hostage. A captivating tale!” – Colleen M. Chesebro (Editor)

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Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge No. 88 Praise and Excite

I’ve been so busy of late trying to find a new job – I was meant to be starting a new contract just after the bloggers bash in London – but found my proposed terms of the new employment unacceptable which is a story in itself! When I read through the company pack it seemed that perhaps they might have a rat problem,  asbestos on site and random drug testing – so that didn’t appeal! Lol.  I decided not to accept that role. So, it’s been time-consuming trying to find another job.

In the meantime I’ve been taking my mind off the horrendous hassle of job hunting by writing book reviews, creating a mobi/epub copy of Book One for reviewers (SO REVIEWERS IF YOU’D LIKE A COPY DON’T BE SHY!) and working on Book Two in the Curse of Time series – The Golden Healer  – which is currently standing at a rough draft of about 50,000 words.

Lots still to do in The Curse of Time Series.  I’m starting to think about the potential for a powerful dragon – a volcanic stirrer of passions in Book Three!

It is my intention that Book Three will feature the Dragon Chronopage designed by  Dr John C Taylor OBE who I had the pleasure of meeting in September 2017 with Tina Fotherby.

Images via Dr Taylor, courtesy of his publicity lady Tina Fotherby at Famous Publicity: http://www.famouspublicity.com/

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So, my Tanka is dedicated to the dragon, the grasshopper and the fly which are all Chronopages created by Dr John C Taylor, OBE.

 

The dragon gave thanks,

To the kleptomaniac,

Grasshopper who danced,

Now came dragon’s pearly chance,

To spark volcanic passions.

For praise I used the synonym gave thanks, and for excite I chose spark.

To join in the poetry fun please follow the link to Colleen’s blog: https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/06/12/colleens-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-88-praise-excite-synonymsonly/

 

Hope you enjoyed the Tanka.  Much love Marje xx

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M J Mallon _ YA Author

 

Buy  Book link: http://mybook.to/TheCurseofTime
Unique Selling Point: Unique, Imaginative, ‘Charming, enchanting and richly layered this is purely delightful.’

“This delightful book will appeal to teens and young adults who love stories filled with magical crystals, dark family curses, and mysteries waiting to be solved around every corner. Each chapter leads you on a journey of discovery where Amelina earns the right to use three wizard stones to reset the balance of time and finally break the curse that holds her family hostage.

A captivating tale!” – Colleen M. Chesebro (Editor)

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#Book #Review A Haiku Perspective 2018: Annette Rochelle Aben

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Amazon Synopsis:

This is a magical journey through a year in the life of a poet, presented in the format of haiku. Be entertained,and enlightened as you enjoy the worlds of reality and imagination are combined artfully. Dreamers will love this book. Writers will enjoy this book. Readers will enjoy this book. Even those who think they could never appreciate poetry, will enjoy this book. Come and be enchanted by the verbal imagery of A Haiku Perspective 2018.

Thank you to the author for a copy received in exchange for an honest review.

My review:

This is an enchanting book of poetry. So many wonderful haiku! I  love short form poetry and Annette Rochelle Aben’s book covers a multitude of poetic topics in a warm and inviting way.

The first poem Strings is a poignant haiku love story. I read this particular poem several times and seemed to take more from it on each reading. I read it down and then from the bottom up! The family dynamic in this poem changes when a new baby is welcomed and Annette Rochelle Aben captures this to perfection in this thought-provoking poem. The message within will no doubt resonate with many. Love can be the most exquisite emotion. But, there are many loves. Can the love of a child be so consuming that your partner, wife, or husband feels neglected?  I loved how this was expressed in a musical way.

Thereafter, the haiku flow in short bursts of inspiring magic. There are no images to break up the poems. This is pure poetry. And it works.

This is such an amusing, warm-hearted compilation of poetry.

My recommendation: Definitely read! You will be uplifted, you’ll smile and perhaps you might cry. Poetry takes our hearts on a journey. This poetry collection succeeds in transporting you to this special place and this feeling lingers long after you have finished reading.

My rating: 4.5 stars.

Annette Rochelle Aben’s Blog: https://annetterochelleaben.wordpress.com/

Link to buy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haiku-Perspective-2018-Annette-Rochelle-ebook/dp/B07BRBDF19/

To read a selection all my A – Z reviews please follow these links:

https://mjmallon.com/2015/09/28/a-m-of-my-book-reviews/

https://mjmallon.com/2016/11/27/my-kyrosmagica-reviews-n-z/

Have you read Annette Rochelle’s poetry? Do let me know if you have. I love comments. 🙂 x

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Colleen’s Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 81, ENCHANT & SHAPE, #SynonymsOnly

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I love visiting the art gallery on Belford Road in Edinburgh, and this tanka is dedicated to this sculpture I saw there in the gardens.

An enchanting face,

Sculpture that sees, smiles and lives,

Art’s favourite place,

Closed nostrils don’t breathe the grass,

Air spells curiosity.

 

I used hypnotise for enchant, and sculpture for shape.

Here’s the link to Colleen’s weekly challenge:

https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/04/24/colleens-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-81-enchant-shape-synonymsonly/

Hope you enjoyed my Tanka.

Happy writing!

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Buy My Book on Amazon : myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

 

Authors Website: https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com

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Colleen’s Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 80, GATHER & SOFT, #SynonymsOnly

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I received a lovely gift from my dear blogging friend, Samantha Murdoch

It was a lovely letter, a bunch of crystals (amethyst, rose quartz, red jasper, obsidian, carnelian, jade and of course a Bloodstone, as Sam said in her letter, ‘ the piece as featured on the spine of your novel,’ plus two cute cat napkins! Such a wonderful gift.

So, of course what better way to thank her than to write a Tanka!

 

For gather I shall use collect,  and kind for soft.

Tanka Crystal collection,A kind gift from a dear friend,So very lovely,Two sweet napkins too,It made my day. Purr, miaow (1)

Couldn’t ask for a better friend, Samantha is such a diamond. 🙂

To join in with Colleen’s weekly Tanka Tuesday do follow the link:

https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/04/17/colleens-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-80-gather-soft-synonymsonly/

Bye for now, a very happy Saturday to you.

Much love, feeling very blessed to have such lovely friends.

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Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Authors Website: https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com

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Colleen Chesebro’s Tanka Poetry Challenge No 77 : Charm and Time

This tanka is inspired by the two main characters in my novel – The Curse of  Time Book 1 Bloodstone, Amelina the main protagonist and the mysterious, unfathomable Ryder….

For time I used tempo and for charm bewitched.

We are having a baby girl!

A heartbeat’s tempo,

Bewitched am I, misled too,

Shadows invade me,

I struggle to break your spell,

I daren’t guess who you are.

 

 

To enter the challenge follow the link:

https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/03/27/colleens-2018-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-77-charm-time-snyonymsonly/

Hope you enjoyed my tanka. Happy Easter Sunday folks.

Exciting News: Tomorrow is a very special day. It is the intended release date for my paperback so I’d love it if you pop over to my blog to celebrate with me.

Bye for now,

 

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Kindle Buy Book Link: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

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Colleens Weekly Poetry Challenge No: 76

A delight tricks us,

My Tanka for Colleen’s weekly poetry challenge using the synonyms delight for Joy and passion for fury.

I find dreams fascinating. Often we wish we could continue our dream when the alarm rings to wake us up. But, if the dream becomes a nightmare we are only to keen for it to end! Would this dream be a nightmare I wonder…

Here’s the link to join in with Colleen’s weekly poetry challenge:

https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/03/20/colleens-2018-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-76-joy-fury/

Hope you liked my Tanka!

Bye for now. Happy dreaming!

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Colleen Chesebro’s Weekly Poetry Challenge #Cinquain #Poetry #5lines

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The prompt words this week are Renew and Fresh. I chose to use improve for renew and shocking for fresh.

The idea for this particular Cinquain came from a recent critique session at Cambridge writers. I’d submitted the first draft of my prologue for Book Two. Not everyone is a fan of prologues so the comments were kind of… make it shorter…. so short it would be tiny. Dare I make it a four, five line prologue?  Anyone got any advice on tiny prologues?

I wrote this Cinquain with that in mind:

Copy of Cinquain

 

 

https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/03/06/colleens-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-74-renew-fresh-snyonymsonly/

Hope you enjoyed my Cinquain…

Happy writing!

Bye for now,

 

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Link to buy: http://myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Authors Website: https://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com
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Colleen Cheseboro’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge no. 73

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Sometimes you have to stop and take a photo! Isn’t this snowman so cute? I spotted him on Saturday in central Cambridge. I was out for a shopping day and this cheeky chappy caught my eye. It was the combination of his daft hairstyle and walking stick that did it. Those twigs are so perfectly perched on his head sweeping over his left eye and his walking stick is firmly planted in the ground. He means business. Ha ha! He really made me smile.

To celebrate his awesome cuteness I decided to write a Tanka especially for him…

For Mr. Snowman

This snowman’s vigour,

Frosty spirit caught my eye,

He winked, the snow fell,

His hairstyle melted my heart,

Sweet guy stay mine forever!

 

I used the synonyms vigour for power and spirit for energy.

To join in the challenge: https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/02/27/colleens-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-73-energy-knowledge-snyonymsonly/

Please feel free to comment or post your photos of snowmen in the comment field below.

Bye for now,

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Link to Buy Kindle copy of The Curse of Time Book 1 Bloodstone: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

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