Category: Poetry

News!! And New Review Mr. Sagittarius Poetry and Prose #poetry #prose #photography #review

I’m delighted to announce that there is a new review for Mr. Sagittarius from fellow author S C Skillman. Many thanks Sheila!

And I have had a request from the following prestigious libraries for copies of Mr. Sagittarius and Lockdown Innit Poems About Absurdity!

A legal deposit record for these books are to be held at the British Library, National Library of Scotland, The Bodleian Library Oxford University, National Library of Wales, Cambridge University Library, and the Library of Trinity College Dublin.

This is an exquisite collection of poetry, prose and photos reflecting upon the joy, comfort and peace that is to be found in the natural world and in a beautiful garden. This author’s playful, lyrical style conveys an atmosphere and message which is at once magical, poignant and compassionate. Her central theme is that of ‘transformation’. I loved the Old Man of the Snow; the Bubble Monster; and the Rainbow Shell. As with her novels, I find that this author handles fanciful ideas with elegance and grace. Highly recommended.

S C Skillman

Exquisite collection of poetry, prose and photos (amazon.co.uk)

Do check out all my books under my publishing imprint Kyrosmagica Publishing.

Kyrosmagica Publishing

The Hedge Witch And The Musical Poet kindle releases 15th August 2022 (able to preorder)

https://books2read.com/u/mv1OeV

Poetry, Prose and Photography: Mr. Sagittarius

http://mybook.to/MrSagittarius

Anthology – This Is Lockdown

http://mybook.to/Thisislockdown

Poetry during Lockdown – Lockdown Innit

 http://mybook.to/Lockdowninnit

Smorgasbord Book Reviews – #Flashfiction #Poetry – The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet by M.J. Mallon

Many thanks to Sally Cronin for this wonderful advanced review of The Hedge for the flash fiction and poetry collection The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet by M.J. Mallon. The collection is on pre-order for 15th August.

Sally’s Review:

This is a poetry and flash fiction collection seeped in nature and illustrates the love the author has for the environment, particular the forests.

The first pages share the delightful love story of the Hedge Witch and the Musical Poet, bringing two solitary characters together in the sanctuary of a magical forest far from the human world.

This story is followed by poems and flash ficton, some of which are poignant such as the tribute to a ginger cat in Chester, Don & I, and bewilderment voiced in The Network of Trees as they stand in danger from the human need for progress.

There is also the sad reflection that much of the beauty and adventures to be found in the forests are being missed as children find themselves engrossed in the online world instead. The author makes sure to include the fun they could be enjoying instead.

The Teddy in the Woods probably should come with a tissue alert.

There are some reminders of poems from another collection which I also enjoyed Mr. Sagittarius Poetry; one of my favourites being Rainbow – Parasol of Light.

In the second section of the collection there is a series of poems inspired by other writers. Set in the woodlands and the beauty they offer. This includes the ethereal The Forest King.

The forest king lives in the shadows
his hair and beard, a flame alight
in his crown, the fairy queen sits
far from the tangled roots of his throne.

This is a collection to savour and to dip into when the technical world we inhabit becomes too demanding, or we are in need of a touch of magic. I recommend to lovers of nature and fantasy.

Head over to pre-order the collection for August 15th: Amazon UK – And:Amazon US

Read the full review and content on Sally’s wonderful blog: https://wp.me/p3ZnNr-Fnh

Portugal travels, Vila Nova de Castelo, Almancil, Altura and Vale De Lobo #poetry #haiku #travel #portugal

I took these photos last autumn while I was travelling in Portugal. So, with colour poetry, taste the rainbow as the theme for Colleen Chesebro’s Tanka Tuesday, it seemed the perfect opportunity to share these now, along with some haiku.

Vila Nova de Castelo

muted life’s colours

tranquil portuguese autumn

bringing me much joy

Almancil

blue sky and blue sea

green leaves but autumnal earth

orange underfoot

Val do lobo

golfer’s paradise

val do lobo is so green

autumn algarve day

Altura Beach

my favourite spot

empty of souls only shells

autumn on the beach

I’m excited to reveal that I am working on my next poetry collection: Do What You Love… I will share more about this soon!

Also, I’m delighted to be a contributing author in Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships compiled and edited by Kaye Lynne Booth and Robbie Cheadle.

https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2022/05/03/tankatuesday-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-272-tastetherainbow-color-poetry/#comments

Tanka Tuesday #poetry #challenge #tanka #haiku @ColleenChesebro #theme #prompt #war #ukraine

For this week’s #TankaTuesday challenge, Yvette M. Calleiro, selected the theme of beginnings and endings, the war in Ukraine came to mind.

We are still suffering living with covid and now this…

We all long for peace.
No more death and destruction.
It beggars belief.
Covid, now this; please no more. 
Ukraine is on all our minds.
green field under white and blue clouds during daytime
Photo by Kostiantyn Stupak on Pexels.com
Why begin such pain?
I can't comprehend your mind
Neighbours shouldn't war
A simple plea but heartfelt
Please no more war in Ukraine.


 
A haiku - No One Wins



No one wins in war
Past history tells us this 
Why ignore the truth?

If only we could all… live in peace.

Join in writing poetry via Colleen: https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2022/04/26/tankatuesday-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-271-4-26-22-themeprompt/

Latest News!

Contribution to Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships

Poetry Treasures 2 Relationships compiled by Kaye Lynn Booth and Robbie Cheadle.

Here is the buying link: https://books2read.com/u/3kP8aK

Bye for now, while I have a chat with Mr. Seagull about life and everything.

#TankaTuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 270 #PhotoPrompt

This challenge by Colleen Chesebro explores Ekphrastic poetry, inspired by visual art or photographs. D. L. Finn provided the photo for this month’s challenge:

My poem is a diatelle, which is a fun, syllable counting form like the etheree with a twist. The syllable structure of the diatelle is: 1,2,3,4,6,8,10,12,10,8,6,4,3,2,1.

with the rhyme structure abbcbccaccbcbba.

Come!

We’re near,

Our home’s here…

Sister Dolphins,

Free to swim, folk drink beers,

Praying no more wars, or who wins,

Not encumbered by human bloodshed’s limbs,

We rise up, chitter chatter, play in the hot sun,

We are four proud playful fish without sins,

Who denounce all wars against kin,

Ditch those awful sad tears,

Join with us in…

Seas. Love. Dear.

No fear.

Fun!

https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2022/04/19/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-no-270-photoprompt/#comment-114220

Poetry features in most of my books, do check my publications and buy links via this post: https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com/

My latest poetry is featured in the following anthology. I’d highly recommend you get a copy as there are many great poets in the collection compiled by Kaye Lynn Booth and Robbie Cheadle.

Here is the buying link: https://books2read.com/u/3kP8aK

That was a tricky one to write. I’m not a huge fan of writing rhyming poetry but I gave it a go…!! Hope you enjoyed.

Word Weaving: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse: #1 New Release in Japanese Poetry & Haiku – Colleen M. Chesebro @ColleenChesebro

Congratulations to Colleen Chesebro on her new release Word Weaving – its doing so well!!!

So pleased to be a contributing poet with so many amazing community members being a part of it.

My review:

Word Weaving #1: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse by Colleen M. Chesebro

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I’m thrilled to be a participating author in this lovely collection of poetry compiled by Colleen Chesebro and edited by Jules Paige. My review relates to the other authors in the journal.

It begins with an introduction by Jules Paige in which she discusses the choice of theme in this particular collection.

There are haiku, senryu, tanka, tanka prose and many more forms, all of which are fabulous with so many favourites…

dancing in moonlight
in the autumn of our years
still chasing blue skies

Pat Raffington.

the empress rises
summer and winter curtsy
nature holds its breath
while the symphony begins
fireflies dance in the moonlight

Gwen M. Piano

Other highlights include D. L. Finn’s Moon’s Magic which I loved – about a lone black cat on the edge of the world, under the harvest moon and her “Harvest Moon,” Butterly Cinquain.

The collection concluded with a Best of Issue Poetry with favourites chosen by Jules and Colleen. The chosen poems were by D. L. Finn, Merril D. Smith and Ken Gierke. All excellent.

D. Wallace Peach’s “Moon-spun” tanka prose idyll – so magical and enchanting and her “Revolutions” Butterfly Cinquain.

Merril D. Smith’s Crapsey cinquain entitled “October Night,” her shadorma sequence “Harvest Moon,” and her abhanga “Through the Leaves.”

A new poet to me Sujata Khanna wrote a lovely double inverted etheree entitled “A Viaduct.”

And I particularly enjoyed Bill Engleson’s nonet, “Her Winged Way,” and his diatelle “Above Campbell Bay on a Hot August Night.”

Loved Colleen Chesebro’s Luna’s Soft Glow.

Shadorma took me to a “Moon Dance” with Ruth Klein’s contribution.

There was a “Meeting of Minds,” with a Badger’s hexastich written by Susmita Ramani and her “Autumn Half-Dream” “Prom-ises.”

A Triple Abhanga by Annette Rochelle Aben was lovely too.

I could go on and on. Do read this wonderful collection you won’t be disappointed.



View all my reviews

Find out more about this from Colleen….

Source: Word Weaving: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse: #1 New Release in Japanese Poetry & Haiku – Colleen M. Chesebro

Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 228, #Poet’sChoice @ColleenChesebro

A Slice of Sky Pie - Shadorma 

Blue and white 
A slice of sky pie
Massive tree
A redwood
 Leafy lollipop heaven
Steep climb to the top!

My poem is inspired by a recent trip to the botanical gardens in Cambridge. I noticed this magnificent tree and the wonderful slice of blue and white sky.

To join in Colleen’s poetry challenge:

https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2021/06/01/tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-228-poetschoice/

Here are some other magnificent champion trees that I saw on my walk. Enjoy!

And a bee hotel.

I intended to go for another walk today but it’s pouring with rain so I’m writing this blog post.

I managed to go for a walk in the rain later!

Check out this wonderful review post from Balroop Singh for Colleen Chesebro’s Wordcraft Prose and Poetry and my poetry and prose book – Mr. Sagittarius.

#Bookreviews #Prose & #Poetry

Bye for now,

#Bookreviews by @BalroopShado #Prose & #Poetry: Wordcraft Prose and Poetry and Mr. Sagittarius Poetry and Prose

Thank you so much to Balroop Singh for these wonderful reviews of Colleen Chesebro’s Wordcraft Prose and Poetry and Mr. Sagittarius Poetry and Prose. So thrilled.

Do pop over to Balroop’s blog to find out more: https://balroop2013.wordpress.com/2021/06/03/bookreviews-prose-poetry/

#TANKA TUESDAY WEEKLY @ColleenChesebro #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 225, #SYNONYMSONLY

“LIFE & MOVE” are the prompt words this week.

For life I chose fate, for move I opted for disturbed

I saw these trees whilst out for a walk with friends. There was something quite melancholy about their soaked roots.

I see a wonder

Trees disturbed in deep water

Soaking up their  roots

Drinking in fate’s wilful woes

Sorrow is an endless pit

I originally wrote this before I knew the prompt synonyms! The 2nd line was: Trees submerged in deep water, which I changed to Trees disturbed in deep water. And thereafter, I made a few other adjustments – fourth line – was Drinking in life’s wilful woes, I changed to fate’s wilful woes. Colleen’s SYNONYMS made me dig deeper for a different word!

Congratulations to Colleen on her new release and on her new poetry journal. So exciting!

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https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2021/05/11/tanka-tuesday-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-225-synonymsonly/

Treasuring Poetry: Meet author and poem M J Mallon | Writing to be Read

Thank you so much to Robbie Cheadle for this lovely feature on Treasuring Poetry over at Kaye Lynn Booth’s Writing To Be Read

Curious about my favourite poem? A clue… think Autumn. Want to know what my favourite poem is from Mr. Sagittarius? A clue… a bird. There’s more… a wonderful review of Mr. Sagittarius from Robbie, (thank you so much,) and a discussion about my inspirations.

Do pop over to Writing To Be Read to read more about it at source: Treasuring Poetry: Meet author and poem M J Mallon | Writing to be Read