24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge #poetry#tankatuesday #the365dayspoetrychallenge

Today, I am sharing my Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday poetry with some poems I’ve written for the #the365daypoetrychallenge on Facebook. I’m writing at least a poem a day, and today I wrote several! Currently up to day 47 in the challenge. All my poems are shared to my Facebook page which I’d be delighted if you would follow my progress there: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor

For Tanka Tuesday below you will find three kigo phrases that pertain to the northern hemisphere I’ve used one kigo phrase in each of my three poem with syllable count, 10,7,6.

• #1: “buying a new calender” (7 syllables)

• #2: “winter desolation” (6 syllables)

• #3: “trimming the Christmas tree” (6 syllables)

#1 Buying A New Calender


another new year approaching so fast
buying a new calendar
for you to fill with fun.

The winter desolation poem below is inspired by my daughter who lives in Manchester. She mentioned how rainy and gusty it has been with one lady nearly being blown onto oncoming traffic by the wind. She was telling me about it on the phone as she made her way home for a hot chocolate to get away from the wind and rain!

#2 Winter Desolation

this storm brings terrible gusts and such rain
a hot chocolate combats
winter desolation

The Seville photos were taken by me recently on our trip to see the Christmas lights!

#3 Trimming The Christmas Tree

imagine the brilliant task ahead

in Seville reaching that cross

trimming the Christmas tree

OR:

eating the chocolate santa real quick
foil wrapped baubles are all gone
trimming the christmas tree

Day 47 Haiku Inspired Forms #365daypoetrychallenge

Seasonal image 5 lines 7 words Ronkowitz

like nature try to preserve your energy
winter scenes are beautiful but bitter cold
look how thin the berry twigs are
brightest red holding promises dangling so merrily.
bringing much needed winter cheer to you.

Miku 3 line with syllable count, 2 3 2

pinecone
cinnamon
delight!

Photo taken in Seville, Spain.

Abbreviated haiku 3 5 3

Seville lights
bright cascading threads
shining stars

Or 7,2

Seville lights bringing such cheer
tonight!

Photo taken in Seville, Spain.

Ukiah 3 line, 19 syllable,  757rhyme scheme aaa

such a pretty sight greets me
a star, bell and tree
i pause breathe in, smile and be

4 line haiku 17 syllables or less with 2 line phrases that jukstapose each other

look
snowy penguin 
wearing yellow sunglasses
on a balcony!

Image above taken by me in Tavira, Portugal.

6 line haiku bob-bon with 2 phrases the first 3 lines leading into the next three lines.

tranquil boat
still on the river
just lazing

a reflection
that topples me over
playfully

Or:

tranquil boat
still on the water
just lazing

i reflect
move on with dancing steps
jogging away

Monoku 17 syllables written in one line with 2 stops

The bird sits head bowed awaiting arrival of spring dreams of blue skies

©️2023 M J Mallon poetry and photos of Seville, Tavira Portugal.

TANKA Tuesday no. 307 #haiku #poetry #writing #dilemma

The photo has nothing to do with the poetry but I’m smiling and been deliberating…. so… this week I’m writing a haiku to consider my forthcoming dilemma… Do I self publish my final book in the Curse of Time series, or search for a new publisher, or keep with the one I have?

Do I stay with you?
To flourish... see what happens?
Should I exchange you?

Decisions, decisions. Lots of time to make up my mind as I have just begun writing book three.

Dilemma, it is...
What to do? Decision time
Decide. Switch. Promote.

For Change chose switch, exchange
For Grow flourish, promote

In case you’ve missed it check out my interview at Colleen’s coffee klatch: https://colleenmchesebro.com/2022/11/23/colleens-coffee-klatch-mj-mallon-do-what-you-love-newrelease/

AUTHOR SOCIAL MEDIA DETAILS

Authors Website: https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com
Authors Amazon Pagehttps://www.amazon.co.uk/M-J-Mallon/e/B074CGNK4L
Next Chapter Publishing Author Page: https://www.nextchapter.pub/authors/mj-mallon
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon https://twitter.com/Marjorie_Mallon 

#ABRSC – Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493/
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-j-mallon 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mjmallonauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjm_reviews/

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.

muted life’s colours

tranquil portuguese autumn

bringing me much joy

blue sky and blue sea

green leaves but autumnal earth

orange underfoot

golfer’s paradise

val do lobo is so green

autumn algarve day

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.

#TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 220, @ColleenChesebro #POET’SCHOICE #Swans #Nature #Poetry

I wrote a series of short poems inspired by photographs I’d taken during a walk at my local country park lake.




Hidden behind reeds, 
Swan sits, her neck curls, twirling,
Twigs bend in circles,
I pause, observe, imagine,
White tiny cygnets hatching.

© M J Mallon

A White Mound,

I see you flash by,

Concealed, nest.

© M J Mallon

No White Mound

Trees, lake, hidden life

Bright Yellow

© M J Mallon

I hope you enjoyed!

#TANKA TUESDAY WEEKLY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 218 @ColleenChesebro #EKPHRASTIC #PHOTOPROMPT #Haiku

Image Credit: D.L. Finn

This week we have a photo prompt from Denise. And a truly inspiring one it is. A lady in blue hugging a tree. Here is my take expressed in a series of haiku.

Her blue snow soaked gown

Holds a silent hug to bark

Trees weep heart’s full tears

***

Vital friend severed

Bark ‘s finger accuses sky

The winter mist spreads

***

Dryad masked in blue

Once full, her kind heart splinters

The tree holds her face

I hope you enjoyed the series of haiku.

Before you go I’d love it if you could pop over to Sally Cronin’s blog. She is sharing the latest review for my poetry collection: Lockdown Innit Poems About Absurdity. https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2021/03/27/smorgasbord-book-reviews-poetry-lockdown-innit-by-m-j-mallon/

If you are an avid poetry reader and would like a copy to review (no obligation, of course,) let me know. Happy to send you a copy!

Please consider adding to your Goodreads and check out some of my other books.

Thank you peeps!

.gr_container { font-family:”Helvetica Neue”, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; width: 250px; } .gr_book_container { border-bottom: 1px solid #d7d7d7; padding: 5px 0px; } .gr_book_image { float: left; padding-right: 20px; } .gr_book_title {} .gr_review_stats {} M.J. Mallon’s books on Goodreads
Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018 Ghostly Writes Anthology 2018
reviews: 7
ratings: 46 (avg rating 3.91)

The Curse Of Time The Curse Of Time (Bloodstone,#1)
reviews: 27
ratings: 34 (avg rating 4.26)

This Is Lockdown This Is Lockdown
reviews: 14
ratings: 19 (avg rating 4.95)

Mr. Sagittarius Mr. Sagittarius
reviews: 13
ratings: 16 (avg rating 4.94)

Lockdown Innit: Poems About Absurdity Lockdown Innit: Poems About Absurdity
reviews: 9
ratings: 12 (avg rating 4.67)

https://www.goodreads.com/author/author_widget/17064826.M_J_Mallon?widget_id=1616916882

AUTHOR SOCIAL MEDIA DETAILS

Authors Website: https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com
Authors Amazon Pagehttps://www.amazon.co.uk/M-J-Mallon/e/B074CGNK4L
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon

#ABRSC – Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1829166787333493/
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-j-mallon 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

Spiritual Sisters: https://www.facebook.com/5SpiritualSisters

#TANKA TUESDAY POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 202 SYNONYMSONLY

This week, Kat Myrman, from Like Mercury Colliding, selected the words:

Imagine & Gratitude

So, I decided to write about my recent walk in the botanical gardens in Cambridge. It was a glorious autumn day which filled my spirit full of imagination and gratitude. There is a small area which is normally for school children only but this has been opened to the public.

I took various photos. I particularly loved this lovely writers throne which I shared on my Instagram…

Visualise

A writers garden

Blessed with thanks

And this was so unusual, just a couple of broken branches but they looked like a crocodile’s head and tail!

My head’s tail!

Give crocodile thanks

Picture this…

These are so cute too…

The autumn colours are fabulous.

Colleen’s 2020 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 174 #PhotoPrompt #Haiga #Haiku #Tree #Nature

This week’s photo prompt from Colleen is an excellent one. It’s so evocative. Who can this young girl be? And what might her plight be? She looks desperately sad, so I decided to write a poetic haiga in her honour.


Image Credit: Unknown

Abandoned, she slumps down

A blade of grass caresses skin

Her pregnant bump hides.

***

The tree waits

Nature together

Babe in utero.

***

Daughter

Accepted

By tree.

The haiku poem was inspired by the photo of the girl resting by a tree, looking melancholy, a blade of grass reaches upwards towards her chin. It made me wonder what was making the woman so sad.

As it’s a haiku with a tight syllabic count there’s an immediate need to express her plight, so I decided upon an unwanted pregnancy – a girl sitting in nature – leaning against a tree – a symbol of life giving. The tree and nature (the grass,) will not judge her as others might – Daughter accepted by tree. Is the baby the daughter, or is the pregnant woman? Or are all females daughters of nature?

Yes, my mind does work in strange ways and this is only heightened during lockdown.

Via Colleen’s Blog: The HAIGA IN ENGLISH: 5/7/5, 3/5/3, 2/3/2 syllable structure. Haiga is called observational poetry because it contains an image with either a Haiku or Senryu written on it or near it. There are a few hard and fast rules for creating Haiga. The Haiku is the most important part and must standalone.

To join in with Colleen’s weekly prompts: https://colleenchesebro.com/2020/04/21/colleens-2020-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-174-photoprompt/

And might I suggest some poetic reading? A lovely, heart-warming and magical read suitable for lockdown…

Mr. Sagittarius is a collection of poetry, prose and photographic images inspired by the beautiful botanical gardens in Cambridge.

It’s a light-hearted, magical story about two fictional characters, twin brothers Harold and William, their sister Annette and the sibling’s connection to the beautiful botanical gardens in Cambridge.

Moreover, it celebrates many aspects of day to day life including: humour, sibling relationships, beauty, nature, the seasons of the year, love and ultimately magic.

I love spending time in nature taking photos – my favourite photos in this collection are the robin, trees and the dragonfly that grace this little book.

Photography is in my genes – Both my uncle and grandfather were photographers. My grandfather A.G. Ingram was originally with the photography company Ingram, Gordon & Co in Haddington up until the mid thirties. Then he ventured on his own to form the Scottish Pictorial Press in Edinburgh supplying photos to the press. When war broke out Scottish Pictorial Press became defunct. After the war he started AG Ingram Ltd, Commercial Photographers, at three successive locations in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The photographic images in the book are all my own, apart from two images kindly given by Alex Marlowe – a talented photographer.

To buy this book, please visit Amazon, click on the link below:

Available for free on kindle unlimited and to buy in kindle and paperback: http://mybook.to/MrSagittarius

Thank you for entering my worlds. I hope they bring you a touch of magic. And thank you to all the kind people who read and review my work. I appreciate you.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/M-J-Mallon/e/B074CGNK4L/

Colleen’s 2020 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 173 #SynonymsOnly #Haiku

This haiku is inspired by the river walk near where I live. Yesterday, my daughter and I saw two swans, one was tranquil and the other angrily hissing at two guys on their barge. The two swans couldn’t have been any different!

Believe this Swan’s cute
Elegant fellow’s so calm
Near me’s no problem

Swan wife’s intention
Her whim is to hiss angry
At barge men in boats!

Synonyms of Idea and fancy : belief, intention, elegant, whim.

https://colleenchesebro.com/2020/04/14/colleens-2020-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-173-synonymsonly/

I have a new review for Mr. Sagittarius to share with you from Willow, that cheered me up no end as I haven’t been feeling too well today. Thank you Willow for reading and reviewing. 🙂

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-reviews/R3MH2KY5PXN0GX/

Available for free on kindle unlimited and to buy in kindle and paperback: http://mybook.to/MrSagittarius

Colleen’s 2020 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 167, #Poet’sChoice #Haiga

My daughter Natasha and I saw this beautiful mural in Glasgow when we were looking at accommodation for her course starting in August. She is going to Strathclyde university to study to be an English secondary school teacher. It is the work of Australian artist Smug and depicts the patron saint of Glasgow, St Mungo, appearing to be breastfed by his mother, St Enoch, while a robin – said to signify one of his later miracles – perches on her wrist. It is alleged that St Mungo restored life to a robin, that had been killed by some of his classmates.

This is my HAIGA in response: 5/7/5, 3/5/3, 2/3/2 syllable structure. A Haiga is an observational form of poetry which contains an image with either a Haiku or Senryu written on it or near it.

A new adventure

Such a wondrous sight – robin!

It’s a good omen.

A surprise!

Beautiful robin

Let’s go!

Mother

Daughter time

Explore!

Colleen’s 2020 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 167, #Poet’sChoice

My new release: Mr. Sagitarrius, poetry, prose and photography is now available in full paper paperback, kindle and free on kindle unlimited. Buying Link: http://mybook.to/MrSagittarius.

Latest review: 5 stars! https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2020/03/04/smorgasbord-book-reviews-poetry-and-prose-mr-sagittarius-by-m-j-mallon/

Social Media Links

Authors Websitehttps://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com
Collaborative Bloghttps://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/m-j-mallon

Colleen Chesebro Poetry Challenge: #Haiga #Haiku #Poet’sChoice

 

 

An archway of trees

In this bright winter garden

Red-coated lady

***

Who is she?

I would like to know

Her secret

***

Perhaps

She will say

One day.

 

I happened upon this beautiful pathway in the Cambridge botanical gardens, ( in the winter garden section,) which inspired me to write the haiga above.

In the distance I saw this intriguing lady with a very bright red coat! It appears as if she’s reading a book but I can’t remember what she was doing…

 

So I wrote a haiga, an observational form of poetry with the following haiku syllabic format:  5/7/5, 3/5/3 2/3/2.

https://colleenchesebro.com/2020/02/04/colleens-2020-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-163-poetschoice/

Buy Book Links:

YA Fantasy:

myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

 

My latest book:

Amazon UK:

Amazon USA:

https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Sagittarius-Poetry-Prose-Mallon-ebook/dp/B084DQV3HW/

Social Media Links

Authors Websitehttps://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com
Collaborative Bloghttps://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjmallonauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/