Tag: Poetry Challenge

@ColleenChesebro #TankaTuesday #poetry #challenge #specificform #kouta #prompt provided by @ReenaSaxena

Big bubbles don’t cause troubles
Not when friends are blowing them
Quick to catch they float away
Then we start again!

© M J Mallon

Champagne bubbles cause troubles
Hiccups, and trip ups
Oops. Giggles and then spill ups
Sore heads the next day!

© M J Mallon


FAST FACTS – VIA COLLEEN

The Kouta 小唄 (little or short song) is a popular Japanese verse form of the Muromachi Period, 14th thru 16th century. The lyrical song was resurrected as a geisha song in the late 1800s and is still popular today.

The form has several variations, though always short in only 4 lines, a 5th line is sometimes added. 

The theme reflects ordinary life and often uses colloquialisms and onomatopoeia. The most popular are love songs. 

The elements of Kouta are:

  1. a poem in 4 lines. (an occasional 5th line may appear)
  2. a standalone poem, but its often is accompanied by other Koutas with the same theme.
  3. syllabic, variable odd numbered syllable lengths, the most common patterns are written in lines of alternating 7-5-7-5 syllables or 7-7-7-5 syllables. 
  4. secular, personal, themes of ordinary life.
  5. often include onomatopoeia (defined above).

These are inspired by a day I spent with old friends and we blew bubbles in the sun!

The poem below on this theme appears in my soon to be released poetry, photography and flash fiction book, Do What you Love Fragility of Your Flame.

OLD FRIENDS PLAY WITH BUBBLES 

bubbles in the sun
playing a musical dance
basking in our sweet friendship
admiring her art
we both praise
a special day for Catherine

(Excerpt Do What You Love © M J Mallon)

Blurb

Do What You Love Fragility of Your Flame Poems, Photography & Flash Fiction is a personal poetry collection celebrating how the fates may have a part in all that we do.

With special poems and short reflective moments inspired by family, flowers and nature, love, scrumptious morsels, places I’ve visited, lived and intend to live in, the friendships and hopes I have for the future.

The overarching theme is to live a life well lived… And to do what you love.

float along with me
create clouds of sweetest joy
to do what you love
hold fate’s hand as we venture
near and far on life’s journey

(Excerpt Do What You Love © M J Mallon)

Release Date: 25th November 2022, able to preorder via the following links.

Buy Links Do What You Love:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BKLC9DYY/

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/What-You-love-Fragility-Photography-ebook/dp/B0BKLC9DYY/

Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/What-You-love-Fragility-Photography-ebook/dp/B0BKLC9DYY/#

Reviews And Features:

Book Review: ‘Do What You Love – Fragility of Your Flame’ by MJ Mallon

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2022/11/05/smorgasbord-book-reviews-photography-poetry-flash-do-what-you-love-fragility-of-your-flame-poems-photography-and-flash-fiction-by-m-j-mallon/

A review of Marjorie Mallon’s new book. Do What You Love .

I am thrilled to say that two of my poetry collections, (Mr. Sagittarius and Lockdown Innit,) have been requested by prestigious libraries in the UK: The British Library, The Bodleian Library Oxford University, the Cambridge University Library, National Library of Scotland, National Library of Wales and Trinity College Dublin for Legal Deposit.

Add the book to your TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63114445-do-what-you-love

The cover of the paperback and kindle have been designed by Colleen Chesebro who has a new service for authors which I can highly recommend. Colleen also designed the interior and cover of The Hedge Witch And The Musical Poet.

https://unicorncatspubservices.wordpress.com/my-services

Portfolio:
https://unicorncatspubservices.wordpress.com/portfolio

https://wordcraftpoetry.com/unicorn-cats-publishing-services/

Media kit: https://atomic-temporary-67364188.wpcomstaging.com/2022/11/04/media-kit-do-what-you-love-fragility-of-your-flame-poems-photography-flashfiction-new-book-release-writingcommunity-poetrycommunity-mediakit-paperback/

Other poetry/flash fiction collections:

Kyrosmagica Publishing

The Hedge Witch And The Musical Poet

https://books2read.com/u/mv1OeV

Mr. Sagittarius Poetry and Prose

http://mybook.to/MrSagittarius

Anthology – This Is Lockdown, (poetry, diaries and flash fiction – kindle)

http://mybook.to/Thisislockdown

Poetry during Lockdown – Lockdown Innit

http://mybook.to/Lockdowninnit

Poetry also features in my highly acclaimed YA Fantasy series.  Each chapter begins with a short poem. The Curse of Time Book 1 Bloodstone and Book 2 Golden Healer are published by Next Chapter Publishing.

https://www.nextchapter.pub/books/bloodstone

https://www.nextchapter.pub/books/golden-healer

https://www.nextchapter.pub/authors/mj-mallon

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.

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,

#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!

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

#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

https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2021/03/23/tanka-tuesday-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-218-ekphrastic-photoprompt/

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 Page: https://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 WEEKLY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 214, #THEMEPROMPT #Dreams

https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2021/02/23/tanka-tuesday-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-214-themeprompt/

The prompt this week is dreams…. I’m reading a romance at the moment, it’s getting steamy…. Lol.

Lips still tingling

Mouth kissed by sweet dreaming lies

I awake alone

Embracing the pillow’s curves

Longing for your tender touch

Hope you enjoy the tanka!

My new poetry collection is out!!

BLURB

Lockdown Innit is a poetry collection of eighteen poems about life’s absurdities and frustrations during lockdown. Wherever you live in this world, this is for you. Expect humour, a dollop of banter and ridiculous rants here and there. Amongst other delights, witness the strange antics of a swan posing by a bin and two statuesque horses appearing like arc deco pieces in a field. Check out the violin player on a tightrope, or the cheeky unmentionables wafting in the lockdown breeze!

Buying Links Lockdown Innit Released February 26th

Kindle Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08VW81Q53/

Kindle Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VW81Q53/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56949934-lockdown-innit

Universal link for kindle: https://mybook.to/Lockdowninnit

Thank you so much to Colleen for featuring me in this first new poet feature on her wonderful poetry blog: https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2021/02/26/word-craft-prose-poetry-meet-the-poet-featuring-marjorie_mallon/

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

WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 213 #EKPHRASTIC #PHOTOPROMPT #Badgerhexastich

I tried a new form – a badger hexastich poem in response to this stunning photo

Image by Michael Bußmann from Pixabay

From Colleen’s blog – BADGER HEXASTICH: The Badger Hexastich is syllabic and written in six lines with a 2/4/6/6/4/2 structure. It is unrhymed with optional rising and falling end-words, which I think is an interesting twist.

The Waterfall Weeps Its Cares 
'brella
Rainbow Coloured 
Waterfall weeps its cares
I hear, see, smell and feel
I taste the might
Falling
***
© M J Mallon

To join in with colleen’s poetry prompt follow the link: https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2021/02/16/weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-213-ekphrastic-photoprompt/

My latest book a collection of poetry, is due out on February 26th.

BLURB

Lockdown Innit is a poetry collection of eighteen poems about life’s absurdities and frustrations during lockdown. Wherever you live in this world, this is for you. Expect humour, a dollop of banter and ridiculous rants here and there. Amongst other delights, witness the strange antics of a swan posing by a bin and two statuesque horses appearing like arc deco pieces in a field. Check out the violin player on a tightrope, or the cheeky unmentionables wafting in the lockdown breeze!

It is available to preorder now:

Some advanced readers quotes:

Hope you enjoyed the poem about the waterfall. I have a fondness for waterfalls and all things water!

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

#TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 212 #SYNONYMSONLY #Diningin #Spicy #Food #Celebrations #Fun #Nonet

https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2021/02/09/tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-212-synonymsonly/#comment-91326

The synonyms this week are loose and tough. Sound tricky, thinking, thinking… what to write?

NONET: A nonet is stanzaic and written in any number of 9-line stanzas with the following syllable count per line: 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 syllables per line

Bless all manner of ingredients

Making something unique and free

Hard to decide what to use

But chili is a must

As is some red beans

By now you’ll guess

What I am

Grab a

Drink!

I’ve been having fun creating new recipes at home with my eldest daughter, Natasha.

The other day I had an urge to make some scones and we did. We weren’t sure what to use, one recipe said eggs, the other one omitted them, so in the end we decided upon adding the eggs (a Mary Berry’s recipe,) and the scones turned out really well.

Recently, we did our own take on the traditional Chilli Con Carne recipe. I’m planning to share this later in the year around Halloween… More about that to come!

We also had great fun making a Chinese Banquet for Lunar New Year, we made Roast Duck and Singapore noodles plus I bought a lot of dim sum. It was so tasty!

Such a fun thing to do. I’m really enjoying trying out new ideas with food at the moment.

Hope you enjoyed the nonet. Happy Valentines, I’m looking forward to my dinner tonight, hubby is making me his signature dish – steak!

I have a new book coming out soon… Lockdown Innit, Poems About Absurdity. It is available to preorder. Make this author really happy by ordering your copy on kindle today!

Universal link for kindle: https://mybook.to/Lockdowninnit

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

Collaborative Group: https://www.facebook.com/pg/5SpiritualSisters/

2020 WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 204, #THEMEPROMPT #Crapsey #Cinquain

This month’s theme is a wonderful evocative haiku written by Sue Vincent:

clouds cover the moon,

beyond dawn’s pale horizon

sun rises unseen

©2020 Sue Vincent

pexels-photo-2479882.jpeg
Photo by Wellington Cunha on Pexels.com

I’m going to attempt to write a crapsey cinquain – never done one of these before, so I used Colleen’s handy poetry cheat guide: https://wordcraftpoetry.com/tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-cheat-sheet/

The Crapsey cinquain is a five-line, non-rhyming poem featuring a syllable structure of 2/4/6/8/2. Choose words that create drama which builds into the fourth line. Remember, the turn occurs on line five, the most important line. This is where you change your focus away from the drama in some interesting way. Surprise your readers!

The World in Stardust

The moon

Caressed by hands

Fairy stardust twinkling

Kind eyes flutter open to see

The world!

© M J Mallon

I enjoyed writing this poem.

All of my books under my Kyrosmagica Publishing imprint include poetry, do check them out. I’d love it if you’d read one of my works:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/M-J-Mallon/e/B074CGNK4L

Happy Sunday all,