Tanka – M J Mallon YA/Paranormal Author

Colleen’s 2020 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 166, #ThemePrompt – Finding Clarity

I’m sitting in a cafe in Cambridge watching the snow fall. A lady crosses the road with a large black umbrella, the white flecks of pure snow fall covering its surface. I am drawn to this image to write a poem.

The world faces so many challenges at the moment: climate crisis, Coronovirus, economic crises. Where are we headed? Unfortunately, the Coronovirus has led to some racist abuse due to the origin of the virus. So, this is my poetic take on the state of affairs, expressed with a Tanka…

White snow falls to black
Umbrellas hiding cold stares
Finding clarity
Sick quarantine continues
Media spreads people’s fears.

Thank you so much to Colleen for including my new release Mr. Sagittarius poetry and prose in her online poetry store on her blog: https://colleenchesebro.com/poetry-books-for-sale/

My full colour paperback is now available on Amazon.
Here is the link to Mr. Sagittarius in paperback, kindle and free in kindle unlimited:

http://mybook.to/MrSagittarius

Isn’t that good news!

Until we chat again do check out Colleen’s 5 star review of Mr. Sagittarius on her blog: https://colleenchesebro.com/2020/02/16/colleens-2020-book-reviews-mr-sagittarus-by-author-mj-mallon-marjorie_mallon/

Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 165 #PhotoPrompt #Tanka #Senryu

This week it’s a beautiful photo prompt from Ritu @ https://butismileanyway.com/

My poem’s a sad one today as I recently heard about the tragic death of a young woman in her early twenties. How fragile we are.

I miss you; I’m blue
Above me heaven’s sky opens
My light shines for you
Waiting for you to return
Dinner’s ready love, come home.

Colleen is looking for Senryu poetry in the 3/5/3 and 2/3/2 format to use in her new book as an example. If she uses your poem you will retain all rights to your work. Your work is copyrighted and she will cite you in the Bibliography at the end of the book. Please email Colleen at tankatuesdaypoetry@gmail.com.

I miss you

I’m so blue dearest

Light the way

My love

You left me

So sad

https://colleenchesebro.com/category/colleens-2020-weekly-poetry-challenges/

Each day is so precious. Much Love. xxx

Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday #TankaTuesday #Poetry

This is my entry for Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday

Eternal Love

It’s tranquil today,

November Rain, June Sunshine,

Seasons talk of Love,

Strolling side by side – Mists, gusts,

Welly boots squelching the earth.

Colleen’s 2020 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 160 #SynonymsOnly

Buy Book: 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)

Social Media Links

Authors Website: https://mjmallon.com
Collaborative Blog: https://sistersofthefey.wordpress.com
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon

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

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

Colleen Chesebro’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge #Photoprompt #TankaTuesday #Micropoetry

This week for Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge there’s an awesome photo to use as inspiration, which you can see above. Image Credit: Commons: Wikipedia.ogr

Hibiscus flowers bring back memories of tropical sunshine. Nowadays, I enjoy catching a glimpse of them at the Botanical Gardens in their glasshouses, this is one I photographed a while ago…

My Tanka poem in response to this:

Hibiscus Flame

Hibiscus Flower

Fragility of your flame

Memories not lost

Recalled by rain drops falling

Caressing tender petals.

Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 158 #PhotoPrompt

Wishing you a very happy holiday season.

A Merry Christmas to you all. xxx

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Social Media Links

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

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

COLLEEN’S 2019 WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 146 #SYNONYMSONLY

Red, devil’s needle,

Or luck bringer with kind eyes?

Ancient, sweet fellow,

Sacred magic bestower,

Change tumbling on fragile wings.

I added the last line as the dragonfly has such a short life like the butterfly and change can be fragile unless we encourage and nurture it and learn to be our better self.

This is my contribution to Colleen’s poetry challenge, inspired by an encounter with a dragonfly.

I will be writing about this soon on our collaborative blog The Sisters of The Fey.

To join in Colleen’s weekly poetry challenge follow the link: https://colleenchesebro.com/2019/09/24/colleens-2019-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-146-synonymsonly/

Hope you enjoyed my poetry.

Happy Sunday. x

Buy Book: 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)

Social Media Links

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

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

Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 137 #SynonymsOnly

Word prompts: Kind and shift. For kind, I used breed and shift: transform.

The idea for this Tanka came from a passage in my WIP: The Curse of Time Book 2 Golden Healer when Esme (the mirror girl,) tells Amelina (my main protagonist,) about her experience with the shadow men.

Could it be a dream or is it real?

I am currently working through my edits after my beta reading comments with a view to publishing this in the autumn.

Here’s a short extract:

A black furrow of shadows lined his forehead. He beseeched me with his eyes, but when he saw my resolve a maniacal laugh erupted from his demented mouth. This laugh galloped from his lips in the form of a diaphanous spirit which became a pack of wild neighing horses – all black, glossy stallions. They galloped towards me. They didn’t stop, they kept on coming. Their hoofs trampled upon me pounding all of those black shadows away. They should have crushed me but I didn’t die. Instead, their hoofs stamped and stamped, breaking bones, crushing my organs and tissues until the bleeding stopped. The pain was unbelievable. I longed for death. But the horses whinnied, as if laughing. Their laughter ran through my body, fixing my broken bones, easing my pain, making me whole again. They tossed me up in the air, and I landed on top of the lead stallion’s back. He leapt into the blackness, carrying me off with him.

Black Diaphanous Horses

Such a breed they are

Like no other you will see

Transformed from shadows

Wicked horses galloping

Are they real or devil’s dream?

If you’d like to join in the challenge here’s the link:

Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 137 #SynonymsOnly

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Social Media Links

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

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

Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 136 #PhotoPrompt

Who’s blue bike is that?

Oh wait, I see your shadow

Two bikes and two chairs

Two fruit scones, butter and jam

Two old friends sit by the light

To enter Colleen’s weekly poetry challenge follow the link:

Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 136 #PhotoPrompt

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Social Media Links

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

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

Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 135

This Tanka was inspired by the beautiful Golden Willow Tree in the botanical gardens in Cambridge which I visit frequently on my lunch hours from work.

I wanted to reach for one of its tempting branches but to do so would to risk falling in the water!

So charming you are

Sweet golden willow bending

Longing for water

Not I, deep depths frighten me

I long to touch you… alas…

Pleasing temptation

Your branches beckon nearer

No danger greater

I dangle closer

To make an uncomely splash

To enter Colleen’s challenge follow the link:

Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 135 #SynonymsOnly

Colleen asks us to email our poem and the following information to tankatuesdaypoetry@gmail.com the “Title of your poem,” #Form used, by “Your Name,” and the https:// address of your post where you published the post on your blog.

To read my thoughts on the beauty and wonder of these magical trees head over to the Sisters of The Fey Blog: https://sistersofthefey.com/2019/07/11/the-magic-of-trees-the-weeping-willow/

Buy Book: 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)

Social Media Links

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

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

COLLEEN’S 2019 WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 132 #SYNONYMSONLY

I’m looking for a Christmas venue for our staff party which is proving to be more difficult than I first anticipated. A colleague at work suggested I considered The Cock pub. Anyway, to cut a long story short I called The Cock and checked the size of the venue. We require a big capacity – over fifty guests – and I was informed that the venue was too small. Dead pan, I reported this back to my colleagues with the words: ‘the cock is too small!’

Cue much laughing… Oh my!

Thereafter, not content with the way things were going I googled other possible pubs and discovered a feisty possibility called The Wrestling Cocks. This wasn’t big enough but I was impressed by their passionate pride to their pub! They pointed us in the direction of another venue – the name escapes me – but sadly this didn’t meet my exalted expectations either…

So after much soul searching and a protracted period of titillating I’m now considering a more simple approach. Perhaps a venue with a numeral in the name such as The Three Buttes, or The Eight Ding-Dongs...

ALL PUBS NAMES IN ITALICS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THEIR PRIVACY!

The pressure’s growing

To find a perfect venue

A decision soon

Be it big, or small in size

Carry on… up the pub dears!

Synonyms: For influence (I used pressure) and perception: (feeling)

To join in Colleen’s poetry challenge:

https://colleenchesebro.com/2019/06/18/colleens-2019-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-132-synonymsonly/

Social Media Links

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

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

Buy Book: myBook.to/TheCurseofTime

Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 131 #SynonymsOnly

It’s nice to welcome Colleen back after her break finding and settling in to her new home in Arizona. I’ve missed writing poetry but I’ve been super busy getting feedback back from my early readers and beta readers on my WIP: The Curse of Time Book 2 Golden Healer.

The synonyms I’ve chosen for beginning are dawn, and for consume – exhausted.

The tulips are from my recent trip to Montreal, Canada – Botanic Gardens. I had a wonderful time there on holiday with my two daughters.