I had so much fun last week trying my hand at a form of Japanese poetry, Haiku, that I decided I’d continue on this week with Colleen Chesebro’s poetry challenge.
This week, the words are Cold & Storm. You can only use synonyms in creating the poetry.
The rules were simple:
Follow the 5/7/5/7/7 syllable structure. Your Tanka will consist of five lines written in the first person point of view. This is important because the poem should be written from the perspective of the poet.
My words for this Tanka poem are FRIGID & BLIZZARD
A frigid north wind
My breath fogs the frosted glass
When will he return?
He promised he’d be home soon
Love ending – the blizzard wins
I don’t know if I am supposed to attach a visual, but this one grabbed me. 🙂
For more on Colleen’s weekly poetry challenges, guidelines and poetry specifics, visit https://colleenchesebro.com/2019/01/22/colleens-2019-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-120-cold-storm-synonymsonly/
Writing and Music 
Thank you, Vashti! I’m thrilled that you stopped by!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s always a pleasure.
LikeLike
Hi Jan! Your tanka tells a tragic love story. The image is great. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the reblog, Colleen!!
LikeLike
Oh my goodness, Denise! Phooey on WordPress! They need to leave your subscriptions alone. I’m glad you enjoyed the Tanka. This is all completely new and different to me and I am enjoying the challenge. Thanks for stopping by! Hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved it Jan! I felt the longing and the chill. It is fun to do I agree. I have to put more into the structured part of poetry, my rebel side fights it sometimes…lol. Sorry for late response WordPress unfollowed your site again for me…sigh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whoa! What a powerful Tanka and the image to go with it! Whew! Can’t you just see something like this happening? Well done, Jan! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Colleen!! This is really fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s like working a puzzle! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great job, Jan. The first two lines really grabbed me and set the tone. Nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Staci! I appreciate your comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jan, I feel myself reaching for a blanket and slippers whilst reading your poem…the freeze is captured perfectly and so sad in the end! As for the final photo, that is incredible and I can’t believe this is actually real! Look frightening.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you SO much, Annika! I am enjoying experimenting with different forms of expression. I’m happy the feeling was captured. Did you read John Howell’s imagined ending to the poem? 🙂 It is left up to the imagination.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just saw it now and a perfect happy romantic ending! As for my mind, it often seems to err to the tragic & dramatic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too, Annika. 🙂 Leave it up to a guy to find the romance in it. When I wrote it, I pictured him never returning because he died. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m so glad you did another one, Jan. A chilling poem for chilling prompts. And a chilling picture to go along. 🙂 Brrr.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Diana. It’s fun to experiment with words in different forms. I appreciate your comment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love it, John!!
LikeLike
Oh, I loved this one. Bravo, Jan. ❤️️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Soooz! I’m enjoying playing around with it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw the poor guy is caught in a snowstorm. Love ends???? Super poem, Jan. As everyone has mentioned the photo is killer too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, John. Yes, I left that ending up to the imagination. Maybe he freezes to death, or maybe it was just one more broken promise than she could take. You decide. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did. He’s innocent. He took refuge in a flower sho and showed up eighteen hours late with 12 red roses.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These different poetry forms are definitely addictive!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they are! And, a million thanks for the reblog!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most welcome!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great Tanka, Jan. I especially liked this image: “my breath fogs the frosted glass”
And–oh,wow!–I would hate to be in one of those cars!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too, Mae! Thank goodness, we don’t get much of that down here in the south. Thanks so much for stopping by and I’m thrilled you liked my Tanka attempt! 🙂 Hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brilliant! The photo? Well, let’s just say I growled a little… (lol)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you SO much, Annette! I am experimenting and loving the process of trying something new. Yes, I growled a little at the photo too, although, in Texas, we rarely see anything even close to that. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love it!! You’ve really captured the chill and the longing. Well done!
I’ve never tried to write Tanka and now I just might…if I can summon the courage. 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh, thank you, Gwen! Hey, if I can attempt it, then you certainly can! Go for it! Thanks for your comment!
LikeLike