Here’s my tanka poem for Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Poetry Challenge. Two words were chosen and then we picked a synonym of them. Here are the words: Hint & Bold. I wrote this when our power was shut down, which meant I used my old paperback Thesaurus to find words to replace them.
The first line was going to be “The stagnant gray gloom.” That had fit the smoke we’ve been dealing with the last few weeks since those lightning storms.
But then came a strange dark orange that covered the skies from the fires this week. So I made a last-minute change. Thankfully, our power is back and we are still safe.
This is a surreal and anxiety-filled time for much of the west coast. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Ominous Orange
Filters through the evergreens
A rude reminder
Of the furious fanned flames
When nightmares come to life.
What a timely poem, Denise! The sun here turn bloody red and ash is falling like snowflakes. My daughter sent me photos of where she is in Oregon and looked like yours also. We’re praying for miracles to stop the fires.
Thanks, Miriam. I wish we did have snowflakes falling…my son is in Eugene and said how bad the air is there. He’s supposed to visit next week if he can get through I5. The orange was so strange to see. Yes, defintiely praying for miracles.
Yes, someone said they got a evacuation warning. My daughter sent me photos of Portland. It was bad and she had power out since yesterday. Neighbor is in different grid and has power and they use an extension cord to get electricity.
Take care and be safe.
I’m glad your daughter can get power from her neighbor! We have a generator that runs some things for us which is great. Thank you, you stay safe as well xo
A beautiful poem in frightening times. I love it. Please stay safe, Denise, and I’m keeping everyone affected in my thoughts 🙂
Thanks Harmony much appreciated:) Staying on alert. Xo
Well done, Denise. You’ve captured the fear, the destruction, and the threat…all within a few lines. Bravo!
Thank you Gwen. It helps to channel those feelings into poetry. Xo
An intense poem, Denise. A strange and scary time.
it is a strange and scary time. Thanks Robbie:)
It’s so scary what’s happening on the west coast. I’m glad your power is back and that you and your hubby are safe. I will definitely will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Your poem expertly captures this tumultuous and frightening time for the west. Keep safe, my friend!
It is scary and hard to process how extensive it is. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers for us.
Poetry allows me to express what I’m feeling. Thanks, Mae xo
Oh Denise, relieved your power is back, but the fires and air quality are concerning. Please stay safe.
Tightly woven poem, excellent use of words.
eden
xox
Thank you, Eden. Yes the fires and air are both bad, hoping for early rains. I hope you are staying safe too xo
Your poem gave me chills, Denise. So ominous. And those skies are scary. I’m glad you’re safe and have power again. I’m hoping for rain here. Hang in there.
Thank you, Diana. Never seen a sky like that before. I hope you stay safe too! Xo
Hi, Denise! Wow. You’re definitely in my thoughts and prayers. That foreboding orange sky in the photo pairs perfectly with your beautiful and ominous Tanka. You’ve captured the horror of the fires in the west coast. I’m happy you have your power back. Stay safe, my friend! <3 xo
Thank you, Vashti. I’ve never seen anything like it before, it was more than surreal like being in a Mars landscape. I’m very happy to have my power back and have access to information over the internet. Hugs xo
Excellent, Denise. 😁
Thank you John 🙂
My heart ached for you as I read this post and poem, Denise. Fires ravaged much of our east coast last summer and that red glow became all too familiar. We spent three weeks on evacuation alert. I’ll hold you in my thoughts and prayers, my friend. I know just how stressful this situation can be. Stay safe. ❤
Thank you Soooz. I was just thinking of your fires and this is becoming all too common now. It’s hard to stay on alert for lenghty periods of time. I’m hoping this doesn’t go on for the next several months and the rains come soon. hugs. xo
Oh my goodness! I’ve been watching the fires on the nightly news. How terrifying! The orange color is so Apocalyptic! Please be safe, Denise. I know here in western Arizona we’ve gotten some of the smoke but nothing like what you are going through. Your tanka captures the terror you must feel. Hugs to you, friend. <3
Thank you Colleen. That orange was nothing like I’d ever seen before and seeing it not only for myself but pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge its was likeI was looking at an alien landscape. I know the smoke is really traveling and I hope we get some rains soon. Hugs back xo
It is terrifying! Stay safe, and take care. ❤️❤️❤️
I feel for my US friends at the moment. We’re no stranger to bushfires down here in OZ. I know how debilitating they can be 😓
Thank you Jessica. There have been some terrible fires the last couple of years, especially in Australia. This is the worst I ever seen here, but with less death so far.
Fingers crossed most come out unscathed…
Gosh, Denise, this really brings the fires to life. I can almost hear the flames crackling.
Dark times indeed.
Thanks, Sandra, I hope I never have to hear that crackling unless it in my woodstove. So far safe though, but you are right it is dark times. xoox
Oh I really like me some of this. Gorgeous
Thank you, Jude!
Pleasure 🌼
Great tanka! You managed to communicate the threat so clearly and so vividly. Hoping you and all those facing these fires stay safe and well, Denise.
Thank you, Dora. Poetry is the best way for me to communicate what I’m seeing. I appreciate that and hope you stay safe and well too.
The smoke is thick here today, as well, and I’m way up in Canada. I feel awful for everyone in the fire zones. Sending prayers and asking for rain dances winging your way {{hugs}}
I can’t believe how far the smoke is traveling. Fingers crossed for the rain dance, I with you. Sending hugs.
Frightening I am hoping it will soon be raining for you. Take care, Marje
Thank you, Marje. It is a little unnerving and definitely hoping for early rains this year.
Denise, your poem captures the angst of everyone on the West Coast. My brother is in Portland, not super close to the fires that he has to evacuate, but the air is bad. I have lived in rainy Portland and south of Eugene in Cottage Grove. I never remember anything like this happening before. It is truly frightening. I’m praying for your safety.
I hope your brother stays safe, Marsha. My son lives in Eugene as did my uncle. I never remember anything like this either there or here. Thank you. I’m praying for rain. Stay safe xo
I love Eugene. I went to school there for my first two years of college.
Eugene is charming. My son went his last years to the University and then stayed there.
It is like a walk back in time, or at least it was the last time we were there. My best friend moved to Roseburg and we moved to CA. So the last time I visited her, we went there. But she’s been in Idaho for at least ten years. I am praying for you and all the fires up there. It is frightening. Keep safe, Donna. 🙂
Eugene is a cute town with a goregous campus, I agree. We are doing pretty well in Nevada City so far. I hoping a good rain puts all the fires out soon. Thanks, Marsha xo
For some unknown reason, I found this post in my SPAM folder. Ugh! I quickly retrieved it. An honest poem, Denise! You portray a powerful visual!
I try to remember to check my spam, but don’t always. I’ve never understood why things get spammed or wordpress decides to unsubcribe me. Its never intentional though on any of our part;) Thank you, Jan. I lived in Northern California my whole life and seen droughts and fires but nothing like this. Its terrifying. Sending hugs.
Captured the challenging times we face from man and nature..xx
Thank you Sally. It is challengimg times for our world xo.
Extremely moving Denise, your words sum things up in a very concise way, steeped in empathy. Where you would usually associate bright colours with happiness, its so sad that this situation is completely the opposite. I hope things can cool down and people can keep themselves safe in these dangerous times.
Thank you, David! Yes, orange is the color of a peaceful sunset or a flower but never a smoky sky from fires. I hope things cool down soon too and our fire season ends abruptly.
So much different from enjoying an orange moon at the beach… (about a week ago).
Stay safe and I’ll keep good thoughts for you and all who are living in that nightmare.
I’ve got family who are also experiencing some fall out from all that smoke.
Thank you, Jules. I hope your family stays safe too.