Here is Colleen Chesebro’s Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge #233 Poet’s Choice.
This week is the poet’s choice and I decided to try a new form. I picked Shardoma which is 3-5-3-3-7-5 syllables and no rhyming. I had three to pick from, one dealt with a medical procedure, another anxiety, but I ended up with a similar theme as last week.
THE EMPTY PROMISE
oppressive
heavy drought heat
dries & withers
the landscape
saps the forest’s searching soul
for the rain goddess.
Excellent, Denise. I hope you get rain soon.
Thanks, John 🙂 Fingers crossed. Last few years it’s been in November.
Strong and touching, Denise. I especially love the line “saps the forest’s searching soul.”
I hope you get the rain you need soon!
Thank you, Mae 🙂 I hope so and the forest gets the relief it needs too! xo
Very nice, Denise. This evokes so many emotions. Prayers your area gets some much needed rain.
Thank you, Joan:) Much appreciated! Xo
Oh, yes! The heat is being hard on us these last days. We had a little bit of rain this night, but the sun is already up and in full power. You captured it nicely.
It has been tough with this heat. I dream of cool fall days and rain. Thanks, Elizabeth 🙂
That was powerful, Denise. Weather has been brutal lately. Fingers crossed for a break.
Thank you, Staci:) It has been brutal and strange everywhere. Xo
The West could all use some rain, and soon.
Yes we could. We got about four raindrops a couple days ago and I was thrilled.
That’s about all we’ve gotten in a couple of months. We could use one of those Pacific monsoons to break this heatwave.
I love the visual the phrase “Rain Goddess” brought. Beautifully done, Denise!
Thank you, Jan:) I hooe she visits soon. Xo
Some themes dominate our minds Denise and Mother Nature always calls. You’ve done an excellent job with this one.
Mother nature is always calling 🙂 Yes, themes do tend to stick around for a while like seasons. Xo
Powerful and beautiful shadorma, Denise! I wish I could send you some of the rain we’ve been getting down here. Things would balance itself out. I hope it rains over there soon. In the meantime, try to keep cool.⛈💕
Thank you, Vashti 🙂 I wish there was a weather exchange program where we could switch for a day. Xo
Me too! <3
Another well done warning. You have a gift for ferreting out the perfect words for your message.
I’m doing the rain dance again. xoxoxo
Thank you, Sandra. Your compliment has me smiling and put an extra bounce to my step this morning 🙂
I always appreciate a rain dance. I right with you xo
I’m glad it made you happy. It’s definitely the truth:) xoxo
A beautiful poem with the bitter thread of drought. Well done, Denise.
Thank you, Robbie. Droughts are bitter for sure.
I think we can always use more rain, and then I read of flooding and hurricanes.
Moody weather gods!
I remember one year I lived in the Midwest and the grass never did get green that summer.
Yes, there is definitely a delicate balance with those moody weather gods 🙂 Each year is different but we never do see green grass here in the summer.
hmm… I don’t remember where your here is…
my here has green grass spring, summer, autumn and if it isn’t too cold even in winter.
I’m in the Northern California foothills. We get really dry in the summer.
One of the mystery books I’m (co-currently reading) is about water rights in Nevada which also relates to the needs in the surrounding states.
Water rights couldn’t be more important topic right now!
The book I am reading is fiction, and was produced in 2010-2011. ISBN 978-0-345-51182-9 (I’m reading the paperback)
However I am sure some of it could be pulled from the head lines of several eras.
Beautiful poem, Denise, though the topic is troubling, isn’t it? We need the rain goddess to make an appearance. I worry for our forests too.
Thank you, Diana:) Yes very troubling on our coast and for our forests. Hopefully she will make an appearance soon and people will be saying they are tired of all that rain!
I think those days of tiring of rain are long gone. 🙁
Brilliant poetry, Denise. We all need to send good thoughts into the universe for the rains to come. It is too hot out West. Not a good thing. I loved this shadorma. <3
Thanks, Colleen, this was a fun format to work with 🙂 Yes, we definitely need to put those thoughts out there for things to change. I try to do my part by making sure the bees, birds and animals have access to water.
Me too. I hope this weather pattern changes for you guys. 😍❤️🙏🏻
I so worry about the west and the lack of rain. Having lived through many droughts in the SF bay area, I know of its devastation and the wonder and celebration of rain. We’ve had a lot of visitations from the rain goddess here this summer in the Northeast, and I celebrate each rain storm!
P.S. I finally wrote and shared my review of Tree Fairies in Amazon and Goodreads. Such a sweet and fun read!
We’ve had some bad droughts, including in the 70s, but this one seems worse, maybe because of the added fire danger in the mix. But I agree rain is definitely a blessing. I love the rain and enjoy every drop we’re given! Thank you, I saw your review, and the fairies and I are so happy you enjoyed it. We must be on the same wave length because I finished your amazing book and posted my review today 🙂
I LOVE synchronicity!!!! <3
Wishing I could send you some of our rain, Denise. The poem was excellent.