Here is Colleen Chesebro’s Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge #261. This week’s challenge to write your poem was inspired by the Ekphrastic image below which was selected by Diana Peach.
A haibun ldyll immediately came to mind. It is a prose paragraph that ends with a haiku. I switched out the haiku and ended it with a senyru.

THE QUEST
I could barely catch my breath. After all these years, there it was. All the world’s time surrounded me, but only the now was important. My hand shook as I reached out to place the crystal watch on the red door’s knob. Finally, I would understand what I had been searching for, what everyone wanted. The crystal’s energy merged into the black scrolled metal that glowed a deep red. Slowly the door began to open with a sucking whoosh. I stepped inside.
out of the darkness
breathing in the dazzling light
I found Shangri-la
I love it, Denise! Would that we could find Shangri-la! But maybe it’s just behind the door… 💗
A mini journey with a big finale. It’s fabulous, Denise!
Thanks, Priscilla 🙂 This door offered all kinds of ideas.
Thank you, Gwen 🙂 Fingers crossed it right behind that door!
The response is brilliant, Denise. Well done. 💖
Thank you, Miriam 🙂 I couldn’t pass up this door.
Inspiring, Denise. The payoff at the end is rewarding and brilliant!
Thank you, Mae 🙂 That door screamed journey.
Love it, Denise. Beautifully done! Now where can I find that crystal watch and that door??? 😁
Thanks, Marcia 🙂 When I find it I will let you know!
Wow. There’s a story waiting to be written here, Denise……
scoxoxo
Thanks, Sandra 🙂 The door really spoke to me and it would be wonderful to step through it into perfection wouldn’t it? xoxo
Oh, yes:)
A great haibun, Denise. This weeks picture is very mystical.
Thank you, Robbie 🙂 It’s a great picture to work from, really fueled the creativity.
This was fantastic, Denise! I love the storyline aspect in the haibun. Love it! 🙂
Thanks, Yvette 🙂 I love trying to get a story into this format and this door screamed story! xo
Very nice, Denise!
Thank you, Joan 🙂
Ooh, great fiction and verse, Denise. Love it! 💕🙂
Thanks, Harmony 🙂 I really like doing haibuns and getting a story within that format.
Oh, I love this so much. Adding the watch as the trigger to open the door is brilliant! Well done, Denise!
Thank you, Jan 🙂 It seemed to fit with all the clocks surrounding the door.
Pretty great, Denise! Reminds me of the Christian’s view of stepping into heaven from this life’s stresses.
Thanks, Linda 🙂 I thought about heaven writing this too!
Awesome Denise… my thoughts were somewhat similar when I wrote my contribution. 😊
Thanks, Balroop! There is something about that door that inspires those thoughts 🙂
Denise, I loved your haibun! BRAVO! This reads like a piece of flash fiction (some of my favorite short story writing). I want to write a book of haibun just because the form is so versatile. <3
I’m really enjoy doing flash fiction and short stories. A haibun offers me the space to combine my two loves, poetry and fictional writing. It’s such a wonderful form that offers so many different ways to use it. Thanks, Colleen 🙂
I love haibun and tanka prose for just that reason. <3
Wow, Denise. I love this. You told a whole story and the end gave me a thrill. Wonderful and creative take on the prompt.
Thank was a great image choice, Diana 😉 It begged for a story to be told! xo
There is so much in this, Denise! “what I had been searching for, what everyone wanted”–hoo boy, that has me thinking.
Thanks, Jacqui! It does make you wonder 🙂
I love the prose/poetry form. And you knocked it out of the park. Nicely done.
I love this form too! Thanks, Staci 🙂
Ooooo! I really, really like this, Denise. You pulled me right into the story. Big hugs!
Thank you, Teagan, yay 🙂 Big hugs back!
Can’t wait to see what you’ve got for next Tuesday.
Loved Diana’s image:)
scoxoxo
That image is sure brought the creativity! Xoxo
I loved this, Denise. Your story and poem were powerful!
Thank you, Karen. This has become a favorite format to write poetry 🙂 xo
This is great!
It all works perfect: the door, the write and the senyru.
Thank you!
Thank you, Resa 🙂 It was a great image to work from!
Your poem made me think of the The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Who knows what we might find on the other side? 🙂
Oh, I like that! Yes, never know what journey is waiting for us inside that wardrobe 🙂 xo
‘I could barely catch my breath.’ Great opener. AND I agree with Jacquie. It is reminiscent of The Lion–etc.
Enjoy your weekend.
scoxox
Thank you, Sandra…yay! Now I want to reread that book. Hope you had a awesome weekend. xoxo
Well done!
Thank you, Mark 🙂