It’s Poetry Friday and the round up is here! Thanks for stopping by.
My April Poetry Project was to write a daily tanka in response to a poem from my morning reading. I didn’t have much experience with that form so I thought it would be a good exercise. Some days were harder than others, but I’m happy to report that I was successful in writing the tankas. I did, however, let my inspiration come from things other than the poems I was reading. That helped me remember that there is inspiration all around and that poetry can be found everywhere.
Here is one in response to the Artemus II splashdown:
four brave astronauts
traveled higher, farther…then
a perfect splashdown
connecting again to earth
renewed in understanding
____________________________
There were surprises, too. After reading “On Finding a Turtle Shell in Daniel Boone National Forest” by Jeff Worley on George Bilgere’s Poetry Town, I was reminded of my first classroom and the turtle we kept for a brief time. I have no recollection of where he came from, but I have a distinct memory of returning him to nature.
Classroom Pet
He lived in a box
munching on lettuce and leaves.
A curiosity,
but not the life he deserved.
We waved as he ambled off.
_____________________________
At Easter my grandchildren visited. I was thrilled when six-year-old Nina not only took out her journal to write but suggested I get mine so we could write together.
Together
We write together.
Flowers march across the page,
words woven in stars;
sharing dreams and ideas
in thoughts connecting our hearts.
Thanks for visiting today and for the support and encouragement of this community. Together our words have the power to make the world a better place. You can leave your link with Mr. Linky and I’ll be back to respond.
Imagine the Possibilities 
Congrats on meeting your NPM goal of writing daily tanka! Enjoyed the poems you shared today, especially the one of you writing with your granddaughter. :) Thanks for hosting this week!
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Thank you, Jama.
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Rose, how heart-meltingthat your grandgal invited you to write along with her!!
And great news about your April Tanka Time. All of yours are a delite to read.
Also, we’ve a bit of synchronicity this month regarding four-legged crawlers ….I luv that your wee turtle enjoyed freedom :)
in case I flub at Linky, I’m at https://bookseedstudio.wordpress.com/2026/04/30/moms/
Many appreciations for your hosting!
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Thank you, Jan.
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Congratulations on all this writing you’ve accomplished this month, Rose! I’m so glad to know our turtle friend “ambled off” to a better life. Thanks for hosting!
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I probably haven’t thought about that turtle in 40 years! Funny how memories can resurface.
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Lovely heartfelt images created in your “Together” poem, and I’m happy the turtle meandered off too–I’ve always loved tankas! Thanks for hosting Rose!
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Thank you, Michelle.
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High five for persevering in creating a whole month of tankas! 🙌
I like the connections you found in your tankas. The astronauts’ understanding and the planet. Your granddaughter’s heart and yours.
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Thank you, Tabatha.
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Thanks for hosting us and congratulations on a successful NPM! I agree that inspiration comes from everywhere…sometimes wholly unexpected places!
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So true. Thanks, Mary Lee.
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How precious! I hope someday I can write in a journal next to a six year old connecting hearts. Thanks for hosting this week!
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It was certainly a lovely time.
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There is something quite affirming in meeting a challenge we have set ourselves, Rose. The immense self satisfaction arising from achieving our goal. You have no doubt acquired an even deeper appreciation of the Tanka form and your very capacity to write them. So much good comes from such endeavours. i liked the way you expanded the tanka terrain. It adds a richness and diversity to the wiritng of poetry. As the grandparent of a six year old, grand-daughter, I particularly enjoyed your shared writing experience with Nina.
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Thank you, Alan. It was a wonderful moment with Nina.
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Your success with your NPM project is impressive, Rose, and my favorite thing of all is you and your granddaughter writing together. I love that. ❤️
Thanks for hosting!
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Thank you, Karen.
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Rose, Thank you for hosting. I am so happy you feel like you had a successful NPM project. I abstained this year. I just didn’t have it in me and surprisingly, it gave me the freedom to continue to write and read poetry from a number of different sources. One of the sources I read was Bruce Ross’s book on Haiku, in which he covers tanka. It is a book I hope to review in the near future but I wouild recommend it. He does a great job explaining the forms and how they “should” be conceived. I will keep the book for reference. I love that you and your granddaughter wrote together and it was her idea to do so. What I would give to have that happen for me in the future! Love it!
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Thanks for the recommendation. I admittedly took some liberties with the form, not always following the rules. It would be interesting to revise some after learning more.
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Hi Rose, I’m afraid you took my recommendation the wrong way. In no way was I suggesting you need revision, didn’t follow “rules” or needed to read the book to write your tankas. I am the last one who would ever suggest that to anyone. It was just a comment because I related to your tanka due to seeing the form in the book I read. I think your writing is exsquite and I’m sorry if you thought I meant otherwise.
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Carol, I didn’t take your comment to mean anything other than what you intended. But I’m unable to comment on your blog! My computer has blocked you saying it’s a dangerous site. I never had that happen before. So sorry. Not quite sure what to do.
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Rose, I love your poetry project for April and your embrace of the tanka. Thanks for sharing your poems and the inspiration behind them.
Thank you too for hosting.
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Thanks, Tricia.
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Rose, I love that you found inspiration everywhere from the stars to the twinkle in your granddaughter’s eye. How sweet that your granddaughter wanted to write with you! : ) Thank you for hosting!
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Thank you, Tracey. It was a special moment.
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Rose, your tanka poems are a wonderful National Poetry Month project. I found the poems to be special little stories. Each one had a different theme. Of course the poem about your grandchildren touched my heart. Last week when I visited my family, my 8-year-old grandgirl talked about her poem about a sink. Since it was bedtime, I could not learn more about but she did ask me to find a sink photo for her. Your little Nina had a wonderful idea to invite you to write in your journal along with her.
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Aren’t grandchildren grand?!
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Absolutely!
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Oh my goodness–writing with your granddaughter, at HER invitation. How I love that. And “We waved as he ambled off.” I felt the goodwill of you and your students, that letting go for the good of the creature you’re letting go. So much love here. Thank you for hosting, Rose, and congrats on your NPM project!
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Thanks, Laura!
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Rose, I love you and Nina writing together. Beautiful!! Thanks for all this loveliness—and for rounding us up. xo
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Thanks, Irene! BTW, your webinar on IV was really so helpful. Thank you for that, too.
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Astronauts returning, turtles ambling off, and two hearts connecting while writing together. These tankas are a lovely trio. They feel like an intricate dance. Thank you so much for sharing!
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Thank you, Kate.
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Rose, thank you for hosting. I’m mesmerized by your sweet tankas, especially the one where Nina wanted to write beside you. That is so special, and the words you chose to describe the experience show how special it was. “words woven in stars”,
“sharing dreams”, “connecting our hearts” Yes!
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It was a very special moment. Thank you.
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Rose, I admire anyone who could keep a disciplined writing practice in April. I love the tanka form and how succinct it is. Your ability to capture a moment with words is art making and inspirational. I love journaling with my grandson. He and I are now exchanging letters. I hope to introduce him to poetry this summer. “Connecting our hearts.”
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So wonderful to hear, Margaret! I can’t wait to read what you and he come up with.
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Rose, how wonderful you’ve taken on a personal challenge of writing Tankas as an April poetry practice. Enjoyed the Tankas and love the way you bring both of them home – with the Artemus II splashdown, returning with new understanding and the Classroom Pet, wave as he ambled off. What a lovely poem and shared writing experience with your grandchild:) Beautiful! Thanks for hosting Poetry Friday:)
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Thanks, Jill.
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Lovely Tankas, Rose. Artemis continues to inspire… I loved how your Class Pet poem told a whole emotional story in a few words, and how very lovely to be writing with your granddaughter. Such a special memory or both of you. Thanks for hsting this week Rose.
Cathy
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Thank you, Cathy.
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Kudos to you for writing tankas all month, Rose. I love the reminder that inspiration comes from many places and that we need to be open to that. The photo of Nina’s and your notebook together is precious, and your tanka captures that moment so beautifully! I hope you shared it with her. Thanks so much for hosting today, and for allowing me to slide in a bit late!
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Thanks, Molly.
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