I attended a poetry workshop on Saturday, as part of the Nottingham Poetry Festival. I’m barely home this week for going to various poetry gigs (sadly not performing, but am hoping that will come), and consider myself blessed to live in such a poetry-hungry city!
At this workshop, I wrote a number of poems that will eventually see the light of day on this blog. This was written for the opening exercise, to write a tanka to introduce ourselves. I wrote two… the second explains why!
Really a rhymer
Who then got hooked on haiku.
In recovery.
I’ve been clean for a year.
Damn! I’m back on the wagon!
I love a challenge.
Stupidly competitive.
Fitting these words in
Gives me great satisfaction,
When the syllables all fit
🙂
I’m going to have to google ‘Tanka’ now…
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Good point, I should have explained that… It’s basically a haiku with two extra lines!
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Yes, I’m now totally tanka’d up. I’m now toying with the idea of creating a weird poetry format of my own.
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A babbit, surely. Six line poem, where the first, third and fourth lines rhyme, but the others don’t
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Intriguing…
I have a fine friend called Al
We used to work together
He’s a fine upstanding pal
Who’s poetry plans I shall
Attempt in this here poem
But I’m not sure it works.
😉
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Lol. I’m not sure that worked either… but a valiant effort!!
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Maybe we need to try a BABBAT rhyme scheme… And add some other arbitrary rules. Six syllables per line?…😀
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Oh no. Now I have to try it…
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😂 yes, do!
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A BABBAT:
A man destined to write
whips off a witty rhyme
his words are crisp and light
metaphors deep as night
his meter is sublime
’til he hits the last…thought
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Wasn’t sure what to do with the T so I started and ended the last line with it. 🙂
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That’s amazing! You are the world champion of BABBATs …a BABBATer supreme !
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I can’t resist a challenge. 🙂
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Preaching to the choir…😀
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There are no creative failures … Only unfinished drafts 😀
I think the key is avoiding a limerick- sounding first line…
Have you met my good friend Nick?
He stood up to the challenge.
He says behind it lies no trick,
It all depends on the words you pick
To tie it all together.
Banana.
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I bow to your skills with the ‘babbit format’ and I will by forever your humble Minion.
🙂
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😂 When in doubt…banana!
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Tanka? I call it haiku with hips! Write on, brother, write on. 🙂
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Haha! I like to lead a merry dance 😀
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Sounds like you’re having some fun at the festival! I like the tanka (and glad you explained!) Enjoy!
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Thanks Meg… I love Nottingham for all its poetry possibilities!
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That workshop sounds awesome. Love the poems. Having so much creativity and potential, one doesn’t suffice! 🙂
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Glad you agree! Thanks Liesbet ♥
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Lovely job!
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Thanks Peter. Your haircut has taken years off you, by the way!
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Thank you Mr Lane.
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Fabulous, Al. And I loved the children’s poem you did recently!
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Thanks D. I do have some more adult ones coming up too… You never can tell on here!
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I will read whatever you choose to write!
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Aw bless you…I’d better write some good stuff for you then!
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Tankatastic! Woop!
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Haha! I’m as subtle as a tank, that’s for certain 😀
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A great way to introduce yourself, Al. The workshop sounds fun.
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It was…a great source of material for future posts too!
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I love your introduction. Clear, funny, you managed to fit everything in so few words, something I still struggle with!!
So totally YOU!
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Thanks Dawn… I try! (blushes)
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I’ve never been to Nottingham, I had no idea it was so vibrant! As far as I know it’s all about a certain sherif – immortalised by the brilliant Alan Rickman – threatening people with spoons related deaths…
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The Sheriff was busy in a rap battle with Robin last night too… It’s all going on /going off here!
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Was this filmed by any chance??
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Sadly not… But that reminds me, I need to get someone to record my open mic tomorrow…. 😀
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My god you’re brave – good luck with it!
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Thanks… Brave, or vain! Trying to take the step up with performing, hoping to get some festival slots…
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Or maybe both? 🤔😉
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Haha, definitely!
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Well, I wish you luck. What you’re hoping for is my version of a nightmare 😉
If you ever find yourself performing down south, let me know, I’d be there for support
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Working up to it… I’ll let you know!
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Hello Al! Great duo of Tankas. I can relate, it is satisfying to say what you need to while staying within the correct number of syllables. 😉
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It’s addictive, isn’t it?! ❤
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Yes it is! 😉 ❤
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Good job. Even though I don’t have extensive knowledge of poetry but poetry fasinates me so I do read and write.
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Thanks cherry . Following our fascinations is always worthwhile!
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