The Bag Lady

A Sijo is a traditional three-line Korean poetic form that centers on a thematic progression of an idea, a development, and a surprising twist. You can read about the Sijo here: Poetic forms.

Our weather worldwide has been so strange this year, and with the weather wars and disasters have seemed to be off-kilter too. I have written my Sijo in the three-line format… You can, if you prefer, write in the six-line format. It’s your choice as long as it has a 44 to 46 syllabic count.

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wind whistles wildly through my vents

cold weather is on the way

wind is the warning

soon a flake of snow will glisten

on shiny wet sidewalks

freezing nights ice the edges, seasons changing

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Is this your first time at Tanka Tuesday? Here is what you do:

• Write a Sijo on what you are thinking or feeling or expecting as the season progresses. Are you looking forward or backwards? Are you happy or sad… we can’t stop the circle of seasons or time, so let’s honestly embrace it. If you write a freestyle poem, you must include a syllabic form with it.
• #TankaTuesday does not accept AI-generated poetry. 
• Post your poem on your personal site/blog.
• Include a link back to TankaTuesday.com in your post.
• Copy the link to your published post into Mr. Linky. There are no recaps this year. 
• Remember to click the small checkbox about data protection.
• Read and comment on some of your fellow poets’ work.
• Like and leave a comment below if you choose to do so.
• This challenge closes on the following Monday at noon EST Detroit, USA.

Mr. Linky ⬇

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Fandango’s Story Starter #266

darkness hides day fears

he’s looking for salvation

protection gone in the light

–

fearful eyes

some larger creature

might attack

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SenHai Saturday #71

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Crimson’s Creative Challenge #106

Strength and beauty seen is an effort to justify the king’s actions. He rules with strong hands within stone walls, a sanctuary with his knights. The queen maintains the gardens, gets her hands dirty with her love of nature. However there are plenty of helpers ready to assist. The king sits on his solid throne, always wary of new ideas, but listens to his advisors. The ruling couple is never alone, even the queen has no privacy. It is done for their safety they are told, but the ministers know the truth. Every word spoken by the royals is overheard.

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2 October 2026

In September I learned that in order to keep the peace in my card group I need to be quiet when someone tells me I’m wrong when it’s not true. Rules are rules. Follow them and shut up is what I’d like to say. Unfortunately the groups are very small now because the manager of this apartment building has new rules for gathering handed down by a company named Syringa. They care not for their renters.😡

This Week’s Writer’s Workshop Prompts: October 1, 2026

Sue loved the forest and the creatures within it. They knew she would bring a treat or two for them and each weekend day they would wait for her visit. It was a time to forget being a predator or prey and gather as friends. Sue never told anyone of these excursions because they would not understand her secret gift of communicating with animals, birds and even the trees.

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Simply 6 Minutes – Welcome to the Challenge: 09/29/2026

Source: Paintings by John Atkinson Grimshaw (public domain) free for commercial use on Picryl 

For today’s Poetics, I would like you all to choose ONE of the paintings above and to write a poem inspired by it. You can write an ekphrastic poem or simply take the title as a springboard or both. The choice is yours.  

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lying there alone

seeking solace in moonlight

a sorrowful heart

feelings of loss overwhelm

the lover in life now passed

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New to dVerse? Here’s how to join in: 

• Write a poem (in any form) in response to the challenge.
• Enter a link directly to your poem and your name by clicking Mr. Linky below
• and remember to check the little box to accept the use/privacy policy.
• You will find links to other poets and more will join, so please do check back later to read their poems.
• Read and comment on other poets’ work– we all come here to have our poems read.
• Please link back to dVerse from your site/blog.

“Come to bed, Joe, you’ve read that tome over and over! The process will never change and the words you use to gamble with are not original. Horses even get tired of racing because their lives are shortened by such repeated action, stressing their bodies and some owners don’t use safe methods enhancing their abilities. Reading about past winners won’t help you in picking them and you’re losing money!”

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MLMM Monday Wordle #496

Starting age twelve I was told to wear glasses. Imagine if you will, (sorry Rod Sterling) an active girl who was suddenly taken down by having to be a four eyes person, losing confidence and to her thoughts, and beauty. I didn’t think those thoughts until I entered seventh grade and the seeds were sewn.

four eyes heard

sweet cuteness destroyed

heart dismayed

–

blue rimmed glass

perched slightly askew

laughable

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Haibun Monday 9-28-26: vision