Roberta Writes – Tuesday Tanka: Imayo poems and Sunday Stills: Small things #birds #SundayStills #TankaTuesday

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This week for Tanka Tuesday, Colleen has introduced a new syllabic poetry form called imayo.

The imayo is comprised of four 12-syllable lines. Each line is divided into a 7-syllable and a 5-syllable section, with a hard pause (or caesura) in between. The pause will generally be represented by a comma, semi-colon, or similar punctuation.

  • 4 lines (8 lines permissible)
  • 12 syllables per line divided as 7-5
  • make a pause space between the 7 and 5 syllables
  • use comma, caesura or kireji (cutting word) as the pause
  • no rhymes
  • no meter
  • no end of line pauses – the whole should flow together as though one long sentence
  • The Imayo is a literal poem so do not use symbolism, allegory etc.

I used a caesura. According to Wikipedia: “A caesura (/siˈzjʊərə/, pl. caesuras or caesurae; Latin for “cutting“), also written cæsura and cesura, is a metrical pause or break in a verse where one phrase ends and another phrase begins. It may be expressed by a comma (,), a tick (✓), or two lines, either slashed (//) or upright (||). In time value, this break may vary between the slightest perception of silence all the way up to a full pause.“

Her challenge is to write an imayo poem using the theme of bird.

I couldn’t download her picture so I got this free use picture by Joshua J. Cotten from Unsplash here https://unsplash.com/photos/_DZWT5crlOo

The Speck

“What is that fast moving speck? // Could it be a plane?”

“Hmmm! I don’t think it can be // It’s not all shiny.”

“It seems to be dropping down // It’s coming quickly.”

“It’s got feathers and a beak // Help! Hide! It’s a hawk.”

Snacks

What’s that movement in the tree // I can see … something.

Let me fly a bit closer // Could it be a bird?

Ah, it looks like more than one // I think it’s three birds.

Oh my, they are nice and fat // A delicious snack.

You can join in Colleen’s challenge here: https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2023/07/18/tankatuesday-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-329-7-18-23-specific-form/

Terri’s Sunday Stills challenge this week is anything small. While we were again in St Lucia, we went on a 2 hour early morning bird walk. These are a few of the bird pictures I took.

Hornbill
Kingfisher
Weavers

More bird pictures taken in the Babanango Game Reserve

Starling

You can join in Terri’s challenge here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2023/07/16/sunday-stills-lets-get-small/

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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67 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Tuesday Tanka: Imayo poems and Sunday Stills: Small things #birds #SundayStills #TankaTuesday”

  4. So it’s from the perspective of two different birds. Genius. I really like this. You are good with the Imayo. A new form for me. Thanks, Robbie. Well done. And the photos are lovely too. xoxo

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  6. Hi Robbie – I like this double perspective. I always feel bad for the little birds, who are so skittish when they’re at our feeder and sense a shadow over them. We do have a Blue Jay that sits on our deck and warns the smaller birds. But nature is what it is and hawks need to eat too.

    Very clever poetry!

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  8. Robbie, you couldn’t upload my photo? The header photo? This must be a new thing with the FSE theme. Interesting. Now, what did you think about the form? I like your perspective from the bird’s point of view. This form has promise. I will research more about it. 💜

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    1. Hi Colleen, this form was challenging – a bit more difficult. I hope I got it right. I did a little research before I wrote these and I was fairly pleased with this result. Yes, the header photo. It’s not happened before 🤷‍♀️

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  10. What an enjoyable poem, Robbie, thanks for the info on how to write an imayo. Hopefully, those birds will not be a snack for a big predator! Love your bird captures on your early morning walk–you just reminded me I need to schedule one to explore. How cool to see a hornbill–something I will never see nearby! Always great to see your post shared for Sunday Stills!

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  24. One very cold and snow filled winter I watch two hawks tear a squirrels nest apart!
    The one hawk had taken a squirrel down to the ground but forgot what claw it was in .. an it got away.

    Fun verses.

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      1. We also have black vultures circling our sky…
        Just the other day I actually saw a vulture having lunch on the middle of a road I was on – he didn’t want to move! I carefully drove around him!

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  25. You are right, we did think alike. Can I link yours? These are great tiny birds and a fun imayo. Always thinking about eating. Can you imagine having to find enough to eat your body weight in food every day? I think that’s how much birds eat!

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