Roberta Writes – d’Verse: Choose Joy, Tanka Tuesday and Thursday Doors #poetry #photograph

Merril‘s prompt for d’Verse is Choose Joy, as follows:

Today, I’m asking you to write about something(s) that brings you joy. It can be a tiny thing, like a favorite mug, or a big thing like seeing so many people voting, or huge, like life itself.
If you need a specific idea, look around the room you’re in now or look out the window. Find something there that brings you joy. There are no limits. And there can be more than one thing.

This is Poetics, so there is also no designated form.

You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/11/05/poetics-choose-joy/

Lisa‘s prompt for Tanka Tuesday is to write a syllabic poem using synonyms for comfort and promise. You can join in Tanka Tuesday here: https://tankatuesday.com/2024/11/04/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-synonyms-only-11-5-2024/

I wrote a rensaku (tanka series using the common line or phrase – Together we stand). For Tanka Tuesday, I used cosy for comfort and pledge for promise

Together we stand

Together we stand

Repeating our wedding vows

Until death us parts

We count our many blessings

Happiness is a mindset

***

Lives changed forever

When our sons entered the world

Together we stand

Pieces of our beating hearts

That live outside our bodies

***

Together we stand

Watching the elephants play

Their joy contagious

Creativity pours forth

Moments captured as pictures

***

Rain falling in sheets

Centre of electric storm

Together we stand

Thunder cracks, lightning flashes

Inside we remain cozy

***

Together we stand

Dewdrops bathed in morning light

Embrace the new day

Pledge of continuation

Of nature’s cycle of life

***

Muddy waters clear

Grim Reaper’s call averted

Together we stand

Adversity left behind

Different view on life and love

Thursday Doors – Vondel Park, Amsterdam

You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2024/11/07/still-riding-to-ohio/

During my visit to Amsterdam in May, TC and I visited Vondel Park. It was a cool, overcast day which was perfect for walking.

Picture caption: here is TC standing outside the gates to the park
Picture caption: gates to an ornate covered look out over the water
Picture caption: On reflection, this may be a bandstand (looks a bit small though). Anyhow, I thought it was pretty and I liked the reflection in the water.
Picture caption: One of the water feature displays in the park
Picture caption: TC and I in front of the water display.
Picture caption: This looked like the leg of an elephant to me. I can find elephants anywhere, even in Amsterdam.
Picture caption: Rain dancing on the water

69 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – d’Verse: Choose Joy, Tanka Tuesday and Thursday Doors #poetry #photograph

  1. A delightful poem to celebrate togetherness. And I like how you thought the log looked like an elephant’s leg 🙂 A nice connection between the photo and the part of your poem about the joy of elephants playing.

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  2. A lovely poem, and the repeated phrase is effective. Gorgeous photos. I like that gazebo/bandstand with its reflection. And that log does look like a leg. Since I don’t see elephants, that might not have been my first thought, but definitely a large creature! 😊

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  3. “And together we stand.” The repetition becomes more meaningful with each passing stanza, even as they reflect the passing of time, of life’s joys and challenges. Wonderfully composed, Robbie. And so utterly moving. 💖

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  4. While reading your poems of joy, Robbie, I actually felt myself relax. Such a delight to read your poetry after last week’s news for the U.S. Your photos are wonderful and that one does look like an elephant’s! Thanks for the joy! 🥰

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