Hello, beautiful readers! We entered a new season at the 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge. It is now Daikan, or Deep Cold. Colleen Chesebro has challenged us to write a poem using the kigo words that represent the weather in our hemisphere. There isn't much change in the weather where I live, but the northern states have gotten a beatdown with winter storms.
As I was thinking about icicles and a deep freeze, my brain went in another direction. A phrase stuck in my head, and I went with it. I decided to write a tanka poem. Tanka poems consist of five lines with a syllabic pattern of 5-7-5-7-7. The third line tends to be a pivot, essentially creating two separate poems within one. My kigo words are bolded and italicized.
(courtesy of @dimitriwittman on Pixabay)
snowstorms wreak havoc
icy winds isolate all
loneliness chills me
my heart's frozen to the core
never to be thawed again
Now, don't go worrying about me. 😉 I'm not depressed. I'm very much in a good place in my life. I just thought of all those people isolated in their homes because of the freezing weather and that led me down this path.
Do you ever feel isolated because of weather? I'd love to hear from you.
Would you like to write a poem of your own? Join our fabulous group here.
You have caught the feeling of isolation ...I have been trapped in not only by weather but also by pain ...it is scary and hard 💜💜
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you are in pain, Willow. Sending healing energy your way. Feeling isolated in that state doesn't help. I hope you reach out to those who love you when you feel that way because I have no doubt you are not alone. XOXO :-)
DeleteIsolation can indeed freeze the heart. Always good to check on neighbors who live alone, no matter the weather!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Kerfe, especially the elderly. Thanks for commenting! :-)
DeleteThe weather isolates me more emotionally than physically. It puts me in a grey state of mind that gets hard to shake.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on that one, Lisa. Besides the cold, I don't think I could handle living up north because the gray skies are just too depressing for me. Thanks for sharing! :-)
DeleteYvette, I think I need to build a fully lit and heated Florida room.
DeleteMy sentiments exactly! Emotional deluge and winter weather do create havoc.
ReplyDeleteYes, they do, and you are pouring it all out into your writing instead of bottling it up. I'm proud of you for that. Keep getting it out and leaning on your support group. You are not alone. XOXO :-)
DeleteLove the image you chose, as well as the poem.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I appreciate you visiting and commenting. :-)
DeleteLoneliness chills one. And many factors get one that way. It hurts me just to think of lonely people. I love your tanka, dear Yve. It captures isolation and makes one’s heart open and want to reach out with a warm hand. Thanks. Xo, Selma.
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks, Selma! I appreciate you sharing that. :-)
DeleteLoneliness, such a painful state, so glad you said it's not how you feel, makes me want to be able to sprinkle some happiness and bring warmth to anyone who feels this. So different to having time alone, that we all crave from time to time ... I love the picture too 💞Suzanne
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Suzanne! There is a huge difference between being alone and being lonely. I appreciate you visiting and sharing your thoughts today. :-)
Delete(Jules) I know a few folks who purposely isolate themselves. Other perhaps didn't want to be alone but made the choice of warm weather over family.
ReplyDeleteAnd there isn't much one can do to change those minds.
Some romantic situations can leave us cold hearted too!
Very true, Jules! I wanted to create a double meaning with this poem between the weather and the broken hearted. Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts. :-)
DeletePowerful poem, Yvette. I'm glad you added the explanation, because I had started to worry for you. ❤️ There have been times that I've felt that isolation, and it's chilly.
ReplyDeleteThank you for caring, Gwen! Yes, I'm in a really great place, but I've battled depression in the past several times, so I am very familiar with this type of isolation. It's important that loved ones repeatedly let those feeling this way know that they are loved and they are not alone, no matter what the inner voice says. Thanks for visiting! :-)
DeleteI like the way you used the kigo words, Yvi. This is fabulous creativity! Sometimes it's easy to feel isolated with the snow and cold. We live in the city, so it's easy to get around. Streets are plowed and we're used to the weather. 🩵
ReplyDeleteThank you, Colleen! I'm happy you are able to stay connected to people even through the cold. :-)
DeleteInteresting comments to your poem. Loneliness is the biggest problem of our age...I have been visiting hospitals for the last few months....the harsh sad reality is that there are many people (mostly older folk) who do not have loved ones to reach out to. Very very sad and a serious indictment of the society in which we live......Rall
ReplyDeleteIt really is sad. It always makes me wonder where are the children that they raised. Thank you for visiting and sharing your thoughts, Rall. :-)
DeleteBeautiful poem. It's kind of a persona poem, I am thinking, because you took on someone else's experience to write it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Luanne! It definitely isn't my situation, so I guess it is. :-)
DeleteHi Yvette, our winters are relatively mild and we don’t get snow generally. As a result, we are never trapped inside so I’ve not experienced this in South Africa. Robbie
ReplyDeleteI don't experience harsh winters, either. I'm happy you don't have to deal with them as well. Thanks for visiting, Robbie! :-)
DeleteYvette,
ReplyDeleteYour evocative portrayal of emotional isolation amidst a snowstorm brings the the chilling impact to life... Gorgeous.
Much love,
David
SkepticsKaddish.com
Aw, thank you, David! I'm so happy you liked it. :-)
DeleteHi Yvette, you wrote a perfect poem for those who feel isolated during those snowstorms that wreak havoc. Beautiful writing! We don't get snow here, so our winters are mild unless the wind and rain get too angry. :) xo
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lauren! I'm so happy you enjoyed my poem. Thanks for visiting! :-)
Delete