Nature's Harmony - #TankaTuesday #onomatopoeia #haiku #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! This past weekend, my middle school poets competed in a slam poetry contest and won second place. The event coordinators were so impressed with their poems that they invited them to compete at the high school level. While the chances of them winning are slim, the experience to witness slam poetry at the next level is invaluable, so we will attend the competition today. Wish us luck! :-)

This week's #TankaTuesday is being hosted by Robbie, who has invited us to write a poem using onomatopoeia. I chose to write a haiku and use whispers and whistles as my onomatopoeia.

(image courtesy of @Erik_Karits on Pixabay)

wind whispers through trees

a bird whistles in return

perfect harmony

Would you like to write a poem for this prompt? Join us here.

Dear Future Love - #dVerse #loveletter #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

 

Hello, beautiful readers! I'm about to leave for my poetry club's spoken word competition, but before I do, I wanted to participate in dVerse's MTB: Letters in a Poem prompt. Laura invites us to write a poem as a letter "to self, to friend or foe, family or stranger, someone dead or living, to a pet or even an abstraction..." The letter is meant to be read not just by its recipient but also by a third person. Here is what I came up with. 

(image courtesy of #SamuelFJohanns on Pixabay)

Dear Future Love,

The day will come when you and I

Cannot imagine life apart

When we can't ever imagine how

It was ever you and me without we

When you will tell me I am the love of your life

And eternity is ours for the taking

When that day comes, I want you to know

This version of me you fell in love with was 

Born from fairy tales of happily-ever-after

Raised on half-truths and secrets

Crafted to trust only a few

She was sculpted by many rough drafts before you

Infused with the naivety of a hopeless romantic

Cultivated with insecurities and doubt

Forged in the throes of heartache and betrayal

Molded to make others happy

Hardened by loss and loneliness

Until she learned to nourish her own needs

Discover her own heart

Strengthen her roots

Nourish her self-esteem

Fortify self-love and acceptance

And then, and only then,

Did she open herself up to love

So, as you cherish the woman before you,

Remember to love the previous versions of me

As I will love all of you

Forevermore

Would you like to write a poem for this prompt? Join us here.

Beneath the Surface - #3 #freestylepoem #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful reader! We are in testing mode at my school, and I am exhausted. As an empath, it's hard to be around so many stressed out students. Luckily, tomorrow is a teacher planning day, so I can release all that tension and reset for the next week.

Today, I am partaking in Wea've Written Weekly (W3) Prompt #205. Marion invites us to write a poem with the theme "Beneath the Surface." She gave the example of bulbs lying dormant in the ground until spring, but my mind went in a totally different direction.

(image courtesy of @JillWellington on Pixabay)

Beneath the Surface

she smiles

to mask her insecurities

that inner voice telling her

she isn't good enough to belong

she laughs boisterously

to mute the echoes of anguish

reverberating from her parents' fight

that morning

she belts out lyrics

to turn her nightly cries

into something beautiful

she portrays a picture of perfection

her complexion just right

her shadows, blush, and lipstick

the epitome of beauty

while concealing her bruises and cuts

under the newest fashion trends

she is the envy of all

who pretend to know her

but never take the time to discover

what's beneath the surface

Would you like to write a poem for this prompt? Join us here.

Fools Abound! #TankaTuesday #choka #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I am hosting at #TankaTuesday this week, and we are focusing on fools for April Fools Day. After creating the post for this week, I came across different kinds of fools on Google. Here are some of the various types:

Five Types of Fools (Biblical/Proverbs)

• Simple Fool (Peti): Easily deceived, naïve, and lacks discernment, but can be taught.
• Silly Fool (Kesil): Stubborn and confident in their own way, they react poorly to instruction and are serious rebels.
• Sensual/Selfish Fool: Unreasonable, driven by immediate pleasure, and often brings trouble through their speech.
• Scorning/Mocking Fool (Letz): Cynical, rejects rebuke, and mocks wisdom or authority.
• Steadfast/Hardened Fool (Nabal): The most dangerous type, described as wicked or stupid, who denies God and spreads destruction. 

Additional Types of Fools

• The Sluggard: Characterized by laziness and lack of foresight.
• The Rich Fool: Focuses on accumulating wealth for themselves rather than being rich towards God.
• Unaware Fool: A psychological perspective on those who live on the edge of danger without realizing their foolishness.
• Overly Cautious Fool: One who is afraid to take risks and lives to fit in.

As I was reviewing this list, many of them seemed to merge together to describe some of the leaders in the world, perhaps one in particular. So, on this day, where fools take focus, I chose to write a choka about these leaders.

Fools Abound!

a foolish leader

ego-driven maniac

choices serve to enrich him

focused on chaos

others' well-being matters not

surrounded by fools

his promises now broken

fate of country in his hands

incompetence at its worst

but hope still exists

not ev'ryone believes lies

new leader will rise

calm the chaos around us

and revive democracy

Would you like to write a poem for this prompt? Join us here.

March 2026 Book Reviews #bookreview #books #amreading #readingcommunity #paranormal #vampires #witches #firefighters @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! March was a wonderful month for me. I had a wonderful birthday and a fantastic spring break. I also managed to read several great books as well! Here are my reviews:

Promised in Blook

by Sadie Kincaid

Genre: Paranormal Vampire Romance

Pages: 386

Book Blurb:

But there is one who can save the fates of all.
For the child borne of fire and blood,
Shall be our ruin or our redemption.

An ancient prophecy. A betrayal so deep it will echo through eternity.

Ophelia Hart is no ordinary elementai. In fact, she is extraordinary in every single way there is.

And now that she knows her true heritage and has bonded to the most powerful vampire who ever lived, and the three ruthless vampires he sired, she wonders if she might finally know some true happiness. It seems at last within her reach—so long as the truth of her identity remains a closely guarded secret.

But secrets can’t remain so forever. Ophelia must learn to harness the magical abilities she’s awakened before the rest of the world discovers who she really is. And although her four bonded mates will do all in their power to protect her, there are forces at work that even they cannot fathom.

Destiny beckons, but betrayal lurks just around the corner. And debts will be settled for oaths that are PROMISED IN BLOOD.

My Review:

I loved the first book of these series and dove right into this book. I love the bond Ophelia has with the vampires. I must say this book is very sexual, so if that's not your thing, then this book is not for you. I was perfectly fine with the scenes, although this book felt like there were more scenes than needed. That being said, I enjoy learning their folklore, and hello - dragons! Lol!

Alexandros' backstory is heartbreaking, and knowing it opened my heart to him more. This author brilliantly made me believe certain characters were good only to realize that good is really subjective. The ending of this book gutted me! I did not see that coming and am still in disbelief. There is no way that what happened really happened. So, as you can imagine, I'm off to dive head first into book 3!

Bound in Blood (Broken Bloodlines Series, Book 3)

by Sadie Kincaid

Genre: Paranormal Vampire Romance

Pages: 414 pages

Book Blurb:

The final installment of the bestselling paranormal/urban fantasy romance from Sadie Kincaid comes Bound in Blood.

But if the chosen one can slay the three-headed dragon—
If the untamable beast does kneel at its new master’s feet,
and the light is tempted back from the darkness,
then they shall awaken the protector of man.
And the sun must swallow the shadows
to bring a balance that reigns through the ages.

When the lines between good and evil grow increasingly blurred, it becomes impossible to distinguish the heroes from the villains. Ophelia Hart must call on powers old and new to save her fated mates and to stop darkness from consuming the world. Promises will be made. Oaths will be sworn and secrets revealed. And those who are bound in blood have no option but to fight until the end.

A war is coming.
And everyone must choose a side.

My Review: 

What a fantastic ending to this series! I loved every minute of it. From the gut-wrenching beginning to the plot twists to the sacrificial ending... it was amazing! I loved how this book kept me on the edge of my seat. I knew something was off in the ending of book two, and I was so happy I was right, but I didn't expect the type of deceit that happened. I love how the author kept us focused on thinking certain characters were bad when reality was not what it seemed.

My heart broke for all of them by the end. Each had suffered so much at one point or another in the story. The author was phenomenal in making us feel that pain in our core. The battle scene was especially intense and so well written. My heart was racing through the entire battle, and I loved it!

I also loved the dragons and the role they played throughout the story. I especially loved Alexandros and how he reconnected with each of his bond mates, especially Xavier. That connection was so heartfelt and touching; it brought me to tears. And I loved the ending! The story said there was an alternative ending, but I never received it after requesting it, which was disappointing.

I'm happy that the author has written two more spinoff stories, and I look forward to reading them. :-)

Consumed (Firefighters series Book 1)

by JR Ward

Genre: Firefighters Romance

Pages: 415

Book Blurb: 

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author and “master of contemporary romance, with heroes so hot they set the pages on fire” (Gena Showalter, New York Times bestselling author), a steamy romantic suspense novel about arson investigator, Anne Ashburn, who is consumed by her troubled past, her family’s scorched legacy, and her current case: chasing a deadly killer.

Anne Ashburn is a woman consumed…

Strong-willed and brash, Anne relished the thrill of fighting fires. But when one risky decision at a warehouse scene changes her life forever, she must reinvent not only her job, but her whole self.

Despite the desire to move on, Anne finds her new career as an arson investigator a pale substitute for all the adrenaline-fueled buzz she left behind. She doesn’t believe she will ever feel that same all-consuming passion for a job again—until a string of suspicious fires endangers the lives of her former colleagues.

Danny McGuire is the best fireman in the city but in the midst of a personal meltdown. He’s taking risks like never before thanks to a reckless death wish—until he teams up with Anne to find the fire starter. Passion flares between them—not for the first time—but as Anne narrows in on her target, the arsonist marks her as the next victim in this firestorm of a novel.

With heart-pounding suspense and sizzling romance, Consumed is a compulsively readable novel that “you won’t be able to put down” (USA TODAY).

My Review:

After reading Wedding From Hell, I was eager to get into this book, but holy hell - I was not expecting the direction of this story. I am a huge fan of JR Ward and her ability to suck me into every story she has written, including this one. I wanted Anne and Danny to pick up on their love affair from the beginning of the book, but a terrible fire tears them apart in the most horrific way. 

As each of them focus on healing their injuries after the fire, they lose touch with each other. Anne begins to rebuild her life while Danny spirals into darkness. Moose eventually calls Anne to intervene, bringing Danny and Anne back together, albeit reluctantly at first.

Anne has a new job investigating how fires start. As her investigation leads her toward dangerous people, Anne's life is threatened. Just as Danny and Anne are starting to find their way back to each other, lies come between them. And when her life is once again in danger, she must risk it all or lose her life.

This story kept me engaged from beginning to end. I didn't see the revelation at the end, which was awesome! I believe this story originally was going to be a part of a series, but it looks like no other book has followed since 2018. Still, it is a great stand alone book, though I would recommend reading Wedding from Hell first.

Born in Blood

by Sadie Kincaid

Genre: Vampire Romances

Pages: 58

Book Blurb:

A Broken Bloodlines Origin story and a prequel to the Broken Bloodlines trilogy.

Axl's story.

Welcome to Georgian England, circa 1800.

Alastair Thorne is a cad and a rake. Even his mother told him so. Pity for her that he cannot bring himself to care, for he relishes his life of debauchery and licentiousness, and is content thinking of no-one but himself.

Except Alastair may have just messed with the wrong fair maiden, and his life is about to be cut violently short. That is until he comes face to face with the enigmatic stranger who's been watching him from afar.

Alexandros Drakos sees something in the young scoundrel that intrigues him. And so he makes him an offer he is sure he cannot refuse.

Certain death or immortality?

My Review:

I enjoyed diving back into this world. This is a short story, but I loved it. It follows how Axl became a vampire. I loved learning more about his background. Alastair (Axl) was cast out from his family and focused on devirginizing as many women as he could. When he gets caught with the duke's fiancé, his life is threatened. Alexandros comes to his rescue and offers to be his savior, which Alastair eagerly accepts, not knowing the consequences. When Alexandros turns Axl into a vampire, Axl's new life allows him the freedom he's always been searching for. And so begins his devoted relationship to Alexandros!

This short story was fantastic, though I wish it had been even longer. Now, I want short stories for Kai and Xavier. Lol! Hopefully, those will come in the future. :-)

Have you read a great book this month? I'd love for you to share it with me. :-)

Moment of Peace - #W3 #Cameo #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! Today, I'm participating in the Wea've Written Weekly (W3) Prompt #204. Lesley invites us to write a Cameo poem which focuses on a tiny, distilled moment. This poem form has seven lines with a syllabic pattern of 2/5/8/3/8/7/2.

I chose to focus on a moment during my recent camping trip. During our hike, my sister, niece, and I found a path that took us to the river. The weather was in the low 80s, and we had just completed about seven miles of hiking in the forest. So, my niece decided to take some respite by the water.   

stillness

reflective river

captures beauty all around her

crickets chirp

sun shines brightly upon her face

trees absorb heavy exhale

grounded

Would you like to write a Cameo poem? Join us here.

Protect Your Heart - #TankaTuesday #Hautt #hexastich #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I am fully enjoying spring break by waking up without an alarm. Truly, that brings me such joy. I'm also getting caught up on tasks around the house and finding time to hang out with friends.

Today, I'm participating in the #TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge, where Melissa invites us to write a Hautt poem. This form uses a hexastich with a syllabic pattern of 4-5-2-2-5-4 and focuses on wisdom and eternal truth. I chose to focus on wisdom and how experiences leads to being wiser in the future.

(image courtesy of @artvizual on Pixabay)

Protect Your Heart

lies coat your lips

should have trusted gut

truths learned

love lost

heart takes precautions

in the future

Would you like to try this form? Click here.

Play Time - #FFFC #dVerse #Quadrille #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I just got back from an amazing camping trip yesterday. My sister, niece, and I stayed in a cabin in northern Florida for three nights. The cabin was wonderful with a beautiful porch and rocking chairs. We hiked and rode bikes for over 10 miles on both Saturday and Sunday. We played board games in between. On Sunday, my nephew and my son drove from their universities to meet us at the park and spend some time with us. It's been months since I've seen my son, so it was a real treat to spend quality time together. 

Today, I'm combining two prompts. The first is Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #365 where she shares the adorable picture below. The second prompt is dVerse's Shhhhhhh.......Quiet, Please! prompt. Lillian invites us to write a quadrille using the word "silence" or "silent" within the poem. A quadrille is a poem of exactly 44 words.

(image courtesy of Natalia Blauth)

Play Time

colorful, soft, golden yarn

neatly wrapped in balls

the ultimate temptation

for my furry little friend

his tiny sharp claws

need to touch them

unroll and play with them

so he stalks

silent and stealthy

toward his golden treasure

ready to claim his rewards

Would you like to write a poem for one of the prompts? Click the links below:

Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #365

dVerse's Shhhhhhh.......Quiet, Please!

The Teacher - #dVerse #W3 #lighthouse #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! Today, I will be combining two prompts. The first is dVerse's Poetic Tuesday - Irish Blessings. Lisa shares several Irish symbols and concepts and encourages us to use one of them in our poem. I chose to go with the phrase, "banishing the snakes". The other prompt comes from Wea've Written Weekly (W3) where Dennis invites us to write about a lighthouse. I chose to write about a metaphorical lighthouse of a teacher (since I am one).

(image courtesy of @RibhavAgrawal on Pixabay)

The Teacher

she stands tall

joy beaming from her eyes

acceptance shining in her smile

her light

her energy

welcomes her students

to enter her happy bubble

of learning

exuding confidence

she models ways to repel the dark

banishing the snakes of doubt

from their minds

showing them how to

calm the storms that live within

through meditation and 

positive affirmations

she guides them slowly

through murky ideas

until their own light shines 

bright enough to be their own

safe harbors

Would you like to write a poem for either of these prompts? Click the links below:

dVerse's Poetic Tuesday - Irish Blessings

Wea've Written Weekly (W3)

Motherhood - #TankaTuesday #FFFC #nonet #motherhood #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! My parents have made the decision to move closer to my sister and me, and I am so relieved. With my mom's health issues, it will be easier to help my dad once they move closer to us. She has a collapsed lung, and the doctors doubt it will reinflate, so breathing has become challenging for her. Still, she is showing small signs of improvement, for which we are all grateful.

Today, I am combining two prompts. The first is #TankaTuesday's Poetry Challenge, where Willow invites us to write a nonet poem focused on motherhood. A nonet has nine lines, each line having one less syllable than the other (9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1). The second is Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #364 where she shares the picture below and invites to write about it. 

(image courtesy of Guille Pozzi on Unsplash)

Motherhood

from the moment I gave birth to you

I knew you'd one day leave my side

drift away to live your life

without me to guide you

until then, we swim

as one, and I

give to you

all my

love

Would you like to write a poem for either of these prompts? Click the links below:

#TankaTuesday's Poetry Challenge

Melissa's Fandango Flash Fiction Challenge #364