Hello, beautiful readers! For this week's Creative Perspective Challenge, D.L. Finn provided us with the eerie picture below and encouraged us to write a poem or flash fiction inspired by it. Also, Svenja at W3: Wea've Written Weekly encouraged us to write a poem of eleven lines focused on not giving up, urging the reader "to persevere, try again, or push forward for just one more time or day." Originally, I wrote this for D.L. Finn's prompt, but it fits perfectly for W3 and has exactly eleven "lines," so I've included that challenge here as well.
I decided to write a tanka prose. This poetry form consists of one paragraph of prose and one tanka, which is a five-line poem with a syllabic pattern of 5-7-5-7-7.
(courtesy of Canva)
The Struggle Within
I take a hesitant step onto the narrow bridge meant for one traveler: me. Though it is reinforced with fortitude and resilience, patches have crumbled into the depths below. The path on the other side is even more treacherous. Steep climbs and risky ledges litter the ominous mountain's edge. Vultures fly overhead, eagerly encouraging me to give up. Darkness attempts to swallow me, but I keep my gaze on the shimmer of light from the other side of the mountain. Failure is not an option.
resolve threatens to shatter
anxieties rise
don't give up, says inner strength
embrace greatness within you
Would you like to write about this picture or about persevering? Click the links below:
Such a powerful tanka prose, Yvette! The last line is perfect: embrace greatness within you. Love it. Xo
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise! I'm happy you enjoyed it. Thanks for visiting! :-)
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThe bridge and its own deterioration describes the fear and anxiety that a person feels when challenge with the impossible.
I thought I would drop in. Great poem, great encouragement.
Shalom shalom
Thank you, Pat! I'm happy you picked up on the connection. Thanks for visiting! :-)
DeleteBeautifully written, Yvette. Wonderful word imagery.
ReplyDeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Thank you, Sandra! I appreciate your kind words. :-)
DeleteA wonderful response to the prompts, Yvette. I like how you combined them and captured the danger and drama of the image. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diana! I appreciate you stopping by. :-)
DeleteThank you for participating!
ReplyDeleteI like your tanka prose. Especially the tanka part. It is so good in its short take. Really great!
I love this, Yvi. "Failure is not an option!" YES!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Colleen! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteThat is so powerful, Yvette! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jan! I'm so happy you enjoyed it. :-)
DeleteEverything internal and external that challenges us - you nailed it, Yvette!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nolcha! I appreciate you stopping by. :-)
DeleteThis is wonderfully positive! Self talk can really save you!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you saw the positive through the darkness, Christine! Thanks for sharing. :-)
DeleteGreat description in the prose, and a wonderful turn in the tanka with the ending note of hope. Beautifully written, Yvette!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nicole! I appreciate you stopping by. :-)
DeleteWow! It matches both prompts perfectly!
ReplyDeleteThank you, SG! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteThis piece beautifully captures the tension between struggle and inner strength. Excellent, Yvette!
ReplyDeleteMuch love,
David
SkepticsKaddish.com
Thank you, David! I'm happy you enjoyed it. Thanks for visiting. :-)
DeleteYou have powerfully captured the struggle.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sheila! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteVery empowering Yvette.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kerfe! I appreciate you stopping by. :-)
DeletePowerful tanka prose Yvette 💞
ReplyDeleteThank you, Suzanne! I appreciate you visiting. :-)
DeleteThis speaks to the strength we all have within ourselves, even though we may not always feel right within our reach.
ReplyDeleteYes, Heather! Sometimes, we don't know our own inner strength. Thanks for commenting! :-)
Deleteembrace greatness, yes, i'll meditate with this, this morning
ReplyDeleteI am honored that my poem resonated with you, Artie! Thank you for sharing! :-)
DeleteExcellent, Yvette. I love the prose partnered with the poem. Well done! ❤️
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gwen! I appreciate you stopping by. :-)
DeleteI love the Haibun form. Something about the extra insight really makes it for me. This was empowering, and yet tender in the same stroke.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Violet! I appreciate your kind words. :-)
DeleteWhat a powerful and inspiring piece, Yvette! Love it! 💞
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lauren! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteHi Yvette, I still don't receive your blog notifications, so I followed you again using a different address. Fingers crossed! 🥰
ReplyDeleteHopefully, that works! I switched the Subscribe button to a different program, so maybe it will. Thanks for not giving up! :-)
DeleteGorgeous, your descriptions are lovely, Yvette. I felt I was really on that bridge. :) xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marsha! I'm so happy you enjoyed it. Thanks for visiting. :-)
Deletehi, Yvette 😍
ReplyDeleteJust wanna let you know that this week's W3, hosted for the very first time by our beloved Artie Camenzind, is now live:
W3
Enjoy❣️
Much love,
David
Thank you, David! I'm wrapping my head around the form. I'll work on coming up with something soon. :-)
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