Learned Lessons - #W3 #TankaTuesday #tanaga @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! I almost missed out on last week's poetry challenges, but I was inspired to write one today. Life is busy as always for me, and I leave out of town this Thursday for a weekend trip, so I'm not sure I'll get to participate in this week's challenges.

I've combined two challenges together to the best of my ability. The first is Wea've Written Weekly (W3) Prompt #226, where Michelle invites us to write a tanaga, which is a four-line poem of exactly seven syllables in each line with an AAAA rhyme scheme. The theme is "Life and Wisdom." She invited us to explore the lessons we have learned from life, our choices, and our experiences.

The second prompt is from #TankaTuesday, where Colleen invites us to use color as a metaphor in our poem. I chose to go with gold which represents power and divine mercy.

I've been struggling with a decision lately. A person from my past who caused me some PTSD is going to be at an event that I'm looking forward to going to, but I just don't know if I can enjoy myself around that person. There is a part of me that is considering not going, but the other part of me doesn't want to give that person any power over me, especially for something that happened many, many years ago. This poem came to me as I pondered on these prompts, and I feel as if my muse is sending me her lesson.

(image courtesy of @TheOtherKey on Pixabay)

Learned Lessons

the bent tree does not cower

to next hurricane's power

past storms left it empower(ed)

it basks in the golden hour

Would you like to write a poem for either of these prompts? Join us here:

Wea've Written Weekly (W3) Prompt #226

#TankaTuesday

August 2026 Book Reviews #bookreview #books #amreading #readingcommunity #magic #werewolves #vampires #romance @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! School has begun again, so my reading time has shrunk quite a bit. Still, I was able to enjoy the books that I read. Here are my reviews:

The Supernaturals of Castle Academy (The Complete Series Box Set)

by Tessa Hale

Genre: Werewolf & Shifter Romance

Pages: 853

Book Blurb:

Fated mates, supernaturals of all kinds, a heroine who has no idea what she is, and an evil who is out for them all.

All I wanted was to keep my head above water. To survive long enough to hit my eighteenth birthday so I could escape the nightmare that my homelife had become. But all of that was turned upside down the moment they showed up.

The best friend from my past. The surly brooder. The kind-hearted nerd. The king of campus. The dark one.

They say they’re here to give me a fresh start in a place where I’m safe, warm, and cared for. And I can’t deny the pull I feel to all five of them. The buzz that lights beneath my skin when they touch me. And for the first time, I feel like I might belong.

But not everything is as it seems. These guys have secrets. Ones that will rip my world wide open. But when a dark evil begins stalking us, we’re all in for the fight of our lives…

The Supernaturals of Castle Academy Box Set is the complete series that includes Legacy of Shadows, Anchor of Secrets, and Destiny of Ashes

My Review:

This was the first series I've read from this author, and I enjoyed it. I liked that all three books were included in this one set because I was able to quickly move from one to the next without having to make another purchase.

I enjoyed that there were so many different kinds of paranormal - castors, dragon shifters, werewolves, vampires, and incubi. Leighton is thrust into this paranormal world when her childhood friend (and werewolf) saves her from her abusive mother. She soon meets his friends and finds herself attracted to all of them. In fact, they tell her that she is their mate. The issue is that they also need an anchor, and in book one, she shows no sign of magic. 

As she begins to bond with each guy, things get very steamy. Several of her men have traumatic issues that they are dealing with (and that she helps them through) while all of them also help her heal from her past. Leighton is put in danger time and time again, but little by little, her true calling is revealed - only it calls even more danger to her and her mates.

I would have preferred the ending to have been more climactic, but all in all, this was a great series. If you enjoy stories with magic, shapeshifters, polyamory, and great storylines, you will enjoy this book.

Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Book 2)

by JR Ward

Genre: Paranormal Vampire Romance

Pages: 462

Book Blurb:

A warrior with inner demons falls for a woman who could save his soul in this seductive novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

Within the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Rhage is the warrior vampire with the strongest appetites. He’s the deadliest fighter, the most voracious lover, the quickest to act on his impulses. He’s also been cursed with two hundred years of hell. Possessed by a beast, he lives in fear of the times when his inner dragon comes out and he’s a danger to everyone around him.

Mary Luce has unwittingly found herself in the vampire world, and under Rhage’s protection. With her own life-threatening curse to bear, she’s not looking for love. Besides, she’s stopped believing in saving grace and miracles long ago. But when Rhage’s intense sexual attraction turns into emotional bonding, he knows he must have her for his mate. As their enemies close in, Mary finds herself praying for something she fears she’ll never have: life eternal with the one she loves.

My Review:

I read this book over ten years ago, but with season two of the BDB series coming out on Passionflix in October, I wanted to remind myself of the complete story. I loved it just as much (maybe more) as the first time I read it. Mary is such the perfect partner for Rhage. Her energy and her way of accepting what is is just perfect, especially for Rhage's situation. I absolutely love the sacrifice Rhage is willing to make for her and how he dotes on her.

I also love how Z's story begins in this book. I had completely forgotten about that. His scene with Bella in his room was so intense, and my heart broke for him. I cannot wait to reread his book.

This series is incredible! For anyone who enjoys vampire romances with a whole lot of badassery, this series is for you!

Have you read any great books lately? I'd like to hear about them below. :-)

Last Birthday - #W3 #TankaTuesday #haibun #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! The first full week of school is officially behind me. I'm still adjusting to waking up at 5am every weekday morning, but I'm going to bed earlier to make sure I'm getting the right amount of sleep. I wasn't able to get to the beach this weekend, but I did manage to hang out with my circle of friends, which was stress-releasing, especially since we went to watch Spa Weekend and then have dinner. If you get a chance, watch that movie. It's hilarious! I haven't laughed like that in a while.

With the week being so busy, I haven't had much time to write (other than my one haiku a day), so today I'm combining two prompts. The first comes from We'ave Written Weekly (W3) Prompt #225, where Judy Dykstra-Brown creates the following scenario:

An old woman blows out 78 candles on her birthday cake, but one refuses to go out, no matter how hard she blows. It burns with a blue flame and whispers a name she hasn't heard in 40 years. Your poem is her conversation with that candle. What does she decide to do: let it keep burning, or pinch it out?

The other prompt is from #TankaTuesday where I was the host. I challenged everyone to write a poem about trepidation. W3's poem seems to blend well with this idea, so I'm putting them together (especially since I don't have much time to write).

For these challenges, I decided to write an experimental haibun that focuses on story-telling more than expository prose.

(image created with Bing)

Last Birthday

Edith placed the cake she bought for herself on her dining table. There was no birthday song sung or any friends or family present. She had long ago secluded herself in her cabin from their toxicity. She blew the 78 candles with her labored breath until all but one candle was extinguished. Try as she might, it burned with a blue flame. She stared into its alluring flickering dance and gasped when she heard it whisper, "Edith." 

She leaned closer, not trusting her eyes or ears. "Edith, my love," it whispered. "Come to me. I'm waiting for you."

Her heart began to race as her shaking hand reached toward the candle. Tears ran down her face as her husband's voice caressed her heart. She had not heard his voice since a car accident had stolen him from her forty years ago. She had missed him every day since then. She longed to feel his arms around her again. 

Was her mind playing tricks on her? Could she let go of her lonely life, not knowing what, if anything, awaited her on the other side? Closing her eyes, she made her final wish and blew out that last candle with her dying breath.

a love gone too soon

memories fade with time

heart never forgets

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

We'ave Written Weekly (W3) Prompt #225

#TankaTuesday 

Beginning of School - #W3 #TankaTuesday #school #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! Today was my first day of school with my new students. Although I'm exhausted and my throat hurts from projecting my voice all day, I am happy with my classes and the students I met today. Tomorrow, I'll meet the students in my even day classes. 

I'm combining two poetry prompts today because they seem to fit well together. The first is Wea've Written Weekly (W3) Prompt 224 where David invites us to write about "experiencing something familiar as if it were happening for the first time again." We have to use the word "again" in the poem so I modified my original poem to include it. 

In this week's #TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge, Willow invites us to write about autumn by using a Celtic syllabic poetry form. I chose to use the Seadna, which is a bit complicated. Here is the structure (which I borrowed from David's page because he explained it so well):

Each stanza has 4 lines. The lines have an 8-7-8-7 pattern.

Lines 1 and 3 end with a two-syllable word. Lines 2 and 4 end with a one-syllable word. 

The poem uses rhyme:

• The last words of Lines 2 and 4 rhyme.
• The last word of Line 3 rhymes with an important word near the end of Line 4.
• The second half of the poem also has extra inside rhymes.

Every line uses alliteration, which means repeating the same beginning sound in important words.

• The last syllable of Line 1 should alliterate with the first stressed word in Line 2.
• In Line 4, the final word should alliterate with an important word just before it.

Complicated, right? Lol! Since autumn begins the new school year, and every school year is different in its own way, I decided to write about the beginning of school. I'm not sure I hit all the parts of this form, but I tried.

(image courtesy of @stux on Pixabay)

new school year again to begin

get to create sweet, fresh start

new ideas flourish within

hope finds home in happy heart

Would you like to try either of these prompts? Click the links below:

Wea've Written Weekly (W3) Prompt 224

 #TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge

Fleeting Memory - #TankaTuesday #haibun #poem #poetry #poetrycommunity @YvetteMCalleiro

Hello, beautiful readers! My school year has already begun, though the students don't start until Thursday. I went in last week to prepare my classroom. Today, tomorrow, and Wednesday are filled with meetings and lesson planning. I had an incredible summer vacation and feel refreshed and rejuvenated, and I'm excited to meet my new students.

For this week's #TankaTuesday challenge, Melissa encouraged us to write a poem about forgetting. Each day has been quite busy this past week, so I'm just getting around to it today. I've chosen to write a haibun.

(image courtesy of @skaistyte on Pixabay)

Fleeting Memory

They say a teacher's brain makes over a hundred decisions in a day. Maybe that's why my memory has short-circuited. It no longer has the capacity to hold on to information from one year to the next. Honestly, sometimes I don't even remember things from last month. So, I take pictures, keep a journal, and rely on others to remind me of what I have misplaced in my brain's file folders. 

living for today

relishing present moments

brain quickly forgets

Would you like to participate in this week's prompt? Join us here.