
Inside/Outside
Plum
blossoms
behind glass
safe from east wind
linger with lilacs

where spring is eternal
quail wander in canned bird song
amongst bamboo and waterfalls
warm respite for humans and orchids
outside, cold returns; crusts over ponds
that dully gleam under weak sun

buck hoof prints frozen in mud
sparrows ride power lines

wood dragon still sleeps
while chimney smoke
searches for
blue in
sky
here’s the poem altogether:
Inside/Outside
Plum
blossoms
behind glass
safe from east wind
linger with lilacs
where spring is eternal
quail wander in canned bird song
amongst bamboo and waterfalls
warm respite for humans and orchids
outside, cold returns; crusts over ponds
that dully gleam under weak sun
buck hoof prints frozen in mud
sparrows ride power lines
wood dragon still sleeps
while chimney smoke
searches for
blue in
sky
kigo: plum blossoms, east wind, returning cold, wood dragon
Colleen Chesebro is the host of TankaTuesday. Colleen says:
Your syllabic poetry writing invitation is to write a poem using one of the 24 forms—your choice using early spring kigo words.

Just when I was warming up!
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Do you have any botanical gardens near you? Great time to visit is now.
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There is one not too far, great suggestion!
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indoor botanical gardens that is
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Winter briefly returned to my neck of the woods (central NJ) as part of the Nor’easter, though we only got 2-3 inches and most of it already melted away! :-)
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Sounds bad but tolerable for you all. It’s 31 here right now and supposed to get to 26 by morning. Not much snow on the ground, but possibly some tonight.
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This is excellent Jade, and the photos really add to it. Lilacs! (K)
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Every time we go into one area, there are hyacinths in bloom and they smell sooo good! Just like the lilacs. Thanks, K.
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I enjoy the image the smoke searching for blue skies. Lovely.
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Thanks, Lisa :)
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The photos along with what you wrote was really cool. I like the power line line…and the picture.
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Thanks, Max. I was driving down the street, saw those birds, pulled my car over, and took the pic.
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That was a great picture. Love pictures like that since I saw the Birds lol.
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Max, I don’t know about you, but watching that movie seriously traumatized me!
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It made me look up in the sky and trees after I saw it…so the answer is YES.
I watched it not long ago…just to see Pleshette!
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Beautiful lines
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Thank you.
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Oh this poem is so beautiful Li.
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Sadje, so glad you like it :)
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It is a pleasure
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This juxtaposition between what is inside and what is outside is beautiful. And the photos, too!
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Luanne, so pleased you enjoyed my offering this week :)
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I definitely did!
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This is so beautifully done, Lisa. I enjoyed seeing the pictures and your process of creating poetry out of them. You have a lovely garden.
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Smitha, I like the way you put that. Thank you <3
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Gorgeous double inverted nonet! ❤️ And your photos and video are beautiful.
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A beautiful poem Li :-) I was right there immersed in the scene!
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Awesome, Carol Anne. Happy to bring you along.
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I’m so excited for my favourite season. 🌸😊🌸
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:)
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Lovely images. I have a piece of lilac… that I think the gal who gave it to me said takes a few years to flower. I’ll be looking forward to that :)
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Thanks, Jules. The old lilac tree that was here when I moved in got beat up pretty bad with the heavy snow awhile back. It needs serious pruning now. Thankfully there are a bunch of baby lilacs growing under it that will take over. I can’t wait until your lilac blossoms!
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My lilac (near the house) is near my Clamatis arbor. I think it will look nice there. I had another one in a different spot, but I think the weather got to it. Hope your ‘Babies’ grow healthy!
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Lisa, this is just stunning! I love all the photos and your double inverted nonet came out so well. I think I could smell the lilacs! 🌸
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Colleen, many thanks. The lilacs and the hyacinths there both smelled divine.
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I can imagine. It’s a lovely spot for you to visit.
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😍is that you saying “they’re pretty” at the end?☺️
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:) <3
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The first emoji was about how beautiful the birds are.🙃
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