A Sedona Winter

1/31/2024

Hello, blog friends!

It's Tanka Tuesday, and Colleen Chesebro invites us to share poetry related to the season. My contribution is a journey chronicled through three tankas (5-7-5-7-7).

I live about an hour from Sedona, a town in Arizona. It's a place I dearly love. Hubby and I visited recently and what we discovered prompts my poems today. Snow lightly covered the area and all was quiet. The typically crowded streets and sidewalks were surprisingly vacant of tourists. We were free to roam.

I've tried to capture the grandeur of the red rocks and the solemnity that they evoke to share today. Winter draws me into my heart more than other seasons. Perhaps the same is true for you. Enjoy . . .

I hope you have a wonderful, magical week! ❤️

48 Comments

Elizabeth link

1/31/2024 06:17:45

Such a beautiful place and it seems peaceful, not loaded with tourists. Stunning rocks, you perfectly described them in tthe poem.

Gwen M. Plano

1/31/2024 09:49:22

Thank you so much, Elizabeth. It is a peaceful and magical place. ❤️

[email protected] link

1/31/2024 12:17:32

Oh my the photos and the poems of these sacred guardians are magnificent. "kings and queens ... draped in imperial white" and "silence hides in snow" my favorite lines. I visited Sedona once many moons ago and never forgot the place.

Gwen M. Plano

1/31/2024 12:28:31

Thank you so much, Ms. Jade, for sharing your visit. It's an incredible place. ❤️

Rall link

1/31/2024 17:16:03

I enjoyed these tankas....Sedona looks like an interesting place to visit.
...Rall

Gwen M. Plano

2/1/2024 03:22:52

Thank you, Rall. It's a magical place, and I'm sure you would like it. 😊

Mae Clair link

1/31/2024 17:45:55

I loved these, Gwen. I've only been to Sedona once but I fell in love with it. The photos and your poems are exquisite.

Gwen M. Plano

2/1/2024 03:24:48

Thank you so much, Mae. It's a breathtakingly beautiful area, isn't it. ❤️

Selma Martin

2/1/2024 00:21:42

What gorgeous your surroundings... so beautiful. These words are a great reflection of your area. Thanks for sharing. blessings, Gwen.

Gwen M. Plano

2/1/2024 03:25:26

Thank you, Selma. Blessings to you as well. 🤗

Priscilla Bettis link

2/1/2024 04:55:15

Beautiful photos and poems, Gwen!

Gwen M. Plano

2/1/2024 07:52:47

Thanks so much, Priscilla. 😊

Dale Rogerson link

2/1/2024 07:06:54

These are all so beautiful, Gwen.
Makes me want to visit the area!

Gwen M. Plano

2/1/2024 07:53:17

You would love the area, Dale. Truely beautiful. 😊

Dale Rogerson link

2/1/2024 08:16:14

I don't doubt it!

Liz Gauffreau link

2/1/2024 07:16:24

I greatly enjoyed your photopoetry tribute to the land you inhabit.

Gwen M. Plano

2/1/2024 07:53:36

Thanks so much, Liz. 😊

Jan Sikes

2/1/2024 07:51:02

Those photos are breathtaking, Gwen. I can't imagine the streets being quiet. What a treat. Thank you for sharing the beauty through photos and words!

Gwen M. Plano

2/1/2024 07:54:09

Thank you, Jan. It's easy to be poetic about Sedona. 😊

Annette Rochelle Aben

2/1/2024 08:08:36

The poetry and imagery compel me to want to visit Sedona!

Gwen M. Plano

2/1/2024 10:28:21

You will love it, Annette. ❤️

Tim Dittmer link

2/1/2024 09:20:38

Fantastic pictures, Gwen, and your poetry surely adds to their beauty. The guardian sisters, and kings and queens describe the landscape imaginatively, and the red rocks are definitely ascending proudly. ❤

Gwen M. Plano

2/1/2024 10:28:54

Thanks so much, Tim, and so glad you liked it. 😊

D.L. Finn

2/1/2024 11:02:40

Beautiful words and photos, Gwen. You captured it perfectly. I fell in love with those gorgeous red rocks when I visited AZ.

Gwen M. Plano

2/1/2024 12:44:19

I'm not surprised, Denise. When I visit, all my concerns seem to evaporate. 😊

Balroop Singh link

2/1/2024 12:06:22

Breathtaking pictures and your poetry makes them come alive Gwen. I could hear those "hushed whispers." Thanks for sharing.

Gwen M. Plano

2/1/2024 12:45:04

Thank you so much, Balroop. ❤️

john howell link

2/1/2024 13:24:54

You captured the peace and power of Sedona perfectly, Gwen. Lovely poems

Gwen M. Plano

2/1/2024 17:18:29

I'm so glad to hear that, John. Thanks so much! 😊

Luanne

2/1/2024 20:41:54

Gwen, you really captured the majesty. Lovely poems.
Is the weather going to be bad this weekend? My daughter was planning on a trip from Scottsdale to Sedona tomorrow afternoon for two nights. I’m a little worried about weather.

Gwen M. Plano

2/2/2024 13:13:25

Oh gosh, Luanne. I'm just seeing your message. It's snowing now, but it will be beautiful no matter what. ❤️

Yvette M Calleiro link

2/2/2024 04:44:27

I loved my visit to the red rocks two years ago. It's so cool to see them with snow surrounding them. I love your poems, Gwen! You captured their magnificence perfectly.

Yvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com

Gwen M. Plano

2/2/2024 13:14:13

Thank you so much, Yvette. I remember your posts about visiting the area. Warmed my heart. 😊

Kerfe

2/2/2024 06:49:17

Thanks for sharing--truly magnificent.

Gwen M. Plano

2/2/2024 13:14:30

Thank you, Kerfe. 😊

Dan Antion link

2/2/2024 12:54:59

You captured the beauty of those rock formations very well, Gwen.

Gwen M. Plano

2/2/2024 13:15:09

Thanks so much, Dan. They are magnificent, aren't they. 😊

Jules link

2/3/2024 08:34:23

Your verses do the Red Rocks proud.
The way the snow dapples the surrounds reminds me of 'Ermine'.

'Ermine can be found in a variety of habitats, including forest, tundra, and plains. Populations are secure or apparently secure throughout the Great Lakes region. Worldwide, Mustela erminea is the most widespread weasel species, and is found throughout northern Asia, Europe, and North America.'

Very regal indeed. A few years ago hubby and I thought we were going to visit 'Hawk Mountain' at a quiet time. We ended up finding the last parking spot at the trail head. We only made it about half way up - but it was beautiful. :)

Gwen M. Plano

2/4/2024 19:24:13

Oh my, thank you so much, Jules. I didn't know about Ermine. Thank you for explaining. ❤️

theindieshe link

2/3/2024 10:30:45

Beautiful images and you have captured that beauty in your lines so well

Gwen M. Plano

2/4/2024 19:24:42

Thank you so much. 😊

Colleen Chesebro link

2/4/2024 10:38:29

Gwen, these are spectacular tanka poems. The bussokuseki is like a tanka, but with one extra seven syllable line. I like them because they give us room for more description. I loved Sedona, too. I first visited in the late 1970's when civilization hadn't crowed out the city. It was spectacular! I also enjoyed your photos. I loved the snow on the red rocks.

Gwen M. Plano

2/4/2024 19:26:47

Thank you so much, Colleen. I'm elated you liked the tanka poems. My home was a bit in turmoil this past week, so I stuck with what I know. I'll try the bussokuseki soon. 😊

David Bogomolny link

2/5/2024 01:56:03

Gwen,

Your use of personification, attributing qualities to "sisters," "kings," and "queens of time," adds a captivating dimension to these verses!

Beautiful!

Much love,
David

Robbie Cheadle

2/5/2024 07:23:39

All three of these poems are lovely, Gwen. Beautiful landscapes.

willowdot21 link

2/5/2024 07:24:18

I really love these 💜💜

D. Wallace Peach link

2/7/2024 22:32:35

Oh goodness, Gwen, those are beautiful poems. They capture that majestic landscape perfectly. I hope to get to Sedona this spring sometime to enjoy those red rocks (with thousands of tourists!) lol.

Melissa Lemay link

2/11/2024 21:26:27

I especially like the third, and the line “silence hides in snow”.❤️

A Sedona Winter

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