Fiction and life . . . from the desk of Gwen M. Plano
  • Home
  • Blog Reflections
  • REDEMPTION THRILLER
  • THE CONTRACT Series
  • My Memoir
  • Poetry
  • About

A Writer's Treasure

12/10/2024

32 Comments

 
Picture
Hello, blog friends ~

Today is #TankaTuesday, and Lisa Smith Nelson provides a photo prompt for interested poets. We are to consider the image to the right when we compose our syllabic poem. 

Studying this battered black cat, I thought back to my childhood attic. Though mostly bare, the space had a few things worthy of a child's imagination. I especially loved an old rocking chair that sometimes would rock without anyone's assistance. Mom explained that it used to be my grandmother's chair. She passed away when my mom was only seven. I liked to sit in that old chair and imagine Grandma holding me. Wouldn't you have done the same? 

I've composed a two-stanza tanka and entitled it A Writer's Treasure. I hope you can relate to it. Have a great week! ❤️


Picture
32 Comments
Faith LeeAnne link
12/10/2024 09:00:21

Wonderful!

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/10/2024 11:30:13

Thank you, Faith. I'm glad you liked it. 🌞

Reply
Selma Martin
12/11/2024 04:29:28

Love reading this poem of something in your happy place. Thanks for sharing

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/11/2024 13:44:33

Thank you, Selma. It was a happy place for sure. 🌞

Reply
Daniel Antion link
12/11/2024 06:24:14

This is beautiful, Gwen. I often think of scary things in the attic. This is lovely.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/11/2024 13:47:03

Our attic wasn't scary. With windows on all four sides, daylight kept things bright. I loved the quiet -- of course, I was also escaping my six siblings. 😊

Reply
Priscilla Bettis link
12/11/2024 07:43:55

We didn't have an attic, but I found family treasures and stories in other places--on bookshelves and in drawers. Wonderful poem, Gwen!

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/11/2024 13:48:47

Family treasures indeed! They become more precious with time, don't they? Thank you, Priscilla. 🌞

Reply
Annette Aben
12/11/2024 08:12:24

I love attic memories!

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/11/2024 13:49:22

Thanks so much, Annette. I love attic stories as well. 🌞

Reply
Karen INGALLS
12/11/2024 09:33:12

Your touching poem stirred up memories, sad and happy. How many stories we could learn about from the "life-less" treasures from many lives. Thank you for sharing your gift of writing.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/11/2024 13:51:42

Thank you, dear Karen. The "life-less" treasures mean so much, don't they? ❤️

Reply
D. Wallace Peach link
12/11/2024 10:03:58

What a lovely memory of your grandmother's rocking chair, Gwen. My cousins had an attic of old stuff, and I remember that it was like a treasure trove, even though much of what was up there was broken. A wonderful take on the prompt. <3

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/11/2024 13:53:13

Thank you, Diana. We didn't have much in the attic, but we had Grandma. ❤️

Reply
Jacqui Murray link
12/11/2024 10:25:43

That poem says it perfectly. I have a battered black dog, much like your cat, with a broken leg and I tied a bandage around it!

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/11/2024 13:56:21

Oh, my goodness, I chuckled when I read your comment, Jacqui. Someday please take a photo of your bandaged dog and share it with all of us. The image is so enduring! 🌞

Reply
John Howell link
12/11/2024 10:37:28

What a beautiful memory, Gwen. I was fortunate to have my grandmothers until my college days. I do treasure those memories as well. A lovely poem.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/11/2024 13:58:03

Thanks so much, John. I've often thought of my grandma's rocker and wondered what happened to it. 🌞

Reply
Jan Sikes
12/11/2024 11:13:06

Oh, what a wonderful bit of nostalgia, Gwen. I inherited my grandmother's hump back trunk and though she died before I was born, somehow I feel she is still around. That trunk is a valued possession.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/11/2024 13:59:33

How wonderful, Jan! What a treasure! Thank you for sharing this special gift with readers. 🌞

Reply
Tim Dittmer link
12/11/2024 11:15:01

Wonderful poem, Gwen.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/11/2024 14:00:05

Thanks so much, Tim. 🌞

Reply
Liz Gauffreau link
12/11/2024 14:32:10

Yes, I can definitely relate! I can't let go of my family treasures.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/12/2024 13:54:30

Thank you, Liz. I'm elated you can relate. 🤗

Reply
Thomas Wikman link
12/11/2024 16:46:35

That poem reveals an important truth. Unfortunately we have been very bad at saving family treasures. One good thing with books is that if you have an author in the family and with modern technology the books can be preserved online for many decades.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/12/2024 13:56:24

So true, Thomas. Thank you for sharing and adding about books. 🌞

Reply
Yvette M Calleiro link
12/14/2024 06:00:53

Beautiful poem, Gwen! I never grew up with an attic full of treasures. I guess it's just not a thing military families can do.

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

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/14/2024 07:31:37

Thank you, Yvette. I think attics were more customary when I was growing up. Nowadays, many/most homes don't have one. And, I think you're right about military families. They move a lot and often live in apartments. ❤️

Reply
Colleen link
12/15/2024 13:33:58

This is a wonderful double tanka, Gwen. I loved the story about your grandmother's rocking chair.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
12/16/2024 16:11:31

Thank you so much, Colleen. ❤️

Reply
willowdot21 link
12/17/2024 13:20:38

Thank you Gwen for sharing you happy place in the attic with your thoughts and imaginating of your grandma... That is so lovely...I never knew my grandparents...I met my mum's once but I didn't know them. I was about 3yrs old. So yes I would have joined you.
Family stories handed down deep sorrows and joys live on in our minds ...and echoes in some rooms💜💜

Reply
Jules link
12/19/2024 15:25:32

I remember watching some shows where stuff actual treasure was hidden in ceramics :) A fun read.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    For blog updates, please subscribe below. 
    * indicates required

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    June 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


Plano Enterprises, LLC
Photos from Kevin M. Gill, Joel Bedford, qthomasbower, crosescribe, Juho Holmi, diana_robinson, W Presley & B Kunce Photography......WI. USA, U.S. Geological Survey, Ian Sane, florianric, NikoMC, van Van Es, Yen Chao 趙彥, MissMessie, Yuriy Kuzin, Ben Zvan, Bichuas (E. Carton), Nina Matthews Photography, hehaden, alexdecarvalho, Tim RT, Kurdistan Photo كوردستان, Candida.Performa, peddhapati (Thanks for 1M Views!!!), Jhong Dizon | Photography, Waheed Akhtar Photography, lawmurray, USFWS Pacific, JalilArfaoui, SurFeRGiRL30, Lauren Finkel Photography, maf04, SantaRosa OLD SKOOL, Dakiny, vauvau, Zanastardust, Monica's Dad, timpeartrice, marumeganechan, Rafael Acorsi, seyed mostafa zamani, Jorge Franganillo, Irene Grassi (sun sand & sea), The National Guard, D.Fletcher, nada abdalla, Ted LaBar, alison.mckellar, Infomastern, Elvert Barnes, m01229, theglobalpanorama, Sumarie Slabber, denisbin, Go-tea 郭天