Fiction and life . . . from the desk of Gwen M. Plano
  • Home
  • Blog Reflections
  • The Contract
  • THE CHOICE
  • The Culmination
  • My Memoir
  • Poetry
  • About

A Desert Walk -- #TankaTuesday response

5/31/2022

46 Comments

 
Hello blog friends! It's Tanka Tuesday and author Colleen Chesebro has a special challenge for us. She asks that we share our day, and I'm delighted to do so. 

Just before 6:00 AM, I went for a walk along a desert path. I'm always struck by the beauty of this area, especially in the morning light. The flowers and other vegetation fill my soul.

​Though my walks are solitary, I'm never alone. Birds are everywhere present and always playful. Most endearing for me are the ravens. Because they see me every day, they recognize me and always want to chat. I've learned to say hello and only then will they be quiet. 

My two tanka try to capture this morning experience - - -
​
A WALK IN THE DESERT
Picture
Picture
Have a wonderful week. I hope you're able to find time to enjoy the wilds of your area. 💗
46 Comments

The Encounter, a #TankaTuesday response

5/24/2022

43 Comments

 
Hello blog friends! Today author Colleen Chesebro invites us to respond to the theme useful. I've decided to be a bit playful and focus on the lowly washcloth. Here's my take on the theme. 

​THE ENCOUNTER
Picture
The little guy looks guilty, but I suspect he's not the culprit. Chocolate is. I keep a stash of this special delight in my desk and find plenty of excuses for taking a nibble. And yes, sometimes I've needed a washcloth.  😊
Have a wonderful week!
43 Comments

Harmony Kent has a #NewRelease!

5/23/2022

50 Comments

 
Picture
Hello blog friends!

Today I'm excited to host author Harmony Kent from Cornwall in the beautiful southwestern area of England.

Harmony is an award-winning, multi-genre writer. She's also an incredible human being. Her heart of gold was set free during the 13 years she spent in a Zen Buddhist monastery. As she often explains, it was there that she faced her demons and discovered her own inner strength.

After a life-changing injury, Harmony began her career as a writer and what a career it is! Take a peek at some of her books at the end of this post.

In addition to being an avid reader and a prolific writer, Harmony also edits, does manuscript appraisals, and supports other writers in all the ways she can. You can contact her through her social media links listed below.   

Let's hear from Harmony about her latest book -- the second in the Soul Poetry Series: ​Life and Soul. Welcome, Harmony!                                                                   

✨✨✨
​​Hi, Gwen. Thanks so much for hosting me today. It’s always wonderful to visit with you. Here’s a little bit I’d love to share about my latest book of poetry …
This poem comes from a period when the first flush of head-over-heels love has settled somewhat.
 
Cuddle is about the deep connection that forms once a couple finds they’ve become best friends as well as lovers. The amount of love and belonging that can be conveyed in a simple cuddle is so profound and goes far beyond words and intellect. I hope you enjoy this poem and would love to know what you think. 
​
Picture
​ 
 


​
​CUDDLE

 
Silence

filled so full

darkness

lit so bright

as you hold me

through the night

 


BLURB:

Life & Soul is the second book in the Soul Poetry Series by acclaimed author Harmony Kent.
 
This beautiful collection of over fifty poems will take the reader through the highs and lows of everyday life via contemporary poetry in a range of styles and themes. Within these pages, you will find reflections on the Lonely Soul, the Seeking Soul, Brief Soul, Friendly Soul, and the Loving Soul—states of mind and living and longing we each experience over the course of a life.
 
Life & Soul offers something for lovers of poetry from all walks of life.
 
 
PRAISE for Slices of Soul, Book 1 in the Soul Poetry Series:

  • "I found my answer in this wonderful treasure-trove and have already read it three times." Robert Fear
 
  • "I found in Slices of Soul something approaching aesthetic bliss, a sense of being connected in some way to other states - like tenderness, kindness, ecstasy - where art is the norm." Colm Herron
 
  • "A stunning collection of poems that I read in one sitting! Unable to simply put this down until I had read the last. I love the clarity of the short poems, such clear images created in so few words or phrases. Many of them touched my heart and I will be giving them a 2nd and 3rd read!" Audrina Lane

PURCHASE LINK:  Amazon


CONTACT LINKS: 
Website           Twitter           Goodreads           BookBub           Story Empire
Thank you, Harmony, and congratulations! I've ordered your book and look forward to reading your soulful poems. 

​Have a great week everyone. 💗
50 Comments

Promised Glory -- A #TankaTuesday Response

5/17/2022

33 Comments

 
Good morning, dear blog friends. Today is #TankaTuesday and author Colleen Chesebro has a new challenge. Participants are instructed to create a Ekphrastic poem – one that is inspired by art or a photograph.

David provided the photo for today’s challenge. It is a precious one of his father who has passed from this life. He holds a camera and peers into the distance.
​
My poem is a simple tanka and is written in response to David’s photo (framed in the image below).  
Picture
I hope you have a magical and heart-filling week. Till we next meet, be well! 💗
33 Comments

MAYBE -- A #TankaTuesday Poem

5/10/2022

45 Comments

 
Hello blog friends, it's #TankaTuesday -- time for poetry!

Today author Colleen Chesebro invites us to write a Butterfly Cinquain, an unrhymed poem of 2-4-6-8-2-8-6-4-2 syllables per line. My thoughts immediately went to current events.

There's no butterfly to be found in protests and war zones, but there's often lingering hope. The traces of light may be difficult to see, but within the human heart, there's always possibility. And so, I've entitled this poem - MAYBE.
​
Picture
 
​I hope you have a wonderful week, replete with instances of hope. 💗

All the best,
​Gwen
45 Comments

I Wish I Knew Then ...

5/6/2022

16 Comments

 
Picture
Last month author Sally Cronin sent out an invitation to writers to respond to the theme, I wish I knew then what I know now! Today she features my response and if you'd like to read it, here's the link to her site. 

It begins....
When I was a child, I knew that life had ups and downs. It was everywhere visible on the farm. But I didn’t understand that each moment is a gift. It’s only these latter years that have helped me realize this fact. I’ll backtrack a little to explain what I mean. (...) 

Have a wonderful day dear blog friends!
16 Comments

Before Roses Bloom -- #TankaTuesday

5/3/2022

40 Comments

 
Hello blog friends! I've a new poem to share. It was inspired by my walks along paths in Chino Valley, AZ. This is my first Spring in a high desert area, and the natural beauty touches my soul.

Today author Colleen Chesebro invites us to compose a poem using color. My tankas share the delight I've encountered during my early morning excursions. I hope you enjoy the glimpses and the poem.  💗


Picture
Have a wonderful week and may blessings abound! 

40 Comments
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    For blog updates, please subscribe below. 

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    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 used under Creative Commons 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