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At the river's edge. . .

3/7/2023

35 Comments

 
Hello dear blog friends,

I've another poem to share. Author Colleen Chesebro offers us a photo prompt this week. Terri Webster Schrandt snapped the image. Incredible, right? Our instructions are to create a syllabic poem with this photo in mind. Below you will find my response -- a simple Tanka of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables. 

I hope you have a fantastic day, and let me know if you spot a goose or two or three. 😊
Picture
35 Comments
Pete Springer link
3/7/2023 08:00:37

Terrific photo and poem. It instantly brought memories back of the work my dad did as a wildlife biologist. He was involved in the recovery of an endangered species, the Aleutian Canada Goose (since renamed the Aleutian Cackling Goose.) These incredible athletes migrate from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska to the Central Valley of California and even into Mexico. We live in their flyway zone, and they often stop in our area for a time to rest before moving on. Thanks for that memory, Gwen.

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Gwen M. Plano
3/7/2023 09:44:25

What an incredible memory, Pete. Thank you for sharing it with us and thank you for the kind words. 😊

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Yvette M Calleiro link
3/7/2023 08:34:08

Beautiful poem, Gwen! I love the imagery.

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

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Gwen M. Plano
3/7/2023 09:44:58

Thank you, Yvette. I'm so pleased you enjoyed it. 🤗

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Marcia Meara link
3/7/2023 09:03:28

Beautiful, Gwen, both the photo and the poem. Nothing makes me happier than being on a river, even though the one I've most often traveled looks nothing like the one in the picture above. Still, there's a peace and beauty about rivers to be found nowhere else. Thanks for sharing, and have a great day! 🤗❤️🤗

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Gwen M. Plano
3/7/2023 09:45:53

Thank you, Marcia. Someday I hope to sit by your side, gazing into your river. 😊

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John howell link
3/7/2023 09:41:14

A long flight indeed. A very visual poem, Gwen.

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Gwen M. Plano
3/7/2023 09:46:32

Thank you, John, for sharing that insight. Much appreciated. 😊

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Liz Gauffreau link
3/7/2023 10:56:28

Ahh, to be a goose! I particularly like how the poem plays against the notion of the "silly goose."

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Gwen M. Plano
3/7/2023 12:47:03

I hadn't thought of that, but I love your comment. Thank you, Liz! 😊

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Luanne link
3/7/2023 12:15:36

Oh, I love how you went off in a completely different direction (pun sort of intended) with this! Lovely!

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Gwen M. Plano
3/7/2023 12:47:33

I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, Luanne. Thank you!

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Jacquie Biggar
3/7/2023 17:47:29

We have Canadian Geese that winter on the island. They are so tall and majestic- beautiful birds!

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Gwen M. Plano
3/8/2023 09:19:16

Majestic is a perfect description. Thank you, Jacquie. 😊

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Kerfe
3/7/2023 17:51:14

I can see them!

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Gwen M. Plano
3/8/2023 09:19:58

That warms my heart, Kerfe. ❤️

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Selma link
3/8/2023 04:19:59

There were geese. I could just see them. Adored the imagery. Thanks, Gwen. Blessings

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Gwen M. Plano
3/8/2023 09:20:40

So sweet of you to say, Selma. Thank you. 🤗

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Staci Troilo link
3/8/2023 06:42:01

That's lovely, Gwen. Thanks for sharing.

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Gwen M. Plano
3/8/2023 09:21:08

I'm happy you liked it, Staci. Thank you! 😊

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Colleen link
3/8/2023 07:38:31

Gwen, this is a beautiful tanka! I love your use of imagery and sensory details. it goes with the image so well! 💚🍀

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Gwen M. Plano
3/8/2023 09:21:56

Thank you, Colleen. I enjoyed dreaming of such a day. 😊

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D.L. Finn
3/8/2023 10:48:10

Beautiful, Gwen. I always love to see the geese return! Xo

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Gwen M. Plano
3/9/2023 04:08:54

Me too -- I love to watch them. Thank you, Denise. I hope Spring returns soon to your mountain retreat. 🤗

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Angela link
3/8/2023 13:25:56

Beautifully expressed <3

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Gwen M. Plano
3/9/2023 04:09:14

Thank you, Angela. 😊

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Balroop Singh link
3/8/2023 16:05:32

Your poem adds another dimension to the picture Gwen. I must confess I was so mesmerized by the colors that I didn't see any geese. 😀

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Gwen M. Plano
3/9/2023 04:12:34

It's an incredible photo, and I was mesmerized as well. The geese seemed to appear as I studied the photo. 😄 Thank you, Balroop.

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[email protected] link
3/8/2023 16:32:37

Geese do live like on the edge and to the fullest. Beautiful tanka, Gwen.

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Gwen M. Plano
3/9/2023 04:13:12

Thank you, Ms. Jade. I'm so glad you liked it. 😊

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willowdot21 link
3/9/2023 01:05:22

Beautiful post 💜💜

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Gwen M. Plano
3/9/2023 04:13:33

Thank you, Willow. 😊

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Christy B link
3/9/2023 12:32:47

You created a magnificent scene with your words here!

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Gwen M. Plano
3/10/2023 05:23:19

Thank you, Christy. I'm very pleased you liked the poem. 😊

Reply
Roberta Eaton Cheadle
3/13/2023 22:54:05

A beautiful word picture, Gwen.

Reply



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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


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