Dancing Across The Heavens

10/27/2025

Hello, blog friends ~

This past weekend, my sister visited from upstate California. We had hours upon hours of chats, walks, as well as a wonderful trip to the Red Rocks of Sedona. I'm the eldest of my six sibs, so sharing stories is always fun.

Melissa is the lead for Tanka Tuesday this week. She introduces a poetry form called Tan-Ku, which is written by two people in alternating haiku and tanka.

In the poem below, you'll notice Melissa's poems on the left, and my response Tanka on the right. My poem is inspired by the Sedona trip. I hope you enjoy it.

Dancing Across the Heavens

Have a great week, and let's all find time to dance across the heavens in our imaginations... ❤️

40 Comments

Ange link

10/28/2025 09:05:23

I love how you combined your poetry - a stunning dance across the heavens 🙌 PS you and your sister look so alike😊

Gwen M. Plano

10/28/2025 09:14:43

Thank you, Ange, for both of your kind comments. 😊

Reena Saxena

10/28/2025 09:19:15

Love the last one.

Gwen M. Plano

10/28/2025 09:43:53

Oh, I'm so glad. Thank you, Reena. 😊

Dan Antion link

10/29/2025 04:43:46

Great job on the collaborative poem, Gwen.

Gwen M. Plano

10/29/2025 06:00:21

Thanks so much, Dan. It's my first attempt at a collaborative poem. 😊

Priscilla Bettis link

10/29/2025 04:55:59

It's wonderful that you got to collaborate with your sister. I love the resulting Tan-Ku!

Gwen M. Plano

10/29/2025 06:01:49

Joyce and I did a lot of things together over the weekend, but the poem collaboration was with Melissa. Joyce and our trip to Sedona was the inspiration. 😊

Timothy W. Dittmer link

10/29/2025 07:55:10

Wonderful poetry by you and your sister, Gwen!

Gwen M. Plano

10/29/2025 08:17:21

Thank you, Tim. Very kind of you to say. 😊

Liz Gauffreau link

10/29/2025 07:59:55

I love the notion of dancing across the heavens—whether the moon and stars do it or I do it!

Gwen M. Plano

10/29/2025 08:19:23

I love watching birds soar -- and wish I could do the same. Thank you, Liz. I'm with you...we can dance in spirit. ❤️

Melissa Lemay link

10/29/2025 11:00:21

I’m glad you had fun with your sister on her visit! I love the connection you draw between humanity (young lovers) and the romance story of the sun and moon.🌕

Gwen M. Plano

10/29/2025 13:23:02

Thank you, Melissa...for the inspiration and the kind words.

John W. Howell link

10/29/2025 13:36:52

Lovely words, Gwen. So nice that your sister could visit. It must have been a special time together.

Gwen M. Plano

10/29/2025 15:45:07

Thank you, John. Yes, it was heart-filling with plenty of laughter. 😊

Colleen link

10/29/2025 13:37:36

Oh, this is beautiful, Gwen. The idea was to collaborate with Melissa or another poet, taking turns with the haiku and tanka. We've been trying to find ways to get poets to work together. 😂 What fun to have your sister visit. I'm glad you had fun together. That's what matters most. 💜

Gwen M. Plano

10/29/2025 15:46:29

Thank you, Colleen. I followed Melissa's Haiku with my Tanka. It seemed to flow...within the context of Sedona. ❤️

Pete Springer link

10/29/2025 22:47:36

Your exquisite words match the beautiful photograph so well. I've visited Red Rocks Park and Ampitheatre in Colorado but have yet to see the Red Rocks of Sedona. That's not for long as my wife and I are planning to have an early 40th anniverary celebration in Arizona this spring to avoid the heat for our actual anniversary in August. I'm not sure what part of Northern California your sister lives in. San Franciscans think of themselves as being from Northern California, even though we're almost 300 miles north of them. 😊

Gwen M. Plano

10/30/2025 06:12:51

Thank you, Pete, and how wonderful that you'll be traveling to Sedona. It is a favorite spot for me. I don't know much about the vortexes, but the entire area calms the heart and soul. My sister is from Sacramento. 😊

Thomas Wikman link

10/29/2025 23:34:43

A gorgeous picture and a beautiful poem. It is great that got to have a wonderful time with your sister.

Gwen M. Plano

10/30/2025 06:08:45

Thanks so much, Thomas. Very happy days together. 😊

ben Alexander link

10/30/2025 07:45:15

Gwen, I really love how your tankas rise gently out of Melissa’s haiku like echoes finding form in the night air — graceful and alive. 🌙

Much love,
David

Gwen M. Plano

10/31/2025 04:31:25

Thank you very much, David. So kind of you to say... 🍂😊🍂

Jan Sikes

10/30/2025 13:35:59

That is so beautiful, Gwen. For a moment, through your poetic prose, I can forget the ugliness of the world we live in. What a wonderful opportunity to visit with your sister. Precious time!

Gwen M. Plano

10/31/2025 04:33:07

Thank you, dear Jan. It was wonderful to laugh and wander around together. Hugs... 🤗

selma

10/31/2025 03:40:30

what gorgeousness you did with the words here. And you gave abundantly. Thanks for that. Lovely, dear Gwen. And I'm glad you had such a fun time with your sister. So happy for you. xo Happy last day of Octoboo!

Gwen M. Plano

10/31/2025 04:34:19

Thank you, dear Selma. It was wonderful to be with my sister and share stories while experiencing the natural beauty of Sedona. ❤️

Jacqui link

10/31/2025 08:08:11

Lovely pic of you and your sis. You sound like me and mine!

Gwen M. Plano

11/1/2025 05:09:57

"Me and mine" -- love that image, Jacqui. 😊

Freya Pickard link

11/1/2025 10:52:59

Beautiful poetry, Gwen!

Gwen M. Plano

11/2/2025 17:50:44

Thank you so much, Freya. 😊

Kerfe

11/2/2025 09:16:59

These visions weave together perfectly.

Gwen M. Plano

11/2/2025 17:51:26

Thank you, Kerfe. It was an interesting process, which I enjoyed.

Paul Cannon link

11/3/2025 01:19:33

Beautiful poem, seamlessly written, if the names were erased it appears as one author.

Gwen M. Plano

11/3/2025 15:08:29

Thank you so much, Paul. Music to my ears! 😊

willow link

11/3/2025 10:56:28

So wonderful 😊😊😊

Gwen M. Plano

11/3/2025 15:08:51

Thank you, dear Willow. 🤗

Prior link

11/3/2025 17:50:11

Sister time is so wonderful - and " hours upon hours of chats, walks, as well as a wonderful trip to the Red Rocks " just sounds amazing
Hope you have a great week too

Gwen M. Plano

11/4/2025 18:55:10

Thanks so much, Yvette. I love the Red Rocks and could wander around that area for days. Hope all is well with you and yours. 💛

Dancing Across The Heavens

Leave a Reply.

Archives