The Dust Bowl

4/20/2021

Hello friends! I've another poem to share.

Every third Tuesday of the month, author Colleen Chesebro invites writers to respond to a photo prompt for their Tanka poem. Author Anita Dawes provided the one below. If you don't know Anita, please consider visiting her blog site. She's an extraordinary poet.

When I saw the photo, I was brought back to my childhood. My father grew up during the great Dust Bowl, and he'd often share stories. As frightening as these stories were, I was also entranced by the courage and determination of the people. Severe poverty and the unrelenting winds of dust left them bereft of all that we consider essential to life.

My Tanka poem (5-7-5-7-7 syllables) is simply called THE DUST BOWL.

41 Comments

Harmony Kent link

4/21/2021 03:25:23

Lovely take on the prompt, Gwen, and evocative of those terrible times. It reminds me of a book I read recently. Both that and this poem leave me spitting out the dust. Bravo :)

Gwen M Plano

4/21/2021 04:29:39

Thank you, Harmony. When I think our present struggles to be harsh, I remember dad's stories. 💗

CS Boyack

4/21/2021 05:19:59

Powerful ideas behind this one.

Gwen M Plano

4/21/2021 06:43:21

Thank you, Craig. That generation has mostly left us now, but the stories still haunt us.

Staci Troilo link

4/21/2021 06:13:06

I can't see "dust bowl" without thinking "The Grapes of Wrath" but the photo and your poem both evoke the same feelings in me. Powerful stuff.

Gwen M Plano

4/21/2021 06:44:54

Thank you, Staci. It is powerful stuff. I'm humbled by what they went through. 💗

Mae Clair link

4/21/2021 07:13:20

Haunting and bittersweet, Gwen. Another wonderful poem from you.

Gwen M Plano

4/21/2021 07:29:08

Thank you, Mae. I'm so pleased you liked it.

Pat Garcia link

4/21/2021 07:42:06

Hi,
I remember hearing a preacher telling a story about his parents who lost every thing in a dust storm. I can imagine your family's grief. That must have brought tremendous pain.
The picture that you paint here with your words are deeply poignant, expressing emotions that no one can imagine unless it has happened to them.
Excellent.
Shalom aleichem

Gwen M Plano

4/21/2021 09:00:47

Thank you dear Pat. Shalom.

Marcia Meara link

4/21/2021 08:06:59

As always, your poetry moves me, Gwen. You have a real gift for this style, too! Perfect emotions evoked with this one! 😊❤

Gwen M Plano

4/21/2021 09:02:21

Thank you so much, Marcia. The more I write poetry, the more I appreciate it. 💗

Karen Ingalls

4/21/2021 08:47:21

Your poem is a perfect match for the photo prompt. So many emotions, tears, pain, and fear, yet always hope and strength even during the worst of times. Well-done, Gwen.

Gwen M Plano

4/21/2021 09:04:02

Thank you, dear Karen. When I think of all that 2020 brought, I remember dad's stories. 💗

John Howell link

4/21/2021 09:12:22

Beautiful poem. You are fortunate to have been able to hear the stories, Gwen.

Gwen M Plano

4/21/2021 09:57:47

Thank you, John. Dad taught me a lot about life and perseverence. Throughout the challenges of this past year, I thought of him a lot. 🙂

Pete Springer link

4/21/2021 09:37:32

Wow! I'm not much of a poet, but your words captured the essence of The Dust Bowl and that poignant scene. What a remarkable photo as well!

Gwen M Plano

4/21/2021 10:00:21

Thank you so much, Pete. The Dust Bowl is a powerful image, and I'm glad I could capture some of the travail. 🙂

D.L. Finn

4/21/2021 11:22:22

You captured this photo perfectly, Gwen. I felt the sadness.

Gwen M Plano

4/21/2021 11:46:46

Thank you so much, Denise. It's quite a gripping photo.

BR Chitwood link

4/21/2021 12:10:54

Only EXCELLENT!

Gwen M Plano

4/22/2021 04:59:33

Thanks so much, Billy Ray. 😊

Miriam Hurdle link

4/21/2021 14:41:44

Your words captured the devastation and the destitute of a dust bowl, Gwen. The last line brought out the best in mankind - the hope, the survival instinct. Beautifully written!

Gwen M Plano

4/22/2021 05:02:43

Thank you very much, Miriam. It's heartbreaking to think what they went through, and yet, as you've beautifully said, they had hope. 😊

Joan Hall link

4/21/2021 16:14:22

Lovely poem, Gwen. My mother also grew up during the dust bowl. I've always been drawn to photographs of that time period, particularly Dorthea Lange and Russell Lee.

Gwen M Plano

4/22/2021 05:08:19

Thank you, Joan. Quite a defining time in our history, right? I'm also drawn to those photos. Stark and powerful, they easily find a way into our hearts.

Vashti Quiroz-Vega link

4/21/2021 16:38:31

Wow. Your tanka is powerful and chilling, Gwen. Well done!

Gwen M Plano

4/22/2021 05:09:04

Thank you, Vashti. I so appreciate your thumbs up. 😊

Jill Weatherholt link

4/21/2021 17:40:57

I had the same thoughts that Staci did. Very powerful, Gwen. Great job!

Gwen M Plano

4/22/2021 05:09:36

Thank you so much, Jill. 😊

mark bierman link

4/21/2021 18:57:28

Your poem sums it all up so hauntingly. Well done, Gwen.

Gwen M Plano

4/22/2021 05:10:02

Thank you, Mark. Much appreciated!

Jan Sikes

4/21/2021 20:38:08

Oh, Gwen, this could be a tagline on a book cover. My parents also grew up in that desolate time in American History and the stories they shared were just heartbreaking. Great job with this one!

Gwen M Plano

4/22/2021 05:11:09

Thank you so much, Jan. Someday maybe we'll get a chance to share our stories. 🤗

Colleen Chesebro link

4/23/2021 09:03:58

Gwen, my Grandparents migrated from Russia to Kansas in 1906. My dad was born in Kansas. I grew up hearing the stories of the depression. They lost their farm... couldn't even grow rocks. I thought of the same thing when I first saw the photo. Your Tanka is superb! <3

Gwen M Plano

4/27/2021 08:04:30

Thank you, Colleen, for sharing your story and for your encouragement.😊

Merril D Smith link

4/23/2021 09:19:46

Gwen--this is wonderful. So, evocative. The first two lines could stand alone. I can't imagine what it was like to go through such devastation.

Gwen M Plano

4/27/2021 08:06:23

Thank you so much, Merril. 💗

Heather link

4/23/2021 15:58:38

Love this! And I was able to appreciate it more because of the background you provided.😊

Gwen M Plano

4/27/2021 08:07:18

Thank you, Heather. I so appreciate your kind words. 😊

Jacquie Biggar link

4/27/2021 10:42:08

This highlights why it's so important to have cold storage- you never know what Mother Nature will wreak upon the land.
Beautifully written, Gwen <3

The Dust Bowl

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