I am currently staying in Bali, more precisely in Sanur. Sanur is quite tranquil and serene, representing older, more traditional culture. The pace of life in this area is certainly less hectic than other parts of this incredible island. I have visited Bali many times and have stayed in various locations across those visits. The people and the place continue to provide much inspiration for writing.  I have been trying to capture a spirit of place while in Sanur. I found myself writing a series of tankas. I'm not sure why I chose the tanka form, but I am pleased with what I have been able to capture. I so enjoy surrendering my writing thoughts to my immediate surrounds. Poetry of place is such a pleasurable indulgence. Hope you enjoy my gatherings... Sanur Tankas Reef & Sea Reef resists the sea Becalming the shorebound waves Ocean's roar muffled Transformed to a constant hum Heard at  water's edge. Swallow Flight Above my beach lounge Swallows flit erratically Tiny fe...

This  week I am posting from Sanur in Bali about a Czech Poet. I recently discovered the Czech poet, Miroslav Holub (1923-1998). Holub was poet and an immunologist. His poetic work was heavily influenced by his experiences as an Immunologist, writing many poems using his scientific knowledge to create poetic effect.  Holub prioritized his profession as a scientist over his writing. His poetry was predominantly unrhymed, making translation easier and more accurate. Renowned Irish poet,  Seamus Heaney described Holub’s writing as 'A laying bare of things, not so much the skull beneath the skin, more the brain beneath the skull; the shape of relationships, politics, history; the rhythms of affections and disaffection; the ebb and flow of faith, hope, violence, art.' In 1988 English poet  and writer, Ted Hughes referred to Holub as, 'One of the half dozen most important poets writing anywhere.'  High praise indeed... Here for your reading pleasure is one of Miroslav...

 Last week I shared a rather lengthy Rant poem. This week I am journeying to the opposite end of the poetry terrain and presenting some much shorter poems. Variety is good for us... During my school days I loved athletics. I built a reputation as a sprinter. I could run run quickly over short distances, but longer forms of running such as cross country were very much a personal challenge. Maybe that's why I enjoy short poems so much... When we write short poems they require a certain sharp focus. The writer has less time and words in which to deliver the desired outcome. The aim is to be pithy and engaging within a few lines and leave the reader both satisifed and surprised.  So here are few examples of recent short form poems I have lifted from my notebooks and polished for readers to consider.  They quite unashamedly lean on wordplay and deal with totally unrleated subjects and have arisen arose organically in recent times.  They currently sit in my poetry vault aw...

Author, Tess Somerwell, earlier this month, wrote in an article for Psyche Magazine-  ''Long poems might actually be the perfect form for the present: they can represent the sheer unmanageable scale, the vast and messy confusion, the epic ambivalence, of these times.' John Keats, viewed  a long poem as a space to wander. He felt it was a space you could return to in your memory, or in a rereading. He believed a long poem allowed the reader to dip in and select sections they wished to ponder, at their leisure. I believe Keats was right. I have often found myself doing this exact thing when reading a long poem. Well, the poem I am sharing with you is 'longish.' It certainly qualifies as an example of Rant Poetry. It became a poem that refused to be denied. It banged around in my head for quite some time demanding to be let out.  Rant poetry can be a release, a relief. It also represents the release of a pressure valve in many ways. Another way of describing these poem...

Please allow me to share with you the Quintilla, a Spanish poetic form that employs five-line stanzas.Here is all you need to know in order to jump in and write your very own Quintilla! Each stanza has five lines Each line has eight syllables. They're 'octosyllabic.' An ab rhyme scheme in which at least two lines use the "a" rhyme and at least two lines use the "b" rhyme... Please note, the stanza cannot end with a rhyming couplet. There are several possible rhyme pattern variations one can use: abaab ababa abbab aabab aabba The inspiration for my Quintilla came from watching three year old, Isabel dance with spirited joy to the music of 'Frozen' one day this week. The dance recital reinforced how curious learners absorb so much from the world around them. Such dramatic action, such considered poses... When Isab el Dances The dancer moving joyfully Adorned in a long trailing cape The choreography so free And once again, beguiling me Small arms as...

Last week I shared a Gogyohka Poem titled 'Old Snaps.' It sparked reader interest and prompted me to further explore the notion of old photographs and the poetry connection they often evoke. I  recalled a poem from one of my poetry heroes, Michael Rosen. The poem is titled, ' Going Through The Old Photos ' and is contained in Michael's famous anthology of narrative verse, ' Quick Let's Get Out of Here .'  I actually own two copies of this book, just in case I misplace one.  Here is Michael Rosen reading his poem.  U.K songwriter, activist and poet, Billy Bragg recently published a song- ' Ten Mysterious Photos That Can't Be Explained .' The song prompted me to look through my photo collection and dig out some of my mysterious photos. It wasn't too hard.  Here are a few of my mysterious photos that can't be explained. They most certainly provoke speculation and lend themselves to the assignment of suitable words...   This photograph of...

What is gogyohka? I hear you ask It's a five-line poem developed by Enta Kusakabe in Japan. Gog-yoh-ka translates to "five-line poem."  It's a close relative of tanka and uses natural phrasing to great effect. The gogyohka has very simple rules: The poem comprises, five lines with one phrase per line. That's all there is to it. What does a phrase mean in a gogyohka? Defining a gogyohka phrase is in the eye of the beholder. but the phrases can be as short as one word and others more than five words. So the rules are fairly loose. It's meant to be concise (five lines) but free (variable line length with each phrase). No special themes or topics. No subject matter constraints. Just five lines of poetic fun. I urge my fellow poets to give Gogyohka a go! Here's my attempt at Gogyohka Poems: Storm Water Runoff After the storm run off spills into the bay swimming is not recommended for seven long,  days. Alan j Wright Old Snaps At first glance Those old photograp...

This week I am revisiting Tricube poetry Tricube poems enlist the notion of  'Three.'   These poems were initially created by American author and poet, Phillip Larrea. Tricube poems are a relatively new poetry form. 3 syllables per line 3 lines per stanza 3 stanzas per poem So, we are talking cubes in mathematical terms (to the third power). No rules for rhymes, meter. Just three, three, and three. It is as simple as that! Hope this stirs my fellow poets into action. Feel three to give it a try... Last Night's Wind The wind howled All night long The beast blew It rattled Windows, walls Our world shook This morning leaves abound On the ground. Alan j Wright  It is once more, Poetry Friday! This time our host is Jone Rush-MacCulloch.   Jone is focusing on some new publications and announcing some poetic celebrations. To find out more visit Jone and gain access to loads more of the poetic happenings around the world of poetry.

  I  quite enjoy the notion of revisiting poetry forms, previously trialled, particularly those forms memorable for the challenge they presented and the pleasure derived from persisting.  The pleasing outcome of poetry when it delivers the words land safe and sound is for me, quite rewarding. These poems become our good companions and often reveal things we hadn't previously noticed.  The poetry terrain is vast, so poems come from a variety of cultures, different parts of the world and from different centuries. The choice is part of poetry's appeal.  I am returning to Golden Shovel poems. These poems are a relatively new form of poetry. 'Golden shovel' poems refers to a form of  created by Terrance Hayes around 2010.   A reminder of the rules that apply to the Golden Shovel Poetry form: Take a line (or lines) from a favourite poem Use each word in the chosen line (or lines) as an end word  for each line in your poem. Keep the end words i...

 I am sharing another piece of verse emerging from my recent travel adventure in Vietnam. We were fortunate enough to spend a week in Hoi An, a UNESCO heritage city. It was our third visit to Hoi An. It is a city with an intoxicating charm.  This special place also has much to motivate the writer within me. The daily produce market adjacent to the historic quarter of the city is a bustling space, rich with poetic potential. The market visitor needs to perfect the essential art of looking without betraying their potential retail intentions. Not an easy thing to do among such practiced observers. On several mornings, I strolled through the market, prior to breakfast. My early morning walks provided valuable research for the words that emerged... Hoi An Market 7.00 AM In the steaminess Surrounding Hoi An’s market The palpable energy of local traders Competing for buyers attention Courses daily through this busy corner Of the ancient city Pungent aromas swirl about Amid a ram...

 Travel Poems - Vietnam Verse Read, write, coffee - and carrot cake  @MiaCoffee, Hoi An   It is said, when we travel we  bring back memories and   stories...  We can also bring back poetry.  I have just enjoyed three weeks   travelling through Vietnam,   and among the things I brought   back was some Vietnam verse.   More particularly, verse   inspired by my travel   experiences in this culturally   and geographically diverse country.  This was my third visit to Vietnam. I visited some new places as well as some favourite and familiar places. Spent time exploring Hanoi, Hoi An, DaNang and Ho Chi Minh City. I took a handmade notebook purchased on a previous visit to Ho Chi Ming City -when I strolled along the city's renowned bookshop street. It felt appropriate to record my observations and collected words on local paper.   Here is a small sample of the travelling ...