Mom’s Musings

It is not living,

This habit of being bored,

This jaded ennui.

Laziness, ingratitude

Have settled deep in that heart.

I truly hate the complaint, “I’m bored!” There is so much to learn about this wide world in which we live; there are so many books to read; so many skills to gain; so many places to go; so many people to meet. That’s what I have to say about that: Banish such a stupid thought!

This tanka is a response to the prompts given today at Three Word Wednesday:

• Bored
  
• Habit
  
• Settle
  

Please play along, if you’re so inclined. Feel free to simply use these three words in a blog post, a short story, or a poem.

I’m a-travelin’;

I’ve got a destination.

My homecoming time

Up ahead, just ’round the bend;

Lord, I love You: comin’ home.

This tanka poem is a response to the prompt HOMECOMING over at One Single Impression. You are welcome to join in. Won’t you write something to share?

Oops! Almost forgot! Thanks to Geraldine at My Poetic Path for the prompt this week!

Here is another response to the 3 Word Wednesday prompts (intimate, river, waiting) in the form of a tanka written by my daughter, Debra:

Rivers of song draw

Pull me on. Lost and waiting;

Intimate recall.

Why am I here in valleys,

These deep places full of song?

Rivers of sunlight

Stream through the green canopy;

Fluttering leaves glow.

Waiting to hear a bird call:

Intimate, back roads moment.

This Tanka is a response to the prompts given this week at 3 Word Wednesday:
• Intimate
• River
• Waiting

The Mother speaks:

Sometimes unnoticed,

Cleaning, cooking and caring,

Done time and again

Million acts of selfless love;

The way to show I love you.

The Child speaks:

Do you love me, Mom?

I ask a million questions;

Though you’re so busy

I want to spend time with you,

Not unnoticed day by day.

The Mother replies:

Childhood time passes,

A million precious details

Hidden in my heart,

Not unnoticed, but treasured;

I love you now, and always.

These three tanka poems are a response to the Three Word Wednesday
prompt for today, using the words:

• Million
  
• Time
  
• Unnoticed
  

The prompts given this week for Three Word Wednesday
are:

• Gamble
  
• Omitted
  
• Temporary
  

My contribution is the following Tanka:

The prompts this week for Three Word Wednesday
are:

• History
  
• Narrow
  
• Spent
  

In response, I present you with this tanka:

Small kindnesses shown,

Mundane works oft’ repeated,

Days spent quietly;

The history of my life

Would fill a narrow volume.

One Single Impression is a community of poets writing and sharing haiku and other poetic forms. Each week we will offer up a new prompt that we hope will inspire your writing. We invite participants to share ideas for prompts, too. - Sandy Carlson and Andree

The prompt THROUGH A WINDOW was suggested by Farmlady at Over Good Ground. Check out her poem and lovely photography while you’re at it.

Some of our children recently went on a long, HOT road trip. Those in the front seat didn’t want the air conditioner, while those in the back seat sweltered. The good-natured girls in the back decided that being wind-blown was better than the alternative. I have used that story for my TANKA poem (a form of Japanese poetry; the 1st and 3rd lines have five syllables and the 2nd, 4th, and 5th have seven syllables-from Answers.com) written from the prompt THROUGH A WINDOW.

Today I’m participating in a writing prompt which is new to me (though it’s been around for some time) called 3WW, or Three Word Wednesday. The three words to be used today are:

• Indifferent
  
• Pour
  
• Reason
  

To use these words, I employ a Tanka poetry form, and find inspiration in the parable told by Christ in Matthew 25:31-46:

A heart that loves God

Pours out love to man also;

Not indifferent

To suffering; the reason

Is God’s love flowing through him.

(Image from Snapshots of Joy.)

The writing prompt this week at One Single Impression is MELODY, suggested by Barb at WillThink4Wine. The poetic form which Barb employed is called TANKA, and is written as follows:

1. Line 1: 5 syllables
2. Line 2: 7 syllables
3. Line 3: 5 syllables
4. Line 4: 7 syllables
5. Line 5: 7 syllables

I’m going to give Tanka a try as well, using the prompt, MELODY:

We think it’s funny

How much Dad loves his fishpond.

Takes umpteen photos

Spring, summer, autumn, winter;

Our laughter, a melody.