Reviews from

tanka prose (deck the hall)

He is the reason for the season

40 total reviews 
Comment from jake cosmos aller
Excellent
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Nice Christmas hainbun about Christmas. I like the tanka part of it as well as the overall prose entry. I love the Christmas tree image you chose for the poem.

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2022


reply by the author on 13-Dec-2022
    Thank you Jake for your kind and thoughtful review.
    Merry Christmas
    Janet
Comment from Joanne Gill-Maddick
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This is a beautiful written Christmas poem. So much emotion and sentimental memories here. Very beautiful words. Lovely photo to compliment your words as well. Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2022


reply by the author on 12-Dec-2022
    Thank you Joanne. I greatly appreciate your kind review.
    Blessings
    Janet
Comment from Faith Williams
Excellent
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I like how each ornament holds within its own story, its own memories, some happy, some bittersweet. I also like your poem--God's grace is indeed a wondrous and awesome thing. Thank you so much for sharing, and good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2022


reply by the author on 13-Dec-2022
    Thank you Faith for your kind and thoughtful review. Gods grace is indeed a wondrous thing.
    Merry Christmas
    Janet
Comment from Heather Knight
Good
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Hello Janet,
This is a beautiful trip down memory lane. I'm glad you enjoy decorating your tree.
I also hope you and your son can patch things up soon.
I've never stopped talking to anybody, but some years ago I had a fight with my sister and we became estranged. Then she suddenly died at the age of forty-eight and I've never forgiven myself completely even though we had an amicable conversation a few days before she passed (thank goodness).
Yesterday, I took my niece out to go shopping and eat dinner and she told me I had to stop torturing myself. She's only 12 and wiser than me!
Thanks for sharing this with us.

This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2022


reply by the author on 14-Dec-2022
    Thank you Heather for your kind and thoughtful review. I?m glad you had an amicable talk with your sister before she passed. I hope you take comfort in that. Your niece is absolutely right.
    For me, it?s been 27 years since I?ve heard my son?s voice and since I?m 78, time is not on my side and yet I continue to write to him once a month and pray a lot and hope.
    Blessings and Merry Christmas
    Janet
reply by Heather Knight on 15-Dec-2022
    Hi again Janet,
    I'm sorry to hear that. At least you are doing everything in your power. And who knows? Miracles do happen. x
Comment from Frank Malley
Excellent
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I did a brief read about Tanka Prose when I encountered that term in the title of this prose poem. My understanding led me to see Tanka as being essentially a dynamic of a binary encounter between things: prose and poetry alternating in the form, and conflicts or contrasts in sense being present in two interpretive dimensions of a given Tanka piece. However, since the form is new to me, I make the observation that this poem has chosen a wonderfully rich experience to express in words. Anyone who has participated in the Christmas decorating of an evergreen will recognize the history of family and friends, both alive and deceased, that is present in the ornaments he or she handles and hangs artfully on what is finally a symbol of love and continuity: the Christmas tree.

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2022


reply by the author on 16-Dec-2022
    Tanka prose are fun to write. They are challenging with the various rules and parameters but sometimes I need a challenge. (Smile)
    I appreciate you taking the time to check into the form.
    Blessings and Merry Christmas
    Janet
reply by Frank Malley on 16-Dec-2022
    Merry Christmas, Janet.
    Frank
Comment from Pam (respa)
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-A beautiful tree, Janet.
-Thanks for sharing about it in the notes and poem.
-I feel the same way about ornaments and the memories they bring.
-The one that stands out for me is the green one in front with the gold trim and some red on the side.
-You write about your memories very well in the prose section.
-A very good poem at the end showing the true meaning of Christmas.
-Good luck in the contest and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2022


reply by the author on 14-Dec-2022
    Thank you Pam for your kind and thoughtful review. That green ornament with the gold trim is one of my favorites. I bought at Herrods in London many years ago.

    Merry Christmas to you and yours.
    Janet
reply by Pam (respa) on 14-Dec-2022
    You are very welcome, Janet. Thanks for sharing about the ornament. It is gorgeous!!!
Comment from Wendy G
Excellent
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Yes, we too have a tree with many ornaments, with a story. Last year one grandchild commented that the tree was quite small - but she is our special assistant in decorating it, and loves her role, while we tell her about each decoration. Trees these days are almost statements of fashion or declarations of prestige and status, and have lost their relevance. I prefer yours and mine! Best wishes for your entry.
Wendy

 Comment Written 12-Dec-2022


reply by the author on 14-Dec-2022
    Thank you Wendy for your thoughtful review. So pleased to hear that your granddaughter is learning all about decorating. She will be the one to carry on the tradition.
    Blessings and Merry Christmas
    Janet
Comment from Sally Law
Excellent
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Janet, this is really beautiful in prose/tanka form. I enjoyed getting to know more about you and the ornaments' history. The story of the Christ is central to Christmas and sometimes lost in these contests.

Thank you so much for sharing.
Blessings to you and yours at Christmas and always,
Sally Law XOs

 Comment Written 11-Dec-2022


reply by the author on 14-Dec-2022
    Thank you Sally for your kind and thoughtful review.
    Merry Christmas to you and yours
    Janet
Comment from jessizero
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Isaiah 9:6 is a very special scripture for me. I liked that you included it here. I also loved your reflections of decorating your Christmas tree, and the picture was wonderful. Thanks for sharing, and best wishes to you.

 Comment Written 11-Dec-2022


reply by the author on 14-Dec-2022
    Thank you for your kind and thoughtful review.
    Merry Christmas
    Janet
Comment from tempeste
Excellent
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Ciao!

I had one Christmas tree on year when I was a teen. It was alive and that s about it.

Your tree looks beautiful and I love the story behind each ornament.

I hope your son realises in time the importance of family.

I never experienced family life growing up and my parents have both passed now. ( sigh)

Take care!



 Comment Written 11-Dec-2022


reply by the author on 14-Dec-2022
    Thank you for your thoughtful review and good wishes concerning my son.
    Blessings and Merry Christmas
    Janet