A Potpourri of Poetic Curiosities
Viewing comments for Chapter 180 "we are banksia"A collection of poems showcasing unusual words
15 total reviews
Comment from --Turtle.
Unfortunately, I don't have a great handle on the tanka form. From what I do know, the limited bit, the middle of the poem offers a shift in tone and the whole poem gives a sense of an event or mood. I thought it was really strong.
In this poem, I get the entire sense of destruction, and rebirth, a forest fire and a plant that is hardy enough to thrive on despite the fire, thus giving it an upper hand in the grand scheme of things.
The mood set gives a grander double meaning to me... and forgive me if I babble ... but:
The use of 'we' are banksia, goes beyond just introducing a plant, but a lesson to be learned... there's two kinds of people, those who can take the heat, and those who can't. Those who can't will eventually make way for those who can.
Hopefully, when things get rough, and the world is burning away, there will be a variety of banksia to fill in the gaps in a good way.
And in the littler sense, hopefully I can be a banksia, too.
I thought this poem had strong theme, and made good use of the form's shift of tone in the middle that I tend to associate with tanka.
reply by the author on 28-Dec-2018
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Unfortunately, I don't have a great handle on the tanka form. From what I do know, the limited bit, the middle of the poem offers a shift in tone and the whole poem gives a sense of an event or mood. I thought it was really strong.
In this poem, I get the entire sense of destruction, and rebirth, a forest fire and a plant that is hardy enough to thrive on despite the fire, thus giving it an upper hand in the grand scheme of things.
The mood set gives a grander double meaning to me... and forgive me if I babble ... but:
The use of 'we' are banksia, goes beyond just introducing a plant, but a lesson to be learned... there's two kinds of people, those who can take the heat, and those who can't. Those who can't will eventually make way for those who can.
Hopefully, when things get rough, and the world is burning away, there will be a variety of banksia to fill in the gaps in a good way.
And in the littler sense, hopefully I can be a banksia, too.
I thought this poem had strong theme, and made good use of the form's shift of tone in the middle that I tend to associate with tanka.
Comment Written 27-Dec-2018
reply by the author on 28-Dec-2018
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I love your comments on this piece. You've summed up what I was trying to say far better than I said it (OK, I was limited by form). Thanks for the wonderful rating, and the thoughtful comments. I'm pleased that my little 5-line poem brought all that to mind for you. Cheers, Craig
Comment from Pamusart
Like coming out of the ashes, eh? Old making way for new. I am watching a marathon of Tarzan. Loved those books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Your poem makes me think of the volcano in Haiwai because of the old making way for the new. Good effort. Thank you for sharing
reply by the author on 01-Jul-2018
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Like coming out of the ashes, eh? Old making way for new. I am watching a marathon of Tarzan. Loved those books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Your poem makes me think of the volcano in Haiwai because of the old making way for the new. Good effort. Thank you for sharing
Comment Written 01-Jul-2018
reply by the author on 01-Jul-2018
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What a coincidence - I watched the movie Legend of Tarzan yesterday. Thanks for the great comments. Craig
Comment from Bill Schott
This tanka, We Are Banksia, has the look of the form and brings the formerly-unknown-to-me species of plant into my lexicon. The description makes it a likely metaphor for surviving.
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2018
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This tanka, We Are Banksia, has the look of the form and brings the formerly-unknown-to-me species of plant into my lexicon. The description makes it a likely metaphor for surviving.
Comment Written 30-Jun-2018
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2018
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Spot on, Bill. Thanks for reviewing. Craig
Comment from Pearl Edwards
Nature is a wonderful thing isn't it for some of these plants where the destruction is the beginning of the new birth. Nicely written Tanka Craig, you're still doing a good variety of forms, and now you are half way there. Congrats,
cheers,
valda
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2018
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Nature is a wonderful thing isn't it for some of these plants where the destruction is the beginning of the new birth. Nicely written Tanka Craig, you're still doing a good variety of forms, and now you are half way there. Congrats,
cheers,
valda
Comment Written 30-Jun-2018
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2018
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Almost, Valda. Thanks for the lovely comments. I'm sure I wouldn't have lasted six months without a lot of kind encouragement. Cheers, Craig
Comment from Dawn Munro
No, no, no - I don't 'feel free' at all because I find this one of the more difficult forms to write (after I read one Gloria wrote that knocked my socks off, especially)! That woman is SUCH a talented poet!
Anyway, there I go again - digression should be one of my names. As far as I can tell, Craig, this is right on the money. Well done. (And I learned about the Banksia plant.)
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2018
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No, no, no - I don't 'feel free' at all because I find this one of the more difficult forms to write (after I read one Gloria wrote that knocked my socks off, especially)! That woman is SUCH a talented poet!
Anyway, there I go again - digression should be one of my names. As far as I can tell, Craig, this is right on the money. Well done. (And I learned about the Banksia plant.)
Comment Written 30-Jun-2018
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2018
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And your comments about Gloria are right on the money as well, Dawn. Thanks for the kind comments. Craig
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My pleasure.
Comment from lyenochka
Wow! Thank you for introducing me to banksia. To me the flora and fauna of Australia is like that of another planet! So hoping to learn more from you. In California, they grow lots of eucalyptus which I imagine were imported from Australia but they are really dangerous during the regular fires there. Good to know that there is a plant that can survive fires well like banksia! Good idea about the tanka practice. Cheering you on!
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2018
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Wow! Thank you for introducing me to banksia. To me the flora and fauna of Australia is like that of another planet! So hoping to learn more from you. In California, they grow lots of eucalyptus which I imagine were imported from Australia but they are really dangerous during the regular fires there. Good to know that there is a plant that can survive fires well like banksia! Good idea about the tanka practice. Cheering you on!
Comment Written 29-Jun-2018
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2018
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Thanks so much, Helen. Yes, gum trees and fire aren't a good combination. Cheers, Craig
Comment from Joy Graham
Hi Craig,
You had me fooled. I thought the word for today was banksia. Well maybe there are two words for the day today :) That's a pretty awesome tree to have around if it can survive fires. Good tanka. It all looks to be in fine order.
Joy xx
reply by the author on 29-Jun-2018
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Hi Craig,
You had me fooled. I thought the word for today was banksia. Well maybe there are two words for the day today :) That's a pretty awesome tree to have around if it can survive fires. Good tanka. It all looks to be in fine order.
Joy xx
Comment Written 29-Jun-2018
reply by the author on 29-Jun-2018
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Thanks very much, Joy. They are awesome trees -- the flowers are attractive too, though this picture shows one past its "colourful" stage. Cheers, Craig
Comment from rama devi
Excellent tanka, Craig, with two concrete images in the first two lines and a unique and interesting pivot line. The commentary lines are great too...I love the alliterated two word fourth line. I would have liked if the enjambment between them was smoother, though. perhaps a dash?
adversity awakens--
old makes way for new
The phonetics in this are fantastic--especially the S and B sounds (plus P and W).
Musically well done!
And I learned about a new part of creation I'd never heard of before.
Blessings,
rd
reply by the author on 29-Jun-2018
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Excellent tanka, Craig, with two concrete images in the first two lines and a unique and interesting pivot line. The commentary lines are great too...I love the alliterated two word fourth line. I would have liked if the enjambment between them was smoother, though. perhaps a dash?
adversity awakens--
old makes way for new
The phonetics in this are fantastic--especially the S and B sounds (plus P and W).
Musically well done!
And I learned about a new part of creation I'd never heard of before.
Blessings,
rd
Comment Written 29-Jun-2018
reply by the author on 29-Jun-2018
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Thank you for the lovely comments, RD - they are really appreciated. And you're right, the dash makes the difference (hey, I'm sure that little mini-jingle could be used somewhere!) Many thanks, Craig
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:-))) Glad to help, dear Craig. Blessings, rd
Comment from Gloria ....
Hey, Craig. Good to see more tanka and also more flora. I swear I could read and look at these kind of books all day long.
That said just a few suggestions. The opening two lines should be presenting two concrete images, ie two things you could take a photograph of. In your first line your concrete image is seed pods, but as a photographer you would know that's not exact enough as there are many, many seeds pods. So what kind of seed pod? Ya know? So basically in the first two lines you are creating motion through polarity, ie, two things that the arc (much like electrical arcing) can jump back and forth between the two concrete images. Out of that arcing, the poet's observation, on the third pivot line, makes readers think, "oh man, I've never thought of it that way before". Or something like that. Or I couldn't have said it better myself. lol
You've done well with that observation because we humanoids are like the banksia with our vast, destructive conflagrations that spread like wildfire and care nothing for the delicacy and beauty destroyed in the process. I must say I very much agree with you on that point.
Anyway a fine tanka and I'm looking forward to more from your quill.
Enjoyed.
Gloria
reply by the author on 29-Jun-2018
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Hey, Craig. Good to see more tanka and also more flora. I swear I could read and look at these kind of books all day long.
That said just a few suggestions. The opening two lines should be presenting two concrete images, ie two things you could take a photograph of. In your first line your concrete image is seed pods, but as a photographer you would know that's not exact enough as there are many, many seeds pods. So what kind of seed pod? Ya know? So basically in the first two lines you are creating motion through polarity, ie, two things that the arc (much like electrical arcing) can jump back and forth between the two concrete images. Out of that arcing, the poet's observation, on the third pivot line, makes readers think, "oh man, I've never thought of it that way before". Or something like that. Or I couldn't have said it better myself. lol
You've done well with that observation because we humanoids are like the banksia with our vast, destructive conflagrations that spread like wildfire and care nothing for the delicacy and beauty destroyed in the process. I must say I very much agree with you on that point.
Anyway a fine tanka and I'm looking forward to more from your quill.
Enjoyed.
Gloria
Comment Written 29-Jun-2018
reply by the author on 29-Jun-2018
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Thank you for the most useful suggestions and kind comments, Gloria. Or should that be (said in best Elvis voice) "Tanka very much"? No, probably not. Cheers, Craig
Comment from Angela Hayes
Good read, educational, interesting, agriculture of a special type of plant, well presented, creative, poem has a lot of meaning, good choice of topic, good
photography close up, good combination.
Good Luck!
reply by the author on 29-Jun-2018
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Good read, educational, interesting, agriculture of a special type of plant, well presented, creative, poem has a lot of meaning, good choice of topic, good
photography close up, good combination.
Good Luck!
Comment Written 29-Jun-2018
reply by the author on 29-Jun-2018
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Thank you very much, Angela - most appreciated. Craig
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:)