Smorgasbord Poetry – Colleen Chesebro’s Tuesday Weekly Challenge #TankaProse – Above the World by Sally Cronin

This week for Colleen Chesebro’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge Poet’s Choice I have created another Tanka Prose to get a bit of practice in… a tribute to my time in Wales living and working in the Snowdonia National park.

Snowdonia – Image by LeoRijnja from Pixabay

Tanka Prose – Above the World

Rare gift of late summer sunshine. Younger legs than today, eager to take even the steepest paths. Breathlessly grateful for viewpoints on the climb. Ultimate prize, tomato and mayonnaise sandwiches high above the world. Late summer grass offers resting place before the reluctant descent before dark.

Memories of youth
when mind and body aligned
eager for the climb
to reach the top of the world
above life’s imperfections.

©Sally Cronin 2021

There is still time to participate in this week’s challenge:  Colleen Chesebro’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge Poet’s Choice 

My latest book is a collection of poetry and was published in July 2021 and here is a recent review.

One of the recent reviews for the collection

 Lizzy‘s review five stars Sep 04, 2021

This was such a special book for me. Sally Cronin has a true talent for marrying depth and simplicity and making it look easy.

Each poem in this wonderful collection is preceded by a photograph followed by a poem that complements it so naturally. What really impressed me was that the author so easily packs solid truths into poems of so few words. As a reader, I could tell how much thought went into every single word she chose as a brush to paint her stories. There wasn’t one poem that I didn’t read two or three times to fully enjoy its message.

I knew I would love this book with the very first poem, “Washed Up,” showing us the beauty of an object brought to the shore by the sea … one that should have disrupted the scenery, yet oddly enhanced it.

I also loved the poem “Our Legacy” that offered a simple truth about writers. It should be an anthem.

“Silver Lining to Isolation” brought forth truths that I believe most of the world can understand right now. I really appreciated the positive message in what has been a dark, yet revealing/enlightening time for many.

“The Crocodile,” which I won’t explain, was just entirely spot on. I’ll leave that there. “Advancing Years” is another poem upon which I heap similar praise: it was so eerily, yet stunningly, on target.

While most of this glorious poetry is short, its messages are far more poignant than much longer works I have read. I don’t want to mention every poem, but I want to say that I so related to Sally Cronin’s thoughts on climate change, ageism, immortality, and yearning.

Lastly, I especially loved the poetry, preceded by the author’s youthful photos, that so brilliantly captured moments of her early life as skillfully as the photos themselves did. They all resonated so deeply with me.

This is a book one could read (and look at the photographs) over and over and each time, the reader would find a new tidbit or truth not seen before. A truly lovely collection. Kudos to Ms. Cronin with a short message:. I’m so very glad you wrote this! 

You can find all my books and buy links: Sally’s Books and Reviews 2021

 

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you have enjoyed the poem.. thanks Sally.