the war was over
her childhood sweetheart
didn’t return
and those blood-red
out-of-season poppies bloomed
each year in November
Kim M. Russell, 11th November 2018
My response to Imaginary Garden with Real Toads Fussy Little Forms: Cherita also linked to Poets United Poetry Pantry
This weekend Marian brings us the cherita, a form created by ai li, which builds on haiku and tanka, and was inspired by the six-word story. She reminds us of Hemingway’s six-word story:’ For sale, baby shoes, never worn’.
Marian says that the cherita is a six-line poem, written in three stanzas as follows: stanza 1 consists of one line; stanza 2 of two lines; and stanza 3 of three lines. The line length is up to us. The idea is to write a short story in six lines, also including our handwritten/notebook versions.
Perfect for Veteran’s Day …
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Thank you, Helen.
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I also brought up armistice… there were too many who never returned.
Now only the stories live on in the poppies.
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I’ll be reading and commenting again in the morning, Bjorn. I look forward to reading yours then.
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Wonderful for Remembrance Day. This happened to so many people – lovers, mothers, fathers…a truly lovely poem and full of gentle beauty.
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Thank you, Toni.
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This is really lovely!
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Thank you, Vicki!
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sensitive and very apt – and I like how you’ve used the re-blooming poppies … it adds another element and dimension to it …
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Cheers Pat.
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How fitting this poem for this pognant weekend when I remember uncles who never returned at the end of WW2.
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I have my poppy.
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Such a timely theme for the day.. We shall remember them in lines of poetry.
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We haven’t reached the eleventh hour over here yet – another hour and ten minutes to go.
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Timely.. love the close and the notebook version with the art!
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Thank you, Rajani!
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Oh, the brevity makes the tragedy even sadder. The line breaks have a meaning of their own in this heartbreaking tale.
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Thank you so much, Anmol.
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Your cherita is stellar, Kim, a compression wildly blooming. What a haunting final image.
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Thank you very much, Brendan.
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Poignant, Kim.
The cherita is an interesting form.
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Thank you, Merril.
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Oh Kim, this is beautifully poignant. The image of blooming poppies gives it a whole new dimension and meaning.
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Thank you, Sanaa.
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This is a sad little poem…
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Thank you, Annell.
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Yes, gorgeous and fitting. You drew those poppies? I’m impressed.
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Thank you, Marian.
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My heart just broke… remembering… feeling…
What a fantastic use to the form, Kim. I am terribly jealous. You tell a whole story–vivid and real–in such few words.
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Thank you, dear Magaly.
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Simple and yet heart wrenching.
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Thank you, Colleen.
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Heartbreak in a few short lines. So well told.
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Thank you, Sherry.
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I am really loving this form….your poem brings back so many memories of my grandfather who always had me buy a poppy from a veteran on this day and what it meant….such a deep solemnity and grief of so many lives lost.
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Thank you so much, Donna.
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Have’t seen the artificial poppies in a couple of ears. We used to get them in return for donations to veterans. I assume the poppies are still in the field, however. Not a big help, are they? On the other hand, they have been ennobled by poetry:
“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below. “
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What a compelling form – and you have written to it, stunningly.
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Thank you, Wendy.
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Yes, the perfect poem for Veteran’s Day
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Thank you, Susie.
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Powerful writing. Poppies are no replacement for a lost love…as symbolic as they might be.
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Thank you, Mary.
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A timely piece that reminds us of the bravery of our soldiers.
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Thanks Viv.
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Loved this!!
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Thank you!
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hmmm. outstanding – and I love the drawing and notebook.
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Thank you, Margaret.
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Heartbreaking
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Perfect for Veterans Day. I love the idea of the handwritten note portion.
Pat
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Thank you, Pat.
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A poignant story!
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Thank you, Rosemary!
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Perfect, sad tale for Veterans Day.
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Thanks Sara.
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This is poignantly perfect for Veteran’s Day. I love how you showed us your drawing of the poppies and the handwritten version of your poem. I like that idea!
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Thank you, Kira!
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