Welcome to the second poetry challenge of the new year! We’ll continue the tradition of February verse to celebrate friendship. The Day of Love and Friendship is celebrated in México, Colombia, República Dominicana and Panamá. Your February challenge is to write a tanka poem about a dear person or companion animal. Where do you go together? What do you like to talk about or do? G-rated please.
Tanka format is five unrhymed lines, syllable count; 5-7-5-7-7.

Amiga
Want to go walking
by the lake or in a park?
swap garden stories
compare books we are reading
Or shall we boogie on zoom?
–Rebecca, 30 January 2023
The Challenge
Write a tanka poem in English or Spanish about a dear person or pet in English or Spanish. Deadline: Sunday, February 5, noon CST (GMT-6). G-rated please. If you are a blogger, please publish your poem on your website with the hashtag #ffpoemapop and link to this page by Feb. 5. If you are a poet at large, please post your poem below by February 5. I’ll publish a post with your poems and my matching translations next Tuesday, February 7th. Drop me a line with any questions.
¡Olé! –Rebecca

Febrero 2023 Poema de amistad
Estamos en el segundo Reto poético del año nuevo. Seguiremos la tradición de hacer versos para los amigos. El Día del amor y la amistad se celebra en México, Colombia, La República Dominicana y Panamá. Celebremos a un amigo o a una amiga. El reto de febrero es escribir un poema tanka sobre un amigo o una amiga. ¿Adónde van juntos? ¿Sobre que hablan? Para todas las audiencias, por favor.
El formato de Tanka es cinco líneas sin rimar, número de sílabas; 5-7-5-7-7.
Amiga
¿Quieres caminar
en un parque con un lago
hablar del jardín
comparar libros leídos
o bailar en fiesta Zoom?
–Rebecca 30 enero 2023
El reto poético
Escribe un poema tanka sobre una persona o una mascota querida en libre verso en español o en inglés. Para todas las audiencias por favor. La fecha de entrega es el domingo 5 febrero, al mediodía (Chicago) (GMT-6). Si tengas tu propio sitio web, favor de publicar el poema en tu blog con la etiqueta #ffpoemapop y haz un enlace a este artículo antes del 5 febrero. Escritores que sean damas y caballeros andantes, favor de añadir tu poema a los comentarios abajo antes del 5 febrero. ¡Publicaré un artículo con sus poemas y las traducciones mías correspondientes el próximo martes, 7 febrero! Consúltame con cualquier duda.
¡Olé! –Rebecca

This post also brought to you by Cee’s Flower of the day.
They sit in rockers
watching birds from the lanai
as I sit nearby
smiling at my two great loves
my wife and our cat together
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I really like your poem, Lou! Thanks for kicking off the challenge in such a great fashion.
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I love the ending of this poem in particular. it’s almost surprising, but so fitting.
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Thanks, Margaret. I love how you read and comment on all the poets’ work. I appreciate how you support the poet community!
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Well, we’re all in this together!
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Yes, poets thrive among poets.
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Great challenge Rebecca
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Thanks, Sadje! Look forward to a poem from you. 🙂
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🥰
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Oh what a gorgeous color on your orchid photo 😀
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Thank you, Cee! Olbrich orchid show starts this week. More to come.
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Oh I look forward to seeing your photos 😀
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Thanks!
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I’m speechless!!
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Wow, thanks amiga!
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Will think of something for this 🙂
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Thanks, Hammad. You write good poetry. I’d be honored.
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Now what’s tanka poem! 😬
Let me think of someone. 🤔
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Thanks, Devang. The syllable count and example poem will describe the tanka for you.
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I’ll check it
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Let me think about something for this!!
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Great, glad you’ll participate Vidah.
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Here’s mine. Loved the challenge. As per usual… https://oddsends707138946.wordpress.com/2023/02/04/stella-by-britta-benson/
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Thanks, Britta. Look forward to reading it!
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Hi Rebecca;
Here’s mine!
http://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2023/02/04/february-poetry-challenge-tanka-for-a-loved-one/
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Thanks, Sadje. Companionable friendship is wonderful.
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Thanks Rebecca
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Thank you for hosting this. I always love reading your translations 🙂 Here’s mine: https://cognacproject.wordpress.com/2023/02/04/fifteen/
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Thanks for your poem! Glad you participated. 🙂
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thank you 🙂
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https://wp.me/pcSXvJ-5C
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Here’s mine Rebecca. Thank you for the challenge
https://mindfills.wordpress.com/2023/02/05/trusting-a-tanka/
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Really lovely. Thanks for your contribution to the challenge!
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❤️
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Well, I think I just squeeze in under the wire, Rebecca. Better late than never!
My new pal next door –
a puppy, keen to caper,
play, frisk, frolic, jump.
Life is new and life is fun.
Old age is for tomorrow.
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Sounds like an adorable four legged friend! Thanks for your poem.
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She’s an absolute poppet. Won’t take ‘too tired’ for an answer.
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Happy Sunday, Rebecca:
Here’s my link:
http://suzetteb.home.blog/2023/02/05/self-friend-a-tanka-february-poetry-challenge/
Cheers.
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Thanks for your poem about an important friendship!
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We have been away, visiting friends and family. it was a long road trip and I missed your challenge. We’re in the Netherlands at the beginning of next month – for my birthday! However the plan for that trip is to stay mainly in one place, so I should have a better chance of writing something.
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Sorry to miss a fabulous poem from you, but it sounds like you’re having a wonderful time. Happy birthday next month!
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Thank you!
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Good day, writer Rebecca! My Sunday morning writing time was too brief to pen you some lines, but I enjoyed reading your packed post and I greatly appreciate your personal invitation to join the poetic lineup. My intentions are pure but I seem to fall short with prompts. Apologies. I will continue to appreciate, of course. 😊
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Darn, hope to see a poem from you next month 🙂
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