Joyous Spirits

Prompt: Write a poem in the spirit of Christmas, using the chosen form.

Tanka is Japan's oldest poetry form.
Traditionally a tanka has five lines with 5-7-5-7-7 syllables.

Tanka presents one image or mood in the first two lines, shifting to a related idea in the next three, commonly about sadness, love, the shortness of life, or the seasons. Unlike the Japanese Haiku, Tanka may use poetical devices such as metaphor and personification.

**********************************************

Joyous Spirits

Snowflakes celebrate
The starry nighttime glory
Children bundled warm
Shadowing parents shiver
As the caroling begins…

Joyous spirits sing
Not only for the season
But to One above
Who not only bestows life
But the promise of heaven.

Warm drinks are offered
After carols have been sung
Happy hearts accept
Appreciation of glee
Knowing they’ve received much more.


************************************************