I love poetry, both reading and writing it, and have found a home with the dVerse Poets Pub. Prompts are published several times per week for poets to use as inspiration for a new creation. I don’t always have time to participate but when I do, it is interesting, challenging, stimulating, educational and rewarding. Today, I’m participating in another poetry challenge, Tanka Tuesday. This poetry challenge site focuses on syllabic poetry — a fun way to sharpen your poetry chops and keep your brain nimble.
Today’s Tanka Tuesday challenge was to write a syllabic poem that addresses New Year’s resolutions and incorporates one of ten suggested resolutions into the poem somehow. How fun!
I chose the Italian Ottava rima form, which follows this structure:
- Rhyme scheme: a / b / a / b / a / b / c / c
- 8 lines
- 11 syllables per line
I wanted to use words that were tough to rhyme, to make the poem more challenging, and took a few of the seven deadly sins into account.
My 2026 Attitude
Just in time for new year’s, I’ll find new resolve:
I’ll forgo anger and never be wrothful;
I’ll assume good intent, forgive, and absolve;
I won’t be lazy, gluttonous or slothful;
Nor prideful, nor greedy—I’ll be more evolved.
I’ll seek out the good, steer clear of the awful,
Volunteer more, and practice my gratitude.
I’ll give myself and others more latitude.
After I finished the poem, I went back to the challenge and read a few of the others (highly recommended). Most of them chose the actual tanka format for their creations, so I thought I’d better do that, too. As a newbie, I want to fit in! A tanka is a Japanese poem consisting of five lines, with these syllables in the lines: 5, 7, 5, 7, 7. There are 31 syllables in all, and the poem should paint a picture of an event or mood — often illustrating a change in feeling.
Here’s mine, on the same topic.
forgoing anger
pridefulness, greed and grudges,
I’ll seek out the good,
practice my gratitude, and
latitude my attitude
Now that I’ve written them both, I like to think of the tanka as the synopsis of the longer poem.
This was fun, challenging, and a perfect thing to do on a cold winter afternoon while on vacation on the Mississippi coast. I chose the gulls for images because I think they definitely have latitude in their attitude. And if you’re wondering, wrothful (first poem) is a real word. Obscure, archaic, and absolutely fair game in formal poetry. I checked. Twice. 😁
I’d love to hear what this sparked for you — whether you lean toward formal poetry, free verse, or are simply resolving to show yourself a little more latitude in the year ahead. As always, I treasure every comment.
© 2025, Glover Gardens
I enjoyed reading both of your poems. And the pictures of gulls. I love seagulls. They do have a great deal of latitude in their attitude. Happy New Year!🎈
Happy New Year to YOU, Melissa! I feel I am getting to know you through your excellent poems and prompts.
Great poems, Kim! I saw more seagulls than usually this past weekend at the beach. Guess they are migrating!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
I’ve been around seagulls all my life, having grown up on the Texas coast, and I never realized some of them migrated until your comment. They’re just always around, so it never occurred to me. Thanks for the opportunity to learn!
Beautiful poems, Kim. And I loved your photos. 😊 Sending wishes for you to have a very happy 2026!
Thank you, Gwen! I love taking photos of birds, and the gulls here give me plenty of opportunities. Happy New Year to you, too!
Beautiful Kim! Love the attitide of gratitude. Happy wishes and blessings, The Bloom TDL 🪷
Thank you! Gratitude is a force multiplier, isn’t it?
Hi Kim welcome to Tanka Tuesday… I loved your New Year resolution inspired poems both the Italian Ottava rima and your tanka made me smile 💜 I especially liked the ending lines in both…. Latitude and attitude… Love that!! 💜💜
Thank you very much! I’m excited to join the Tanka Tribe.
Beautiful poems, Kim. Welcome to Tanka Tuesday, and wishing you a bright and peaceful 2026. 💖
Thank you so much! I hope 2026 finds you and your happy and well.
I like your latitude with attitude as well. Happy New Year from Down Under !
Glad to hear from you, Rall! Happy New Year right back and here’s to a prosperous and healthy 2026.
Well done, you! Two poems! I don’t always fit in – as I am a rebel! And it is always good to learn new things.
One of the things I do is to title everything – which one isn’t supposed to do in some poetic forms – but that is how I keep track of my writing, by dates and titles. And as for haiku – there are several schools of thought on syllable or breath count. So always, always, always write from where you are and what you makes you happy. With all that said, welcome to Tanka Tuesday and Happy New Year too! ~Jules
Great advice, Jules, in fact, let’s call your thoughts ‘jewels’ in honor of your blog. I usually have the urge to title haiku, one of the forms you’re not supposed to provide a title for, and sometimes do. But I always feel a little squeamish about it, like I’m going to get called out by the teacher, LOL. Thanks for the encouragement to go with my gut and Happy New Year to you, too.
Have you seen my ‘tag’ line?
JulesPaige because words are like jewels on a page 😀
I shortened JulesPaige to Jules because the computer doesn’t like two names together with a captial in the middle and no space. But I have seen other names like that; MaryAnn… etc.
I personally don’t belong to any haiku societies… just because none of them can really agree on the ‘rules’. The American version of 5,7,5 is what is taught in schools, others like 3,5,3 syllables. Others short long short breath counts and others no counting at all, but just short verse – I don’t always use a kigo either and that is a big stickler with some haiku folks. There are lists of kigo, and you acutally can make your own kigo lists. So my thinking is if you can make your own kigo (seasonal/holiday words) then why do you need kigo at all? But that’s the rebel in me 😉
Ah yes, the big 5-7-5 or Not argument. It gets heated! usually prefer 5-7-5 but not always. I wrote about it once here in the blog. https://glovergardens.com/national-haiku-writing-month-nahaiwrimo-and-the-5-7-5-controversy/ – And good for you for being a rebel!
Beautiful poems and images Kim ❤️
Thank you so much! Your comments mean a lot.
Yes! Seeking out the good, resonance for me.
So glad it landed with you!!!
This is really a beautiful affirmation and a great way to start the day. And thank you for exposing me to the Italian Ottava rima form.
Thank you! Your appreciation of my writing and thoughts means a lot to me.