by

The Mermaid, a zentangle and tanka

weave into my dreams

watery visions of pearls

even as I drown

let me drift with the fishes

charmed by your silvery tail

**

Something a little different!

Above is my first zentangle, a drawing I produced while my husband zoned out on Sunday football (borrrring). My effort was inspired by the lovely artist and blogger, Sarah, over at Art Expedition. Her posts are a delight, and I encourage you to visit her… and try a zentangle.

The poem is a tanka, inspired by Colleen’s #Tanka Tuesday poetry challenge. We had to use synonyms of Mystery (dream) and Attract (charmed). Colleen’s poetry challenges are huge fun, and she makes it easy to try new forms. Head over for a peek and perhaps give one a try.

Enjoy your creativity!

108 thoughts on “The Mermaid, a zentangle and tanka”

  1. Sean P Carlin says:
    March 6, 2019 at 5:55 pm

    I didn’t know you could draw, too, Diana! Gorgeous; I love the way it complements the poem itself. I love mermaid mythology; I’ve always harbored (pardon the pun) a desire to do a mermaid story, I’ve just never come up with one worth doing. Nice work!

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      March 7, 2019 at 6:11 am

      I’m fascinated by mermaid mythology too, Sean, mostly because it’s such a mesmerizing blend of love and death. 🙂 I enjoy being creative in other ways, but it draws time away from writing…. My grandson and I are mailing each other drawings lately so it gives me an excuse to play around. Thanks for the visit!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Ocean Bream says:
    January 25, 2019 at 3:49 pm

    The drawing is gorgeous! I did not know there was an artist in you! And the words go ‘swimmingly’ with it (maybe not so, as the narrator is drowning!). Mermaids are so loved but they are so sinister – I would never like to meet one in real life. Your words are ethereal and beautiful, as always. You have such a way with weaving them together. Happy writing!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Olga says:
    January 21, 2019 at 5:11 pm

    Amazing art work and words that drifted me into a dream of an alternate reality. Lovely! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  4. memadtwo says:
    January 21, 2019 at 11:43 am

    This is lovely Diana. The drawing really reminds me of the one Nina just did for our Magnetic Oracle poem.
    And mermaids are always welcome! (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      January 21, 2019 at 11:46 am

      Thank you, Kerfe. My mermaids are usually involved in drowning someone. Ha ha. I don’t know why, maybe to balance out their magical sweetness. 🙂 I’m honored that you enjoyed this one. It was nice to turn off the computer for a couple hours. ❤

      Like

  5. Julie Holmes, author says:
    January 21, 2019 at 7:00 am

    Such a talent! Beautiful drawing, and matching poem! Love them both!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Joanne Sisco says:
    January 21, 2019 at 4:39 am

    LOVE your zentangle!! You are obviously multi talented!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Colleen’s 2019 #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge Recap No. 119, “Mystery & Attract” #SynonymsOnly – Colleen Chesebro ~ The Faery Whisperer says:
    January 20, 2019 at 11:04 pm

    […] untitled, #Tankaweave into my dreamswatery visions of pearlseven as I drownlet me drift with the fishescharmed by your silvery tailD. Wallace Peach […]

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Mick Canning says:
    January 20, 2019 at 3:07 am

    Very successful, Diana. The tanka, the drawing and their combination.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Dawn D says:
    January 19, 2019 at 3:39 am

    WOW! That drawing is… words fail me.
    Impressive, entrancing, charming (in a magical way).
    I wish I could produce this in such short time. But even with hours ahead of me, my line would not be as clear!
    And to read the words associated with it… Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      January 22, 2019 at 1:54 pm

      Hi Dawn, I don’t know what happened to my reply to your comment so I’m replying again. Thank you for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed my mermaid. 🙂 It was that or zone out playing games on my phone. Hope you’re having a great week! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      • Dawn D says:
        January 22, 2019 at 3:48 pm

        Great is probably not the word I would have chosen, but… I’m surviving so far, so it’s not all bad!
        I’ll probably write about it (even if I’ve just hit publish on a sort of… stream of consciousness post).
        Hoping your week is going great! ❤

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Jennie says:
    January 18, 2019 at 7:46 pm

    Diana, this is fabulous!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Violet Lentz says:
    January 18, 2019 at 2:31 pm

    I believe I would feel quite the same if I was ever introduced to a mermaid. They enchant me.. This was beautiful.

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      January 18, 2019 at 3:20 pm

      Thanks, Violet. Whenever I write about mermaids, someone is drowning! And for some reason, the drowning person doesn’t mind! They are enchanting indeed. And a bit dangerous. 🙂

      Like

  12. janmalique says:
    January 18, 2019 at 3:41 am

    The mermaid is quite magical as are the words. Sinuous and fluid.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Steven Baird says:
    January 18, 2019 at 3:14 am

    Wow. Beautiful work, Diana.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Solitaire says:
    January 18, 2019 at 3:05 am

    Zentabgle, fabulous!😊

    Liked by 1 person

  15. michnavs says:
    January 17, 2019 at 11:12 pm

    Wow Diana..watching football ang doing that?…such a talent.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. balroop2013 says:
    January 17, 2019 at 7:30 pm

    That drawing is incredibly beautiful Diana! How can one person possess so much of talent! I am speechless!!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Jessica Bakkers says:
    January 17, 2019 at 4:18 pm

    What the…? No fair! You shouldn’t be a brilliant writer AND be able to draw! How in the world can the rest of us compare? 🙂
    Truly, it’s a lovely drawing and makes a story pop in my head instantly (mermaid princess and her cursed lover, who’s forced to be a fish every day of the year but one, and on that day she has the chance to win him back…).

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Val Boyko says:
    January 17, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    I love this new creative expression Diana❣️ Embrace it fully and please keep sharing!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Bette A. Stevens says:
    January 17, 2019 at 3:20 pm

    Oh, such talent! Wonderful, wonderful…

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Lyn Horner says:
    January 17, 2019 at 1:33 pm

    I love your poem and zentangle! I also find football and most other sports boring, except for TCU (Texas Christian University U.) It’s my daughter’s alma mater and our home team here in Fort Worth. Supporting the Hornfrogs is a given in our house. I actually cheer when they score. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      January 17, 2019 at 1:47 pm

      Thanks, Lyn. I was worried I might offend football fans. The “boring” was deleted and then added back in for the final post. It’s all in fun. I’m glad you enjoyed the post, my friend. “Go Hornfrogs!”

      Liked by 1 person

      • Lyn Horner says:
        January 18, 2019 at 9:49 am

        I wouldn’t worry, Diana, about offending football fans. They’re pretty thick-skinned. And there are plenty of us non fans who suffer through our spouse’s screaming at the tv when a player flubs up. Personally, I have learned to bury my head in my laptop and close my ears. :))

        Liked by 1 person

  21. Mary J. McCoy-Dressel says:
    January 17, 2019 at 1:23 pm

    I thought your lovely mermaid was a coloring book page. I’m intrigued! So much, that I had to watch a training video on making zentangles because I must live under a rock. Beautiful. So is the tanka, Diana.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Bel says:
    January 17, 2019 at 1:20 pm

    It’s not fair you draw as well as you write! I love your drawing and the poem (as always)

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Writing to Freedom says:
    January 17, 2019 at 12:56 pm

    Lovely drawing and tanka full of flow and vibrancy!

    Liked by 1 person

  24. thecontentedcrafter says:
    January 17, 2019 at 12:31 pm

    You never cease to amaze me Diana – what an amazing piece of work to produce as an alternative to watching sport! I haven’t zentangled for several years – this was inspiring 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      January 17, 2019 at 12:43 pm

      Well, Pauline, if you feel inspired, be sure to post your drawing. It was fun. My husband had no idea what I was doing or why. Ha ha. But he didn’t interrupt my focus. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. 😀 Thanks for the visit!

      Like

  25. Molly Stevens - Shallow Reflections says:
    January 17, 2019 at 12:08 pm

    If only I didn’t love football so much, perhaps I would have time to write a Tanka, Diana. (I’m not going to hold it against you that you think football is boring). But to do an exquisite drawing, too? I’ll leave that to your fabulous multi-talented self! So lovely.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. shortgirl says:
    January 17, 2019 at 11:40 am

    Very nice!

    Liked by 1 person

  27. EDC Writing/Believing Sight Unseen says:
    January 17, 2019 at 11:37 am

    Zentangle and Tanka … you’ve weaved your magic here, Diana!

    Liked by 1 person

  28. roughwighting says:
    January 17, 2019 at 11:28 am

    Absolutely fantastical. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Colleen Chesebro says:
    January 17, 2019 at 11:23 am

    Wait… you draw too, Diana? That is fabulous! What a lovely and whimsical piece to go along with your Tanka. You are just bursting with creativity! That’s amazing. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  30. Sarah says:
    January 17, 2019 at 10:50 am

    Oh, Diana! This is so beautiful!! I really love your sensuous mermaid! Are you planning on colouring it too? Because I really could see that. 😊 And thank you so much for the shout-out! 😄
    Can’t wait what you’re going to paint during the superbowl!! 😄❤

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Priscilla Bettis says:
    January 17, 2019 at 10:48 am

    That’s your FIRST zentangle? Wow, it’s fantastic!

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      January 17, 2019 at 11:30 am

      Of course, I doodled in school. Ha ha. Thanks for the kind comment, Priscilla. There’s nothing like football to convince we to do something besides watch TV. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

      Like

  32. Mae Clair says:
    January 17, 2019 at 10:19 am

    Wow! I’m not sure what I’m impressed by more…the exquisite vision woven with words, or the gorgeous drawing. You are indeed gifted, Diana!

    Like

  33. Carol J Forrester says:
    January 17, 2019 at 10:15 am

    Zentangle? Lovely poem and drawing. A much better is of your time than watching the football.

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      January 17, 2019 at 10:18 am

      Thanks, Carol. I usually zone out playing silly games on my phone, but sometimes I feel like it’s such a waste of time. My fitbit sometimes records those hours as napping! Lol. This was much more fun and creative. Thanks for the visit!

      Liked by 2 people

      • Carol J Forrester says:
        January 17, 2019 at 11:36 am

        That sounds like a bit of a judgy fit-bit.
        Also, I wanted to let you know that your new writing prompt has sort of inspired me to go back and look at when I last posted a short story to my blog. It’s been almost a year. But I also found a load of much older short stories that get almost no traffic these days due to being publishing in 2012/2013. I’ve decided to go back and edit them and put them into a PDF document that can then be downloaded from my blog (hopefully). It won’t be done for a while but I’m re-posting a story a week as I edit them. Writing This Terrible Thing Called Hope sort of kick-started something in my brain.

        Liked by 1 person

  34. Jacquie Biggar says:
    January 17, 2019 at 9:53 am

    You DREW that? Wow, your talent knows no bounds!

    Liked by 2 people

  35. Khaya Ronkainen says:
    January 17, 2019 at 9:35 am

    Oh, beauty! Words and the drawing.

    Liked by 1 person

  36. wordsfromanneli says:
    January 17, 2019 at 9:31 am

    I like it a lot!!

    Liked by 2 people

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