Rail against despair
When deceit inters the truth
When corruption shrieks
And Narcissus chokes the void
With yowls from a vacant heart
For Colleen’s #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge. We had to use synonyms for empty (vacant) and space (void).
Sorry about the politics. I couldn’t help it with those prompts.
Myths of the Mirror 
Well done, Diana! And so timely. The damage over the past three years is indescribable. I pray we can recover…
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It’s going to take a revolution of thought and a generation of commitment. I hope we’re up to it, Julie. Thanks for the visit! Keep resisting.
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Absolutely no need to apologize, Diana – I totally understand! At least the Narcissus in the original story was quite something to look at, can’t say the same for this grotesque monster.😂
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Ha ha. So true. But Donald thinks he’s the best ever or everything. Gak. I can’t wait until he’s history, though it’s going to take generations to recover. Thanks for stopping by to read. 🙂
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Me too! I really, really hope he won’t be re-elected but I’m fearing the worst. 😯
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If he’s reelected… ugh. I’ll have to move.
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I guess that explained why so many Americans live in Berlin these days! 😂
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Oh yeah, no doubt, Sarah. Canada is a real option for me as it would only be a day’s drive to visit my daughter and grandson. I think Trump is going to be impeached though. Phew!
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Let’s keep our fingers crossed!
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Well done. These lines:
And Narcissus chokes the void
With yowls from a vacant heart
Brilliant, my friend.
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Glad you enjoyed it, Sarah. I can rant for hours about this guy. But this is a good summary of my opinion of the guy’s character. 🙂 It was an easy one to write.
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Powerful, Diana! It speaks what so many of us are feeling!
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No kidding, Jan. I am so sick of this guy and his destructive choices. Ugh. Not too much longer, I hope. Thanks for coming over to read. Have a great day!
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Complete empathy, Diana…
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Thanks, Steven. I know you have your “empty spaces” too sitting in London. Sigh.
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Britain is in quite a state, Diana. The billionaires are wrecking us, too…
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A very good response to the prompt, especially when considering the words you had to use. .
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Kind of a no-brainer, Andrew. Empty space = Donald. Lol. Thanks for taking a peek at the poem, and have a great day. 🙂
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Well done, Diana!
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Thanks, Teri. My little poetic protest amongst all my other real-life rants. I’m hoping the monster is going down soon. 🙂 Have a great week!
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Lord, this felt good to read. And to scream out RESIST. Poetry is an excellent way to do so. Yours says so much in a few TANKA words. xo
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Thanks, Pam. I can rant for hours, but it was kind of cool how a short poem could rap it up for the day. 🙂 Resist can mean lots of things, including spreading kindness and love into that void. Resist!
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I actually think that is the best way to resist. “They go low, we go high.”
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😀
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Go you! Stick it to the man (with the orange skin and crazy hair) 😉
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Ha! I’m happy to. If only it made a difference other than to make me feel better. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it, Jess. Have a great week!
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You too, lovely 🤗
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This is fabulous! The commander in chief certainly yowls, doesn’t he? LOL! ❤
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I’m glad you enjoyed this one, Colleen. As soon as I saw the prompts this popped into my head complete (versus other poems where I edit them 100 times. Lol.) Yes, he’s a yowler among other things. 🙂 Great prompts, my friend.
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You did a great job expressing your thoughts. I’m ready for it all to be over. LOL! ❤
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You’re not going to believe this, but I just found this comment in spam! Lol. Thanks for the visit, Colleen. I’m glad you enjoyed the poem. I can’t wait for it to be over too!
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LOL! Mercury Retrograde! YIKES! I bet WP is having problems. 😦
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😀
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Nailed it girl! So few words exude so much. Resist!!! ❤
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Thank you! I have a whole bunch of words for this guy and had no trouble picking out a few choice ones for a poem. Ha ha. Yes, resist with love and kindness. Show the way!
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Amen!!! ❤
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No need to apologise, Diana – we can’t keep such an important part of society out all the time, especially when it speaks to us. Great prompt!
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Thanks so much for stopping by to read, Sophie. I think a lot of people agree with you. Complete silence about such important stuff feels irresponsible. I’m glad you liked the poem. 🙂
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In a world filled with endless words of no sense, when vitriol is the accepted norm, your powerful concise tanka brings sanity and reason. Between your county’s politics and the unbelievable ineptitude of U.K. politics ordinary people despair… beggars belief how it got this far!
Yep, I tend to avoid politics on WP but had to reply to this!
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Thanks for the comment, Annika. This poem came very easily and sums up so much of how I feel. That’s the power of poetry, I think. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m feeling hopeful lately too, despite all the terrible damage done. Have a wonderful weekend, my friend. ❤
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Nice poem Diana filled with truth bombs. May we lead with love and wisdom, even when our leaders won’t.
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A beautiful comment, Brad. Yes, that is one of the best responses to hate and fear – to model the golden rule and show the way. Happy Weekend, my friend. ❤
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Agreed Diana.
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Wonderful entry here, Diana. You’ll recall at the beginning of “all this,” despite my own strong views, I was taking the stand to avoid political commentary so that I could earn an ear, listen, learn and ask questions that might cause people to think new thoughts. I think it’s safe to say… we’re well past that. I’ve had to find creative new ways, as you have done here, to speak up without attacking the people with whom I’m conversing. It’s a tricky business but a necessary one.
Just for fun, I’ll add a quick haiku (I used “blank” as the synonym for both ’empty’ and ‘space’). It represents those who’ve tried to ignore it, hoping it just goes away, yet who no longer can:
A glint in blank eyes
Fingers long numb clutch to fists
The Undoing stirs
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Excellent, Erik! Thanks for the haiku. Well done, my friend. There certainly is a sense of numbness and unconscious determination among his devotees. The cheers at the recent rallies make me scratch my head. But that minority of Americans who are determined to turn away from the truth is shrinking. I think one way to resist is to protest and writer letters and express our outrage. Another is to keep spreading kindness and to work for justice. You’re good at that. ❤
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Being a proponent of knowing one’s strengths as well as their weaknesses, I must say… we are good at that.
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Reblogged this on Art by Rob Goldstein and commented:
Power poetry from D. Wallace Peach
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Aww. Thanks for the reblog, Robert. We are on the same page regarding this criminal and his accomplices. I’m glad you enjoyed the poem, my friend.
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Wow!
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That vacant heart has no bottom. I had a similar reaction to the words. Hope to get it posted tonight. (K)
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Thanks, Kerfe. I’m going to run over to your site to read. Keep spreading the love – that’s the best remedy to the rampant hate and fear. 🙂
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Well, politics is the elephant in the room these days. Powerful writing and message, my friend. Well done!
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Yeah, hard to avoid it. At least things seem to have shaken loose, and the truth that some of us have seen since the beginning is becoming harder to deny. Perhaps there’s hope for the democracy. 🙂 Thanks for the visit, my friend.
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Yes indeed. Have a great writing week, Diana. 🙂
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A msg so many of us relate too. Brava!
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It’s hard to keep in at times, Holly, even on a non-political blog. Thanks for reading and for the kind comment. 🙂
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Oh, don’t I know it, and getting worse everyday. I used to put out quite a bit of political posts, it seems almost cowardly not to. 🙂 ❤
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Story told so well in your powerful poetic diatribe! Sharing!
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Thanks for the visit, Bette. Politics is such a hot potato, but sometimes I just gotta let it out. 🙂 Thanks for sharing too.
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Well done!
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Nicely done, Diana!
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Thanks, Jill. Sometimes poems pop into my head. Other times they’re never done. This one was an easy one for a change. I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
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Yell it to the world in your Tanka, Diana! Great use of the synonyms for empty. 🙂
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Thanks, Mary. I’m yelling at my congressmen and women. 🙂 Occasionally at other people. Mostly I just try to practice as I preach though – spread the kindness and love. And Vote. 😀
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I love the impactfulness of it 🙂
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Thanks, Theresa. Sometimes a lot can be said with few words. This one just popped into my head with those prompts. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
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No need to be “Sorry about the politics,” Diana. The situation facing this country (and the world, for that matter) far transcends politics. At a bare minimum, common decency, how we treat our fellow human beings, and “no one is above the law” are at stake.
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I agree, but I can go on huge rants, and I’m trying to keep the blog focused on writing and books. I have other venues where I speak my mind with vehemence – like to my congressmen and women! But I couldn’t help sharing a bit of my vitriol this morning (disguised as poetry.) 🙂
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Concise, loaded and well delivered. 👍🏽
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Thanks, Khaya. It’s extra special with a poet of your caliber likes my poem. 🙂 I hope you’re enjoying autumn and still finding time to write.<3
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We have the evil king and those seeking to dethrone him- this would make an excellent fantasy novel 🙂
Enjoyed the poem, Diana- so talented ❤
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Thanks, Jacquie. Yes… he thinks he’s a king, or dictator, or emperor, or God, for heaven’s sake. I wish it was only in the realm of fantasy. 🙂 Thanks for the visit. ❤
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Resist!! ❤ Well said Diana and I have my fingers crossed there's a growing number of folks waking up to their humanity and ditching their party line.
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It seems like those who want a kinder, gentler, and more responsible approach to life are finally gaining ground, Pauline. We’re not there yet, but perhaps there is hope. Keep spreading the love in face of all the fear and hatred. ❤
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Diana, this is powerful. Stand up and cheer!
Well done, my friend. Hugs on the wing!
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I love the idea that resistance can also be spreading love in the midst of bigotry, cruelty, and fear. Keep resisting! Thanks for the visit, my friend. ❤
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Indeed it can. Well said again.
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This poem is quite impactful, Diana.
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Thanks, Robbie. Things are heating up here and the prompts just seemed to fit for me. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Have a great weekend!
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You too, Diana
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Why waste words when a few can say all…each word is loaded Diana. Only if people understand!
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Thanks, Balroop. I can rant for hours and yet this short little poem said it all succinctly. You’re so right about poetry and the meaning that can be captured in a few words. Thanks for reading and for the lovely comment. ❤
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Well it’s not overtly political and for that, I thank you!
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Yeah. I know that authors should probably steer clear, but once in a while I can’t help it, Jacqui. Thanks for swinging by to say hi! 🙂
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I’m happy you didn’t resist, and chose to voice your resistance. 😀
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Ha ha ha ha. Lol. Only you. 😀
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Interesting way to take it!
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Thanks! It was so easy to encapsulate my views into 5 lines. Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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His ‘wisdom’ scares the hell out of all of us!
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No kidding. We have to get him out of there before thousands more die. Thanks for the visit, Eric. Crossing our fingers all over the globe!
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Glad you couldn’t help it, Diana! After all, I expect some fighting spirit from a lady who swims with sharks!
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🙂 Sharks are shy and usually just mind their own business, Basilike. I’d rather swim with them than a monster of untold horrors. I’m glad you liked the poem. 🙂
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I did, and I agree with you!
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I hope your tongues in cheek 😊
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YES! The man fills me with disgust. He’s horrific. End of rant. 🙂 😀
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Whew I’ve written something too LOL It’s called THE BEAST. lol
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I’ll be checking it out for sure. 🙂
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I’m not sure most got it. I could have easilly used a picture of “He that shall not be named.”
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I couldn’t find your story, The Beast. Can you send me a link? 🙂
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Ok here goes
https://jengoldie493473930.wordpress.com/2019/10/03/the-beast-j-e-goldie-reenas-exploration-challenge-107-october-3-2019/
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Brilliant, Diana. xxx
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Thanks so much, Adele. It’s funny how some poems just show up and others require 100 revision. This was almost instantaneous. I’m glad you liked it!
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Instantaneous because it comes from a heart and soul that is crying. You were ready for the prompt, Diana. Beautifully done. 🙂
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Thanks, Linda. I was ready. I have no loss of words for my horrible president. I knew you’d relate after reading all your heartfelt concerns about injustice everywhere. ❤
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