“Disappearing,” #Tanka #Prose

Posted on by Colleen M. Chesebro
The image is from Pixabay, by Michael Seibt

Diana Peach sure picked a doozy of an image for us to work with for our photo challenge this week. I thought long and hard.

I kept zeroing in on the poppy and the snake. There was a story there, and I had to tell it. I imagined a woman in the late 1800s abused by men and looking for a refuge.

I reclined on the dirty sofa propped up by greasy pillows. I didn’t care. My entire reason for living existed in this room. I was ready to retreat to a place where nobody could hurt me again.

I held the long-handled pipe over the oil lamp, waiting for the heat to release the vapors. I breathed in and disappeared into the verdant mist.

hedonic songs taunt
while green sylphs dance in my head
opium dreams plague
my dear snake familiars
gift a comatose release

©2019 Colleen M. Chesebro

Read more about the opium dens in American history HERE.

I’m ready for Trick or Treat! Are you?

44 thoughts on ““Disappearing,” #Tanka #Prose”

  2. I love where you went with this Colleen, using all the elements with ease. It was a tough one, wasn’t it? For me too! Ha ha. But some great poetry from those rising to the challenge. So fun to read.

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      1. I’m surprised that some people missed the poppy. The red drew my eye to it. So interesting how differently each of us perceives the same thing.

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  8. I didn’t even notice the poppy at first. Great idea coming up with opium and opium dens. (A long time ago when I was in grad school, one of my concentrations was 19th century British social history.)

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  12. Wow, Sis! You went in a totally different direction this week, showing us your dark side. I loved this Haibun/Tanka because I felt the woman’s pain, and her need to escape into a fantasy world. Very well done! ❤

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