A butterfly cinquain
I spat
the orange juice
out into the sink drain;
eyed the carton; and notified
Papa,
who chuckled at my innocence.
"Have you forgotten you've
already brushed
your teeth?"
#TankaTuesday
The above butterfly cinquain was written for Colleen M. Chesebro’s ‘Tanka Tuesday’ prompt: Poets were prompted to write syllabic poems based on “sweet & sour” memories, which means the poems must contain these concepts.
This particular memory rang out clearly in my mind.
Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.
–Ben Harper (b. 1969)
Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!
[…] ben Alexander […]
โค๏ธ๐ Colleen ๐โค๏ธ
Haha! So clever. That’s definitely a terrible taste. ๐
๐ Terveen ๐
This is so good, David. In Weight Watchers, they tell us to brush our teeth after we eat! It works!! LOL!
โฅ๏ธ๐ค Colleen ๐คโฅ๏ธ ~ thanks!
Isn’t that a fact: tastes funny after brushing one’s teeth. Lovely, butterfly cinquain we can relate to for better. Thanks for sharing. xo
โค Selma โค ~ a hard fact to swallow!
Haha! Nothing worse than mint and orange juice!
โค Muri โค ~ I know!
Very cute. Is this your daughter’s photo?
โค Dolly โค ~ no, I don't post pictures of her online…
Makes sense.
Even coffee tastes bad right after you’ve brushed your teeth. (K)
โค Kerfe โค ~ true!
~David
I can relate to this poem. Lol! It’s crazy how a clean mouth will change the palate so drastically. Great poem, David! ๐
โค Yvette โค ~ I remember really thinking that there was something wrong with the orange juice! I learned my lesson quickly!
Aww the sweet innocence.
โค Thanks, Bella โค
~David
Time to reach for the orange flavored toothpaste!
๐ indeed! ๐
cute! nice cinquain.. now don’t ask me to make one.. I do love tho๐
I would never make such an unreasonable request!
๐
David