Poetry Partners #54
‘crystal’, a senryu by Marian of ‘My Eccentric Friend’
from empty orbits
death jealously looks upon
life’s crystal vision
- Marian: https://marianvjones.com/
A senryu sequence by ben Alexander of ‘The Skeptic’s Kaddish’
from empty orbits atop great scholars' tables is knowledge derived unbeknownst to men death jealously looks upon women's fertile wombs vast swaths of mortals perish, never having shared life’s crystal vision
#TankaTuesday
Marian’s senryu was written for one of Colleen M. Chesebro’s ‘Tanka Tuesday’ prompts: That week in January, poets were prompted to write ekphrastic syllabic poems for the painting by John William Waterhouse called ‘The Crystal Ball’.
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!
List of Poetry Partners
- Murisopsis
- Judy Dykstra-Brown
- Jennifer Patino
- Mike L. Utley
- Barbara Schaefer
- Ron Rowland
- Cheyenne MacMasters
- Rae Cod
- Eric Erb
- Chris Reilley
- Jim-
- Selma Martin
- Vidah (Chavi)
- varityteller
- Veera
- Kunjal Gupta
- Coco
- Lov Verma
- bodypositivefemme
- Steven S. Wallace
- Shay Simmons
- Constance Bourg
- C. L. Barton
- Madamchryzl
- Sangeetha
- Jo
- Audrey Duff
- Gillena Cox
- Yasmin
- Martha Anewa
- Malalai Khan
- Adam Taylor
- trE
- Cindy Georgakas
- Punam
- davidatqcm
- Orion Foote
- Susi Bocks
- Mister Bump UK
- Kate Blake
- Freddie Omm
- kittysverses
- enchantedwords
- Saint Gaona
- Alan Steinle
- Karina Lutz
- Sarah David
- Beka Tucker
- Maria L. Berg
- Colleen M. Chesebro
- Jane Aguiar
- Jan Beekman
- royalpalmtree
- Marian
- M Jay Dixit
- Ken Hume
- Naa Lamiorkor Boye
- Reena Saxena
- Bridget
- Ash Evan Lippert
- Freya Pickard
- Harshi
- LaMon Brown
- Nomad
- Vedran Markovic
- The.Richard.Braxton
- Kim Whysall-Hammond
- Jeff Flesch
- hutschi
- Ami Offenbacher-Ferris
- Anca
- douryeh
- enchantedwords
- Kerfe
- Puvanesvari Rajan
- MistyBlue
- Henry Mworia
- Anna Smit
- Larry Trasciatti
- Sarah Cope
- Filipa Moreira da Cruz
- Robert J. Jr.
- Rosemary McMahan
- Iswar Kar
- Mapule Somo
- Anne Morrigan
- George Ellington
- J. P.
- Christine Bialczak
- Shalini Kathuria Narang
- LaToya Williams
- Maitreyee Telang
- Amelia Michelle Nicol
- A. J. Wilson
- Nick Pipitone
- Myrna Migala
- Kathy Labrum McVittie
- Dawn Pisturino
- Eugenia
- Tea Solon
- Marion Horton
- Hassan Safdar
- Grace Y. Estevez – Reddy
- Eileen Backman
- Suzette Benjamin
- Candace
- Tarlie Francis
- Aishwarya Kannan
- Michaël
- Mary Anne Abdo
- Benjamin Nambu
- Scotti Woolery-Price
- Ara
- Sean Matthews
- Joy A. Burki-Watson
- Mike L. Utley
- Hadizat Motherconfessor
- Murisopsis
- Cindy Georgakas
- Swathi Rao
- Filipa Moreira da Cruz
- Di
- Ami Offenbacher-Ferris
- Christine Bialczak
- Rob Kistner
- Michaël
- Sarah Cope
- Stephanie Malley
- musingsbymac
- Verne Ivars Krastins
- Brandon Ellrich
- Tallisman
- kalabalu
- Kunjal Gupta
- Malalai Khan
- Mary Anne Abdo
- M. Snyder
- Sherry Lens
- Barbara Dean Aliaga
- Devine Success
- Veera
- Maria Pavlova
- Kevin L. Perrin
- Alex Budris
- Wm. “Mark” Parry
- Rayla
- Rayla
- Artem Miachin
- Jeff Lee
- Artem Miachin
- Tanmay Philip
- Dee
- Tricia Sankey
- Cassa Bassa
- 3L
- Charles
- WickedLizzie
- L. M. Montes
- Marsha Ingrao
- WickedLizzie
- Jan Beekman
- Neha Singh
- Kaci Rigney
- Kaci Rigney
- Irobiko Chimezie Kingsley
[…] https://skepticskaddish.com/2022/02/20/empty-orbits-or-crystal/ […]
❤
[…] This piece is also published, with thanks, on The Skeptics Kaddish. https://skepticskaddish.com/2022/02/20/empty-orbits-or-crystal/ […]
❤ Marian ❤
David, I truly enjoy these poetic partnerships. Your expansion of this first is interesting and impressive. ✨
💕🤎 Michele 🤎💕 ~ I’d be honored if you submit one too! I love your poetic voice.
-David
I am honored that you asked. Thank you, David. I will do my best. 😊
❤ ❤ Michele ❤ ❤
It can be ANY poem of yours that you've already published (on your blog, for example)… You don't have to write a brand new poem for Poetry Partners.
❤
David
Thank you, David. 😊 I like the idea of writing something fresh, or maybe something from one of my books. Will keep you posted. 💗
well, then I’m doubly honored, Michele!
❤
David
Wow, an interesting collaberation.
❤️💖 Robert 💖❤️
I too love the combination. It enlarges both. (K)
💚💘 Kerfe 💘💚
Brilliant David, loved how you mixed the 2 poems together! ❤️😁👏👌
☺️ Ken ☺️
Both poems are quite poignant. Shavuah Tov, David.
Much love,
D
💚💝 Dolly 💝💚
Dude, I LOVE this concept. Thanks for the inspiration!
🤎💓 Ron 💓🤎
Oooh! a wonderful way to integrate Marian’s into yours!
❤️💘 Muri 💘❤️
Awesome! … You are a चतुर कवि (Chatru Kavi – Sanskrit) 😊😊😊 👌👌
💞🧡 Joe 🧡💞 ~ forgive me, but I don’t know what that means.
-David
Ah he’s trying to say that you’re an intelligent poet, my friend 😉
Also, this is a wonderful way to respond to poetry! 🙂 ❤
✨🙏🏻✨ Veera ✨🙏🏻✨
Thank you for a meaningful explanation 🙏😊
💟🤎 Joe 🤎💟