A Choka
slow drip of water as though from tropical leaves where jasmines blossom moisture seeps into the soil roots slowly absorb no pooling at the bottom of the flowerpot watering orchids with ice helps them to grow strong heads off overwatering mimics their natural home
Choka?
The most intricate Japanese Poetry form is the Choka, or Long Poem. The early form consisted of a series of katauta joined together. This gives a choice of form structures of 5/7/5/5/7/7โฆ etc., or: 5/7/7/5/7โฆ etc.
The Choka could be any total line length and indeed many exceeded 100 lines. Looking at this, it is easy to see why Poetic Historians believe the katauta is the original basic unit of Japanese poetry using either the 17 or 19 unit onji.
d’Verse Quadrille
The above choka is my take on dโVerseโs Quadrille challenge.
The Quadrille is simply a poem of 44 words (excluding the title), and it can take any form. This weekโs challenge was to use the word โiceโ in a Quadrille.
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!
The Skeptic's Kaddish ๐ฎ๐ฑ 
Lovely and informative too ๐
๐๐๐ป Ange ๐๐ป๐
Well done, David. And no wonder orchids never survived in my hands. Now I know.
I think most orchids need a bit of cold before they can bloom again… we have many that bloom year after year since we keep them outside in summer and into early autumn.
Cold slows every process. Cool idea!
๐ค๐๐ป Susan ๐๐ป๐ค ~ it’s super effective ๐
David, this was a clever use of the word ice… I’ll remember this watering technique for the future. ๐
๐๐๐ป Colleen ๐๐ป๐ ~ give it a try!
I will do this for sure. Great tip!
A great Choka David. Loved seeing your orchid. Mine are all gone.. love for 4 months and then the black thumb appears and I toss them.. ๐
๐ค๐๐ป Cindy ๐๐ป๐ค ~ that’s just a free stock photo ๐ธ
I know but good to see one neeways! ๐
Many people writing about flowers today. I think we are all longing for summer. This is wonderful, David.๐น
๐๐๐ป Nancy ๐๐ป๐ ~ thanks! I agree ๐๐ป
Wonderful write ๐โ
๐๐๐ป D. A. ๐๐ป๐ ~ thank you!
I didn’t know that about watering with ice, David! ๐
๐๐๐ป Merril ๐๐ป๐ ~ it’s a great approach ๐๐ป
I really enjoyed your choka, David, as jasmine and orchids are among my favourite flowers (after tulips), and will remember to water my orchid with ice in future.
๐งก๐๐ป Kim ๐๐ป๐งก ~ I try not to forget; but it is quite easy to do
๐
๐ธ๐๐ป Abi ๐๐ป๐ธ
Yes you right, the cherry blossom would be the perfect flower for this form, given its history.
๐๐
You take great and proper care of your special flowers
The ice cubes are a perfect tip to keep these flowers healthy and strong
A gracious form fertilized with dignified words, devoted to a plant of such refinement.
๐๐๐ป Abi ๐๐ป๐