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Poet Tanka

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Written on Friday 14thAugust 2026.End Of Summer, Beginning Of Fall Tanka Poetry Contest.

Sponsored By Tania Kitchin.

summer to fall

summers receding
the dry heat has been stifling
with wildfires and drought~
i welcome cool temps of fall
with displays of reds and golds

autumnhappysummerweathertanka

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Kim Rodrigues

September 4, 2026 at 3:42 PM

So agree! We need relief! Hugs

Tom Cunningham

September 4, 2026 at 8:23 PM

Thank you Kim, five heatwave we had in the uk, lots struggled in it. Give me Antarctica any day lol. 🌹

Andrea Dietrich

August 27, 2026 at 2:52 PM

Awesome win , Tom I see this is very popular. Big congrats on your win

Tom Cunningham

August 27, 2026 at 11:21 PM

Thank you very much Andrea, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Tom🌹

Silent One

August 27, 2026 at 1:52 PM

A lovley tanka.. that describes the heat wave we have had... thankfully the rain is here... we've had a few thunderstorms here over the last few days...

Tom Cunningham

August 27, 2026 at 11:20 PM

Thank you SO, we had them here too, they were badly needed, our garden is looking very sorry for itself. Hope you're keeping well. 👍 Tom

Paula Goldsmith

August 27, 2026 at 11:47 AM

Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading. What a wonderful write for a wonderful time of the year. I love this wonderful time of the year. Great pictures here. Have a blessed day with your win.............

Tom Cunningham

August 27, 2026 at 12:50 PM

Thank you very much Paula, 5 heatwaves we had this summer, can't wait for autumn to arrive.. Hope your week is going well. Tom🌹

Tania Kitchin

August 27, 2026 at 10:46 AM

Tom, congratulations on our first place win with your wonderful tanka poem. Enjoyed the contrast of the summer heat to the cool and colorful fall.🏆

Tom Cunningham

August 27, 2026 at 12:48 PM

Thank you very much Tania, our heatwaves have been stifling, autumn will be most welcome this year. Thanks too for hosting the contest. Tom🌹

Hiya Sharma

August 25, 2026 at 9:29 AM

Oh the reds 🍁🍂 and golds 💫🌙 Yessss! I've been waiting since so long too! In India, the heatwaves have been insane especially in the northern region and we've been anticipating for moonsoon to arrive but it has been late, rain just started showing its intensity in my city last week! It's much cooler but so humid! Loved reading this lil tanka, so atmospheric and seasonal, dear Tom! Please reading always ~ sending you cosmic healing n stars ⭐🩷💜

Tom Cunningham

August 25, 2026 at 1:03 PM

Thank you very much Hiya, I'm happy that you enjoyed it.I like a bit of sunshine but we had about five heatwaves in the UK, I was in Turkey recently and it was cooler over there than at home. Autumn is my favourite season and already the leaves are changing colour.🍂🍂🍂🍂🍁🍂🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍂 India is a beautiful country and I'd love to visit one day, don't mind a bit of rain but I've read the monsoons are non stop. I'd bring an umbrella to be on the safe side☂️ 🙂. Hope your week is going well. Tom🌹

Sara Kendrick

August 22, 2026 at 12:50 PM

I enjoyed reading your contest entry which reads like a good contender to me. Way to go. I am looking forward to fall also. 👏✍️. Sara K.

Tom Cunningham

August 23, 2026 at 12:06 AM

Thank you Sara, the UK had five heatwaves this summer,at times it was unbearable 🥵, I like a bit of sunshine but it was too much. Fall is my favourite season and will be most welcome. Enjoy your weekend. Tom🌹

CayCay Godwin

August 21, 2026 at 2:39 PM

This isn't applicable to Florida where I live, but I have lived many places in the US, and know of many others, where this is 100% applicable. To live near wildfires, for there to even be wildfires, blows my mind for lack of a better expression. I can't forgive greed for contributing to such or understanding living near it. I've come to read you often but thought your pen had stilled since the CRAWDAD write. I mislooked. That's me, if mislooking can occur it will be done by me. CayCay

Tom Cunningham

August 22, 2026 at 3:09 AM

Thank you CayCay, ive managed two since the crawdad one, being doing a lot of travelling so just dropping in when I can, been to your beautiful state a few times over the years and always enjoyed it. Hope you're keeping well, enjoy your weekend. Tom🌹

Ink Empress

August 17, 2026 at 12:12 PM

Dear Tom Iv heard about the drought and heat! Sigh! I just got back from Dubai recently, I thought the Maldives was hot but gosh it was 42 degrees and the dry heat was intense! I absolutely love your tanka! The flow and word choices and how youv presented this too! Hope you are doing well Pleasure reading Sending you light always 💫

Tom Cunningham

August 17, 2026 at 9:13 PM

Thank you very much IE, I hope you had a lovely time away. I'm just back from Turkey , at times it was cooler than the uk, I think the heatwave here is finally over for now anyway. 🥵 Hope you're keeping well. Tom🌹

Demetrios Trifiatis

August 17, 2026 at 8:28 AM

How promising! How uplifting! How beautiful, dear Tom! Blessings!😊

Tom Cunningham

August 17, 2026 at 9:10 PM

Thank you Demetrios, we've had a scorching summer and I'll be glad of the respite from the extreme heat. Tom

Abdullah Alhemaidy

August 14, 2026 at 4:22 PM

Wonderful tanka!! A favorite! Have a wonderful season!

Tom Cunningham

August 14, 2026 at 9:42 PM

Thank you very much Abdullah, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Greetings from Turkey 🇹🇷. Have a lovely weekend and thanks for the fave. Tom👍

Darlene De Beaulieu

August 14, 2026 at 4:04 PM

Hello tom Cunningham, Hi! Wild fires still burning in northern Ontario. Also in B.C. It has been more hot here than ever.I hope our wild fires will be put out soon. We need a good rainfall. Your friend, /Darlene/

Darlene De Beaulieu

August 16, 2026 at 11:19 AM

Hello Tom Cunningham, It has been too hot here for summer. the temperature is way too high. Yes the wild foires are still burning in eastern Ontario. As well as British Columbia. I hope thes fires will be put out soon. I do not mind autumn, but my favourite season is summer. Summer is a short season here. my friend, have a nice day. /Darlene/

Tom Cunningham

August 14, 2026 at 9:39 PM

Thank you Darlene, we've had the hottest summer on record in the uk.Its been too hot, barbecues have been banned because of the risks of wildfires. I'm looking forward to the coolness of autumn. Hope all well. Tom🌹

Ilene Bauer

August 14, 2026 at 11:58 AM

Nicely said, Tom! I can’t wait for this summer to be over…

Tom Cunningham

August 14, 2026 at 9:37 PM

Thanks Ilene, I'm in Turkey 🇹🇷 at the moment and its hotter in the uk. I like a bit of decent weather but we're not geared up for extreme heat. A national alert has gone out NOT to use barbecues because of the dangers of wildfires. Autumn can't come quick enough. Tom🌹

Sotto Poet

August 14, 2026 at 10:41 AM

Tom, your poem effectively captures the transition from summer to fall with vivid imagery. The contrast between the stifling heat and the cooler autumn temperatures is very well highlighted. Good luck with the contest.

Tom Cunningham

August 14, 2026 at 11:50 AM

Thank you very much Lassad, I do love all the seasons but autumn is my favourite one. The heatwave we've had in the uk has been unbearable at times and many have said autumn can't come quick enough. Hope you have a lovely weekend. 👍 Tom

Beryl Edmonds

August 14, 2026 at 7:42 AM

I look forward to autumn too Tom, have never felt the heat indoors like this before … Beryl

Tom Cunningham

August 14, 2026 at 8:01 AM

Thank you Beryl, unlike home I've got aircon and a pool to keep cool. Saw the terrible fires in the uk. Hopefully the heatwave will start dying off at the weekend. Hope you're both ok. Tom🌹

Lin Lane

August 14, 2026 at 7:32 AM

Tom, you've perfectly portrayed the change of seasons in your Tanka entry. Great job!

Tom Cunningham

August 14, 2026 at 7:50 AM

Thank you very much Lin, I don't mind nice weather if you've got a pool and air-conditioning like here. Thankfully when I get home temps will drop and I can look forward to our favourite season🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂. Tom 🌹

Anne-Lise Andresen

August 14, 2026 at 7:30 AM

We've had a miserable summer this year and now autumn has arrived... a lovely poem, Tom :) - Best wishes in the contest :) - Everything is fine, hope the same with you... are you still in Turkey ? (I miss Turkey and the apartment we had in Mamuthlar) - Are you in Side this time too? - Lovely weekend :) - hugs

Tom Cunningham

August 14, 2026 at 7:46 AM

Thank you Anne-Lise. Yes, still here in Icmelor, not far from Marmaris.🇹🇷. Summer at home was too hot but here you have the pool and air-conditioning . Not forgetting cold beer. Going home Sunday. Hope you too have a lovely weekend. Sorry that your summer was a letdown, I think the UK had Norways 🇳🇴 share. Tom🌹

summer to fall

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