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Notes About The Poem

A 5-Liner on your Life Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Andrea Dietrich 
HMS    03/17/25

the story of my life

                the story of my life

                a tale of two halves
         from being wild and reckless 
                   to a caring dad 
            seeing past all of the lies
         love ~ not truth was realised

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Crystol Woods Date: 3/23/2025 9:48:00 AM So, rather than truth bringing you out of the darkness of lies, it was love? That's a truth in itself! This is one of those statements that you recognize when you read it... like... oh yea! I get that! This is one of those poems that will stick to my gut. (Or is it ribs, as the saying goes?) Anyway I'm full! Congratulations! Xo Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 3/23/2025 11:31:00 AM Heya Crystol, I’m delighted to hear this one hit the spot, it kind of caught me the same way, I knew what I wanted to say but wasn’t sure if I could work it into a tanka, luckily all worked out, and got me a nice placement in Andrea’s contest, cheers David

Oliver Mckeithan Date: 3/23/2025 5:21:00 AM Congrats on your contest placement and a good entry. Like the two halves. Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 3/23/2025 11:26:00 AM Always two halves Oliver, such is life, cheers David

Terry Miller Date: 3/23/2025 3:39:00 AM A great tanka and message well written, congratulations Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 3/23/2025 11:25:00 AM Thank you Terry, was delighted with the placement, cheers David

Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/22/2025 2:48:00 PM One of the best examples of how. Tanka should be written that I have seen in a great while. Wonderful and congrats. Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 3/22/2025 3:36:00 PM High praise Andrea! I’m absolutely delighted to get such a great placement in your contest, tanka really are a super form when they come together, cheers David

Ink Empress Date: 3/19/2025 11:58:00 AM Dear david, its amazing how youv written this tanka and written on the story of your life in just five lines! Youv given us the main highlights. And i have this belief that one must always be wild and free when young so we wont go through some intense midlife crisis and go wild and not have time to be responsible for loved ones and all around so youv got it all balanced and i am sure you are an amazing dad. Love the last line the most in this, pleasure visiting. Best wishes. Sending you light Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 3/19/2025 12:55:00 PM Great to hear from you Ink, and thanks so much for the wonderful comment, which makes a lot of sense, I’ve done all the wild and reckless stuff, and have the scars to prove it, of course I still like to let my hair down every now and then, Who doesn’t lol! life balance I’m still working on, I hope you already have it, as always appreciate the light you send, cheers David

Duke Beaufort Date: 3/18/2025 5:48:00 AM David, something you give us to think about. If you were able to develop love in yourself and your family, that indicates to me that you have tact and know how to care. We don't necessarily have the ability to move things with a sledge hammer. I personally love asking questions and trying to understand where my own kids and friends are coming from!! This even applies to those who disagree. Smiles! Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 3/18/2025 9:54:00 AM Thanks Duke, I think if one becomes a parent and cannot develop love for the child then something is seriously wrong, of course some people don’t and the situation can become quite dangerous, I believe what I’m saying here is that existential truth is a different beast altogether, and doesn’t necessarily come with love! Cheers David

I Am Anaya Date: 3/17/2025 1:11:00 PM You're the wild child everyone wanted to be around, but there's more. I also had the pleasure to recognize the father figure in you recently. A sweet tale, now don't let the elves pinch you! Hope your day was filled to the brim with gin ~ mine's just starting! Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 3/17/2025 1:21:00 PM Now you know it would be a mortal sin or even worse not to drown the shamrock on Paddy’s day, I have the good stuff (Gunpowder gin) opened and poured no kidding! Wild child yes I was, no big brothers so had to stand up for myself, which by the way goes a long way, nobody ever pinched my gin lol! Have a great Paddy’s day too, cheers David

Tom Cunningham Date: 3/17/2025 12:09:00 PM You crammed a lot into five lines David, I think many of us go through that wild and reckless stage (enough said lol) being a parent makes you a better person for sure. Hope you had a good day. Tom Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 3/17/2025 12:49:00 PM Had a great day today Tom thanks so much hope you did too, a little bit of recklessness is left in me lol! Being a parent certainly makes us get our priorities right, of course I go on to say quite a bit more here as I always do, my search for true reality goes on, cheers David

Lin Lane Date: 3/17/2025 11:56:00 AM Five lines barely cracks open the door to even the slightest glimpse of who you are. We've been friends for years and I know all I need to know to recognize the kind of man you are. The kind I admire and respect. Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 3/17/2025 12:41:00 PM Aw shucks! you’re way to kind Lin, life started out pretty wild and reckless to put it mildly, yes being a parent certainly made me a loving father, and question everything I thought I knew, yet here I am as ever still searching for existential answers, cheers David

Jan Allison Date: 3/17/2025 11:52:00 AM you dug deep into your private life for this one David - love the transition - when your children arrive - i think many of us grow up with such a responsibility - wish i had been a little more wild in my younger days lol - perhaps i will dye my hair bright purple one day - hugs Jan xx Login to Reply David Kavanagh Date: 3/17/2025 12:20:00 PM Heya Jan, yes this one was always about the transition, and digging deep even past love, still searching for a deeper truth, I certainly did all the mad dangerous scary stuff, so much so I remember thinking before going out each night I wonder will this one be my last, Hell yeah go with the purple and make a splash lol! Cheers David