Shadow Poetry shares:

“The Puente, a poem created by James Rasmusson, and is somewhat similar to the Diamante. Like the Diamante, you start with one aspect of a topic or issue and then, line by line, work toward another aspect. In the center is a line that bridges the two aspects together.”

“The Puente is also tenuously similar to the Zeugma (affectionally called a Ziggy) which, on the Shadow Poetry website is defined as: A figure of speech in which a single word is used in the same grammatical and semantic relationship with two or more other words, usually a verb or adjective.”

Robbie Cheadle modified the Puente form above, into what we call a tanka Puente. The directions are similar, but different from the original Puente form. This form has become a favorite on TankaTuesday.com for our weekly challenges.

➡ 1^st stanza: separate thought, equal number of lines (5/7/5/7/7)

➡ 2^nd stanza: one line quote enclosed in tildes (~) to distinguish itself from the last line of the first stanza and the first line of the third stanza. No syllable count, but keep it brief.

➡ 3^rd stanza: separate thought, equal number of lines (5/7/5/7/7)

Opposites work well with this form. The idea is to create a bridge between the two tanka with a quote that brings the two tanka stanzas together impactfully. Tanka Puente need a title.

Tanka Puente Examples

Marital surprises

magical wedding
golden sun gives its blessing
two lives joined forever
youthful, innocent couple
only happiness ahead

~ “The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.” ~ *

challenges present
chronic illness gobbles joy
life’s path is pitted
some days devoid of sunshine
a burden to be endured

© Robbie Cheadle

*This quote comes from the Walt Disney Company’s animated movie, Mulan. The meaning behind this quote originally comes from the earliest blooming flower in China — the Plum Blossom. The plum blossom, known as the meihua, is a symbol for resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, because plum blossoms often bloom most vibrantly even amidst the harsh winter snow.

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➡ Here’s another example:

The Moon of Illumination

this strawberry moon—
full of vibrant energy
searching for the truth
under the moonlight, I ask:
What is my heart’s true desire?

~ “Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the madness.” ~ Allen Ginsberg

I release my fears
trusting the light to guide me
betwixt and between
stardust leads to the answer:
Write what is precious to you!

© Colleen Chesebro