So - here we go poets with this weeks forms of poetry. How about trying one of these. A Tetractys or a Paradelle. Tetractys Tetractys, a poetic form invented by Ray Stebbing, consists of at least 5 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 syllables (total of 20). Tetractys can be written with more than one verse, but must follow suit with an inverted syllable count. Tetractys can also bereversed and written 10, 4, 3, 2, 1. Double Tetractys: 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 10, 4, 3, 2, 1 Triple Tetractys: 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 10, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 and so on. Euclid, the mathematician of classical times, considered the number series 1, 2, 3, 4 to have mystical significance because its sum is 10, so he dignified it with a name of its own - Tetractys. The tetractys could be Britains answer to the haiku. Its challenge is to express a complete thought, profound or comic, witty or wise, within the narrow compass of twenty syllables. - Ray Stebbing Example #1: freedom free from you your ego your blaming me i am a free spirit who has no past Copyright © 2001 Terri Anthony Example #2: Eclipse An Eclipse Rules the sky. . . A rare chance for Divine friends, sun and moon, to rub noses. Copyright © 2005 Marie Summers Or even one of these: Paradelle The Paradelle is a modern poetic form invented by Billy Collins as a parody of the villanelle. Billy Collins claimed that the paradelle was a difficult, fixed form consisting of four six-line stanzas with a repetitive pattern invented in eleventh century France, and the press believed the story and ran with it. Due to the extensive publicity, the Paradelle has made its rounds in the poetic community. Eventhough the form was invented as a hoax, the Paradelle has taken on a life of its own. It is still a difficult form, nonetheless, to practice which can be fun and rewarding eventhough the inventor may not have intended it to be. The Paradell Structure First Three Stanzas: The first two lines as well as the third and fourth lines of the first three stanzas must be the same (repeat). Where it begins to get difficult and become more of a poetic puzzle is when reaching fifth and sixth lines. These lines must contain all the words from the preceding four lines within the stanza using them only once to form completely new lines. Last Stanza: For the most difficult piece of this poetic puzzle, the final stanza of the paradelle does not repeat like the preceding stanzas, rather the final six lines must contain every word from the first three stanzas, and only those words, again using them only once to form completely new lines. The Design is simple: Stanza 1: 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 4 Stanza 2: 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8 Stanza 3: 9, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12 Stanza 4: 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 Example #1: Beneath the Dripping Cypress Trees Tis the breeze beneath the cypress trees, Tis the breeze beneath the cypress trees, Where shady branches bend and bow, Where shady branches bend and bow. Beneath the bend and branches breeze, Where the cypress bow tis shady trees. Ink like stains of sap fold down, Ink like stains of sap fold down, Brown and dripping tears that keep, Brown and dripping tears that keep. Sap like ink and stains of brown, Tears that fold keep dripping down. Will such variegated colors blend, Will such variegated colors blend, Away within envelope of leaves, Away within envelope of leaves. Of such colors envelope within, Variegated leaves away will blend. Within the sap tis shady brown, And keep the breeze of that fold down, Variegated stains away will blend, Where colors bow and branches bend. Tears of ink envelope like leaves, Beneath such dripping cypress trees. Copyright © 2003 Sally Ann Roberts Example #2: A Paradelle of Winged Flight Twilight falls, darkness cover me Twilight falls, darkness cover me as gentle slumber lures awakening dreams as gentle slumber lures awakening dreams cover me gentle twilight, darkness lures dreams, awakening as slumber falls. Journey on celelstial wings through astral visions Journey on celelstial wings through astral visions and hover above earth-bound limitations and hover above earth-bound limitations on celestial wings, hover above earth bound limitations and journey through astral visions. Explore the expansiveness of self, Explore the expansiveness of self, look within and discover your untapped wealth look within and discover your untapped wealth look within the expansiveness of self, discover and explore your untapped wealth. cover me, dreams look within darkness journey -- discover your gentle awakening; slumber lures the expansiveness of self through astral visions. Hover above earthbound limitations on celestial wings, and as twilight falls, explore wealth -- untapped. Copyright © 2003 Mary Ellen Clark Example #3: Dreamt I of What Came to Me Falling asleep neath a cypress tree Falling asleep neath a cypress tree What variegated colors came calling to me What variegated colors came calling to me `Neath falling colors, asleep to me What came calling?... A variegated cypress tree I dreamt of ink in a well so deep I dreamt of ink in a well so deep As an envelope as full of words to eat As an envelope as full of words to eat In an envelope of words, I dreamt to eat Of ink as full as a well so deep So, away I went, to write of that told So, away I went, to write of that told Tears as joy, on paper to fold Tears as joy, on paper to fold That on paper to write, of joy told As tears went away... so I, to fold Joy as tears, full of words went to calling Ink as well, in an envelope a falling Variegated colors to eat of that told So, away I write on paper to fold As deep asleep, neath a cypress tree So, dreamt I... of what came to me Copyright © 2003 Dan Tharp Example #4: A Paradelle of Love Tattered tapestries, remnants of forgotten dreams, Tattered tapestries, remnants of forgotten dreams Blackened by the unforgiving fire of love, Blackened by the unforgiving fire of love; Blackened by the fire, tattered remnants of Forgotten tapestries, unforgiving dreams of love. I douse Love’s flames with crystal tears, I douse Love’s flames with crystal tears, Pieces of my broken heart, shattered souvenirs, Pieces of my broken heart, shattered souvenirs; Flames of my heart I douse with tears; Love’s shattered crystal pieces, broken souvenirs. All that remain are charred moonbeams, All that remain are charred moonbeams And sooty ashes of now-dead dreams, And sooty ashes of now-dead dreams; Sooty and charred, now-dead moonbeams, Ashes are all that remain of dreams. With tears of love I douse the flames, Charred remnants of ashes all that remain, Dreams are forgotten, fire blackened and tattered, Pieces of my unforgiving heart, shattered By broken souvenirs of crystal moonbeams, Love’s sooty tapestries’ now-dead dreams. Copyright © 2003 Linda E. Newman Example #5: Untouched Beauty Among the variegated skies and cypress trees, Among the variegated skies and cypress trees, Lies a poet’s inspiration hidden away untouched, Lies a poet’s inspiration hidden away untouched. Hidden away among a poet’s inspiration Lies variegated skies and the untouched cypress trees. The tears shed from the beauty of this serene sight, The tears shed from the beauty of this serene sight, Will unleash the poet’s ink to flow endlessly, Will unleash the poet’s ink to flow endlessly. The tears shed will flow endlessly from the poet’s ink To unleash the beauty of this serene sight. Journals, they will be filled with letters to be written, Journals, they will be filled with letters to be written, Envelopes will be stuffed with the sweet words of nature, Envelopes will be stuffed with the sweet words of nature. Journals to be stuffed with the sweet words of nature Envelopes will be filled with letters, written they will be. The poet’s ink lies hidden among the cypress trees; Variegated skies to shed away untouched tears. Journals will be filled with the sweet words of inspiration, Envelopes will be stuffed with a poet’s sight, From the letters to be written, they will flow endlessly, And unleash the serene beauty of this nature. Copyright © 2003 Marie Summers Hoax or not, this poem won me $100.00 in a poetry contest! I enjoyed the challenge.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Jun 2014 01:04:53 +0000
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