This week I have been trying new and different things (NOT fun things, things like generators, roof rakes and snowblowers) This morning I was thinking about trying new and different things poetically. Here are a few examples of different poetry forms:
HAIKU – I think these are the easiest little poems to write, when you just want to “scratch the surface”, 5 syllables on one line, 7 syllables on one line, 5 syllables on the last line 5-7-5. Haikus force you to really think about what you want to describe and the words you want to use
Here’s a haiku I wrote a couple days ago about the snowblower:
It is wintertime (5)
The snowblower roars & growls (7)
I can see my breath (5)
TANKA – Tanka is a classic form of Japanese poetry related to the haiku with five unrhymed lines of five, seven, five, seven, and seven syllables. (5, 7, 5, 7, 7)
Here’s an example of tanka that I wrote:
The scissors got me (5)
The pink bandage is dirty (7)
Only one hand now (5)
My thumb hurts when I forget (7)
and jam it in my pocket (7)
FREE VERSE – Free Verse is an irregular form of poetry in which the content free of traditional rules of versification, (freedom from fixed meter or rhyme).
In moving from line to line, the poet’s main consideration is where to insert line breaks. Some ways of doing this include breaking the line where there is a natural pause or at a point of suspense for the reader.
My poems are free verse sometimes
Example #3:
Moon Shadows It wasn't the flickering of candlelight that seduced me into the silence of night where darkness existed only where the moon shadows dared to settle. It was the fluttering of wetness, a butterfly's wing upon my tongue that made my body ache and chill at the very same instant, awakening the need, my need, for more. Copyright © 2005 Marie Summers
POETRY PROMPT – try writing a poem in a different form than you’re used to
http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/types.html – Shadow Poetry has more poetry forms for you to try
