An Experiment in Form Poetry

Submitted by Mary on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 01:59

Let me just say first that I have a fascination with form poetry. Not just metered, rhymed poetry, but the very rigid, strict forms. In writing fiction, I sometimes get overwhelmed with all the freedom I have regarding word choice, rhythm, sentence length, and structure. I've found that in those circumstances, it can be helpful to confine myself to a particular form, force myself to think inside the box for a change. So here are two of my experiments with form poetry. First, Mockingbird, a haiku, and Queen Anne's Lace, a cinquain.

Mockingbird

Strange profundity:

amid the morning rainstorm--

a mockingbird's song.

 

Queen Anne's Lace

Crazy

disks suspended

on invisible stems;

floating--frozen in gravity

and space.

Author's age when written
22
Genre

Comments

I love the first one! It conjures up such vivid images for me... it's so beautiful, yet so simple! 

The second one makes me think of spring green and the featured flower... and a summer breeze. :) 

Visit yon blob of literary adventureness!
www.charlieandmewrite.blogspot.com

Both of them are very good. Forms are fun to play with.

Formerly Kestrel

I also love the strict patterns and the ryming.  Your hiaku is wonderful.  I can never get hiakus to come out right. 

Thank you, everybody!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Brother: Your character should drive a motorcycle.
Me: He can't. He's in the wilderness.
Brother: Then make it a four-wheel-drive motorcycle!

Cool! I never go looking for form poetry, but occasionally it hunts me down. Somehow it's never as graceful as these. Go you!

I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right. --The Book Thief