Tuesday 19 May 2009

Everyone On Form Yesterday!

I loved the way some of you couldn't wait to have a go! It's occurred to me, if I gave out a different form and rhyme scheme every day, and everybody piled in with examples, I could finish my module in a flash by presenting their efforts instead of mine ! Just as well I'm not tempted to cheat.

Many of the names of these different forms are poetry in themselves: pantoum: roundel: rondel: rondeau: rubai: sapphic: sestina: terza rima: triolet: villanelle. All designed to drive an aspiring poet into a flurry of words tinged with despair while trying to martial them into a semblance of order.

Of course, the names of limericks, ballads, sonnets and odes are probably quite well known, even to those writers who have never been bitten by the poetry bug. A little snippet of information here, for anyone interested. Stephen Fry has written a delightful book with the title 'Ode Less Travelled', which could provide a great stepping stone into the land of rhyme and rhythm for anyone with a poetic inclination.

Some of us pen pushers were afflicted with this sideways, poet's view of the world right from our beginnings though, and words 'do their own thing' as they juggle to get put down on paper. No names needed as to form. But the wet Sunday just gone had me attempting a sonnet, after the minute. Can't waste it, so here goes:-

Rain Legacy

This Sunday afternoon is cold and drear;
though May had lifted welcome face
to early Sun, his heat left little trace.
Instead, grey Cloud remains, to drop a tear,
mar window pane with silver spear
of rolling, water-droplets; liquid lace
that vies to win a timeless, random race
as ever more participants appear.

One crystal drop soon blends into another,
becomes a growing family affair,
has sprinting Sister fight with dashing Brother
till sibling rivalry between the pair
calls for judgement of them, both together,
from Rain, their father. Who will be his heir?

11 comments:

  1. Doreen had a routine appointment yesterday at the surgery. Waiting for her I tried my hand - and found it much more difficult than I had expected. Difficult to make it sound natural. This was the result:

    Where patients wait
    to see their G.
    Ps. books are spread.
    Among them is The Shooting Times!

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  2. That's a wonderful Sonnet. Beautiful. Sonnets are just a perfect mix of thought and rhyme I think. I have written several sonnets recently but I also do love the sestina form.

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  3. For me there are only two types of poetry :
    Drivel and Poems
    Your effort for today is very close to the first.

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  4. Wonderful! Your lovely poem perfectly describes the rain, rain, and more rain and cool weather we have been having here.

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  5. You are one clever rhymster Jinksy - can't imagine why you need to do a course - I would have thought you ought to be leading it (I have got a bit of internal rhyme there!)

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  6. I am full of admiration Jinksy.

    Love Granny

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  7. You have a natural talent there.
    "...has sprinting Sister fight with dashing Brother..."I love the metaphor. I see the raindrops chasing eachother down the window pane.

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  8. Your course sounds like a lot of fun. Can't wait for the galliambic. I'm sure you're capable of a fine frenzy.

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  9. They say Australians will bet on anything; even raindrops racing down a window! I just never thought of them as brother and sister! Sibling rivalry!

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  10. Jinksy, I can picture those raindrops fighting! What fun. Sonnet is a wonderful form. I rose to your challenge and posted a photo of my desk yesterday! Come see.
    xxxxx

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  11. Dear BT - Challenge bravely met! x

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