Day 2 ~ How to write a Japanese Ukiah poem for #NationalPoetryMonth - "30 poems in 30 days"

Day 2 ~ How to write a Japanese Ukiah poem for #NationalPoetryMonth - "30 poems in 30 days"

Welcome! Yesterday was SUCH fun – hope you were able to write a Japanese Dodoitsu poem with us – if not, you can look it up on Day 1 ~ but THIS is Day 2!! Let’s continue with another simple Japanese poem. I bet you haven’t heard of this one either!! I hadn’t, but I’m anxious to try it: we will be writing Ukiah Poems!! (It’s another short poem – they will get longer as we move along through the month, and then shorter, and then longer, etc.). Cheers!!

How do you write Ukiah poetry, you say? Look at the spelling – it is Haiku spelled backward, BUT it has VERY SPECIFIC rules ~ this poem requires all three lines to have an ending rhyme and instead of being a 5-7-5 syllable pattern, it is a 7-5-7 pattern.

This style of poetry was invented by Robert Ropars in 2009. It’s a “reverse haiku” in every sense. Not only did he switch the lines for the number of syllables but he required that it rhyme since haikus are not intended to rhyme. There are no suggestions on subject matter so you have a wide open field of what to write about today! Have fun!

Here is the format:

THREE LINES: specific syllable counts per line and this poem needs to rhyme!!

The first and third lines HAVE SEVEN SYLLABLES.

The second, middle line only has FIVE SYLLABLES.

AND – all three lines need to have an ending rhyme.

(Those ending rhymes are what make this style tricky). Have fun!!

Oh, and just a heads up: neither Haiku nor Ukiah poems are supposed to have titles – just let the 3 lines stand alone – no further explanation!! So, NO TITLES! Cheers!!

Use of punctuation is strictly optional; use what suits you or use none at all.

~~~~

Once again, here is that handy little online free syllable counter if you want to be sure of your syllable counts:
How Many Syllables - Free Online Syllable Counter

AND – here is a free online rhyming dictionary – very awesome and helpful for if/when you get stuck:
Free Online Rhyming Dictionary

Feel free to share your poems in the comments here on my blog (ALL CREATIVE WORK REMAINS THE PROPERTY OF THE AUTHOR) or in our FB group – you’ll find the link below, or directly on your own FB wall, or Instagram, or your blog, or just keep a notebook of your poems this month – whatever suits your fancy. We DO love seeing each other’s poems though.

However, if you do share it on your own social media pages please do not copy and paste these directions, but rather just link back to this page. See additional conditions below. Thanks.

I found the limitations of this poetic form to be challenging. I can’t wait to see what everyone else comes up with. Y’all amaze me, but for what’s it’s worth, here are my UKIAH poetry efforts:

Reading everyone’s poem

While stuck in my home

Helps the stay inside syndrome

                              © 2020 Stephanie Abney

I’d like to be slim and trim

My prospects are grim

Since I don’t go to the gym

                             © 2020 Stephanie Abney

Some things we cannot condone
More time spent alone
Makes me grateful for my phone

                            © 2020 Stephanie Abney

This is the link to our FB group – just ask to join:

A Month of Poetry "30 Poems in 30 Days" April #National Poetry Month


PLEASE REMEMBER ~ any poetry found on this blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my permission, other than sharing it as an example in a lesson or to read it to someone. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments of this blog or elsewhere online as a result of this challenge. They are the creative property of the person who writes them. These poems are their original work and no one may use them without their permission. It is understood that they own the copyright to them as soon as they post them. Thanks so much!

Also, if you choose to post your poems on your own blog ~ that’s awesome. But PLEASE don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post your poem on your blog or your FB wall or wherever AND LINK BACK TO THIS BLOG POST for others to come here to read the instructions. I’ve spent considerable time researching the poetry forms and writing them up to share with you. Thanks for respecting my work.