Day 20 - “Nonet Poem” for “30 Poems in 30 Days” #NationalPoetryMonth

 

Not sure why, but I REALLY love this poetry format. It’s one of my all-time FAVORITES: NONET POEM!!

Basically, the “Nonet poem” is based on the number 9. I first tried writing a Nonet poem in 2014 when I introduced it for my month-long Poetry Challenge and the two poems that wrote then remain two of my favorites and so I continue to use them as examples; not that I haven’t written newer Nonet poems, but I love these and the pictures I found to go with them, so . . . if you’ve been around, you have seen these before and if not, get set for lots of FUN!!!!!

A Nonet Poem is based on the number NINE, in more ways than one ~ it has nine lines and the FIRST LINE has NINE syllables ~ but there are a few more details to know. Here is how you do this poem:

When I looked up the word “nonet” in the dictionary I discovered it stood for 9 musical performers or 9 instruments – and the poem has a pattern that has 9 lines – the first line has 9 syllables and each line thereafter has one less syllable, ending with the last line only having ONE syllable. The number of words does not matter, ONLY the number of syllables and no rhyming is necessary, so it actually provides you with some flexibility. Intriguing, right?

Here is a “look” at this pattern:

* * * * * * * * * (9 syllables)
* * * * * * * * (8 syllables)
* * * * * * * (7 syllables)
* * * * * * (6 syllables)
* * * * * (5 syllables)
* * * * (4 syllables)
* * * (3 syllables)
* * (2 syllables)
* (1 syllable)

It can be about ANYTHING as long as the SYLLABLE COUNTS ARE CORRECT, so PLEASE count them so you can do it correctly.

 

Here's a handy, dandy online syllable counter: Free online syllable counter

And here are the first two I ever wrote for this poetry form and they remain my favorites:

Made chocolate chip cookies tonight
One taste before I go to bed
One bite follows another
I forgot what I said
I’m ready to stop
Well, maybe not
Just one more
Then to . . .
Bed!!

          © 2014 Stephanie Abney

 

“Grandma, may we have a sleepover?”
My precious grandkids ask again.
“We promise to obey you.”
They give a hopeful look.
“We won’t talk in bed.”
That’s what they said.
“We love you.”
I said,
“Yes!”

           © 2014 Stephanie Abney

 

OKAY, your turn – GO!!

 

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.