Day 16 ~ “Naani” Poem

(Heads up: Easter Sunday will be free verse if you want to start collecting your thoughts and ideas now ~ whatever you want to create) . . .

Okay, so let’s get started for today, Saturday ~ this is a poetry form that I’ve only tried once before, a couple of years ago. It might be kind of new to you, too. It hails from India.

“Naani” is one of India’s most popular poetry forms. “Naani” basically means an “expression of one and all.” It was created by well-known Indian poet, Dr. N. Gopi, the vice-chancellor of Telugu University.

There are only TWO rules to this poem ~

It is FOUR lines long, no more, no less.

And when you count up ALL the syllables in ALL FOUR LINES, there should be AT LEAST 20 syllables and NO MORE than 25 syllables.

And there is no rhyming required, but of course, you are free to rhyme whenever you wish. Either way . . .

Sounds easy enough, but accomplishing that may be harder than you think.

Although, no subject matter requirements are suggested, from everything I read, Naani poems generally are about relationships, the current state of affairs, the human condition, and/or emotions. So, basically, you’re wide open.

One more thing, the first line usually – but not always – states the subject of the poem.

 

I highly suggest you use one of those handy, dandy free online syllable counters ~ all you have to do is plop your entire 4-line poem into the box, click the “Count Syllables” bar at the bottom and it will count them for you – remember you are looking to have at least 20 but no more than 25 syllables per Naani poem. Cheers!!
 

How Many Syllables 

So here’s mine from 2020, during the height of the pandemic:

 

 

Day in and out

I sit inside and wonder

Will things ever

Get back to normal

        © Stephanie Abney 2020

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 create them and especially once 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.