Day 12 ~ Nonet Poems for #NationalPoetryMonth and "30 poems in 30 days"

I LOVE NONET POEMS!! Basically, this poetry form is based on the number 9. I first tried writing one of these for the 2014 Poetry Challenge and this form soon became one of my favorites! Hence, I have been using them in the challenge each since. If you have done one before - you can always write a totally different and if you are new them, this should be fun!!

A Nonet Poem is based on 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. I have come to really love this poetry form. And the poems I wrote for it four years ago are still my favorite nonet poems so I’m going to share them again as my examples. But here is how you do this poem. SO FUN!!!

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; 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 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 EXACT, so PLEASE count them so you can do it correctly.

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

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. 

Day 8 Octopoem for #NationalPoetryMonth and "30 poems in 30 days"

An “Octopoem” is a fun little poem that has 8 lines, perfect for Day 8!

Pick a topic of your choice and describe it in EIGHT lines. Each line can be as long as you choose and does not need to rhyme or anything of that nature, but use only one sentence per line. You can give your octopoem a title or just start right out with line 1.

It seems to be best suited to describe a person, but you can get creative and describe a pet or even an object, etc.). Have fun!!

HOWEVER, the only thing you DO need to follow is the order of the descriptions you use for each of the 8 lines about your poem.

An octopoem has 8 lines describing the topic (or pet or person, whatever):

line 1: color
line 2: season
line 3: place
line 4: weather
line 5: clothing
line 6: furniture
line 7: TV show
line 8: food

My Grandson, My Friend

His favorite color is green.
He is a breath of fresh Spring air.
He loves to be wherever I am.
We love to play in the rain.
If it's green, it's clean and ready to wear.
When I can't find him he's usually hiding behind a chair.
If “Wild Kratts” is on, we are good to go.
He likes to eat everything as long as it is a peanut butter sandwich.

                                                                      © 2015 Stephanie Abney

I Miss You, Daddy

My dad’s eyes were blue, his favorite color

He loved to garden in the spring and summer

In what used to be our backyard lawn

The Southern California weather was perfect

He wore comfortable clothes to garden in, often rolling up the cuffs of his pants

He could sit outside on the patio lounge chair for hours enjoying life at that moment

Unless it was time for “The Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy”

He’d close each day with a bowl of ice cream

                                         © 2019 Stephanie Abney

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.

Photo 1 by DivvyPixel at Pixabay

Photo 2 courtesy of Stephanie Abney

Day 6 ~ Shadorama Poem for #NationalPoetryMonth and "30 poems in 30 days"

For Day 6 let’s try a poem that has 6 lines per stanza. It’s not a common poetry form and may be new to many of you. It is said to have originated in Spain, but I haven’t been able to document that.

It’s called “Shadorama” and it is made up of 6 lines per stanza with a specific syllable count, but no need for rhyming. (Tomorrow we will move away from all the syllable counting for a few days). J

It can be a one-verse stand-alone poem or you can string together as many 6-line stanzas (following the correct syllable count) as you wish to complete your poem. Most lines only have 3 syllables so choose your words carefully to be able to get your point across. I have often found that in poetry “less is more” and with just the right words amazing pictures can be painted and they can be very thought-provoking.

This is another poem where we need to pay attention to the syllable count:

There is no rhyming scheme but the syllables per line are very precise: 3/5/3/3/7/5

Line 1 ~ 3 syllables

Line 2 ~ 5 syllables

Line 3 ~ 3 syllables

Line 4 ~ 3 syllables

Line 5 ~ 7 syllables

Line 6 ~ 5 syllables

So, here are three different examples I wrote.

I could have opted for a much longer poem by adding additional stanzas.

But these will give you the main idea.

I can’t wait to see what y’all come up with!! Cheers!!

EXAMPLES:

Grandchildren

Fill my heart with joy

Give me hugs

And artwork

They are so entertaining

I lead a charmed life

        © 2019 Stephanie Abney

I marvel

When I pause to look

At sunrise

And sunset

At the beauty of the earth

God has made for us

        © 2019 Stephanie Abney

My grandson

Calls me to come see

He’s in awe

Nature’s feast

He is guarding a treasure

For our eyes only

        © 2019 Stephanie Abney

Your turn. Cheers!!!!

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. 

Day 13 ~ “Nonet Poem” for “30 Poems in 30 Days” #NationalPoetryMonth

What is a "Nonet Poem" and how do you write one?

I have come to LOVE this poetry form and think it is such fun. I hope you enjoy it too. A Nonet Poem is based on 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. 

I love my example poems I wrote in previous years so much that I’m going to share them again. But here is how you write this poem. SO FUN!!!

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 – first line has 9 syllables, 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 so it actually provides you with some flexibility. Intriguing, right?

* * * * * * * * * (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 ACCURATE, so PLEASE count them so you can do it correctly.

Here are two I wrote:

“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

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


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 for 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 you 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.