Day 26 ~ “Rictameter Poem” for “30 Poems in 30 Days” for #NationalPoetryMonth

Today, let’s try another poem that focuses on the number of syllables per line. It doesn't matter if they rhyme of not. Here is the pattern for a RICTAMETER POEM ~

A rictameter is a nine line poetry form. The 1st and last lines are the same with the syllable count as follows:

*       line 1 – 2 syllables (same as line 9)

*       line 2 – 4 syllables

*       line 3 – 6 syllables

*       line 4 – 8 syllables

*       line 5 – 10 syllables

*       line 6 – 8 syllables

*       line 7 – 6 syllables

*       line 8 – 4 syllables

*       line 9 – 2 syllables (same as line 1)

Here are a couple of examples ~ the first one I wrote earlier this year when I was in China teaching English – It was written directly to the Chinese students. I shared it with them as an example of a rictameter poem.

China

My first time here

I came to teach English

You students were eager to learn

Our team taught you many wonderful things

And you taught us things in return

I hope I can come back

To my new love

China

© 2016 Stephanie Abney

This second one is a poem I wrote a few years ago about my youngest son who passed away at age 16 ~

On Missing My Son

Happy

Joy in each day

What great times we all had

Getting through the good and the bad

And then, my happiness was gone, like you

Your body too weak for this world

Until we meet again

Never to part

Happy

© 2011 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 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.

Day 25 ~ “Pensee Poem” for “30 Poems in 30 Days” for #NationalPoetryMonth

This form is called a “Pensee Poem” – “pensee” is a French word that means “a reflection or thought.” It is a five-line, structured poem that does not rhyme. Each line has a specific number of syllables and addresses a specific part of the poem ~ see box below.

The thing to watch out for is to follow the pattern, including WHAT should be expressed on each line, using a SPECIFIC number of syllables ~ and remember – THIS poem does not rhyme.                              

  

Line	Pattern	Example
Line 1	Subject (2 syllables)	Newborn
Line 2	Description (4 syllables)	Precious and sweet
Line 3	Action (7 syllables)	Sleeps peacefully in my arms
Line 4	Setting (8 syllables)	How do you like the world so far?
Line 5	Final thought (6 syllables)	I wish you could tell me

Newborn
Precious and sweet
Sleeps peacefully in my arms
How do you like the world so far?
I wish you could tell me.

         © 2014 Stephanie Abney  

Freedom
Our liberties
Granted unto us by God
Outlined in our Constitution
Thank-you Founding Fathers

         

      © 2014 Stephanie Abney

Penguin
Dressed in a tux
Slides on his tummy for fun
In Antarctica on ice slopes 
Such a happy fellow

© 2016 Stephanie Abney

          [It's WORLD PENGUIN DAY]

Ice cream

Cold, smooth and sweet

Makes its way to my tummy

At the end of a trying day

For now, all is just fine.

© 2016 Stephanie Abney

So, these are a few of my examples, but you get the idea. So, go ahead and try several ~ perhaps one about an emotion, an animal, one of your favorite foods, or a time of year (holiday/season), an event, or something in nature. What comes to mind?

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. 

Day 24 ~ "Limerick Poem" for 30 Poems in 30 Days" #NationalPoetryMonth

Let's Write a Limerick!!

Here's another poetry form for April's #NationalPoetryMonth ~ Have fun!!

A Limerick is a rhymed humorous or nonsense poem of five lines which originated in Limerick, Ireland. The most commonly heard first line of a limerick starts with: "There once was a man from ___________."

 

Example:

The Man From Aruba                      
There once was a man from Aruba,
Whose favorite hobby was scuba.
Every day he would wish,
He could spear a big fish.
But settled instead for canned tuna.         
          

                         © 2005 Jim Dupy

The Limerick has a set rhyming scheme of: A-A-B-B-A (meaning lines ENDING in “A” must rhyme with each other and lines ENDING in “B” must rhyme with each other) and with a syllable pattern of: 9-9-6-6-9. OR, perhaps more common is: 8-8-5-5-8. (See details per line below) and some limericks even mix it up a little.

Line 1 – “a” – 8 or 9 syllables

Line 2 – “a” – 8 or 9 syllables

Line 3 – “b” – 5 or 6 syllables

Line 4 – “b” – 5 or 6 syllables

Line 5 – “a” – 8 or 9 syllables

Here is a rather famous limerick with the pattern "sounded out" underneath each line (written in blue) ~ the number of "DUMS" is the important part ~ also notice the rhyming pattern A-A-B-B-A:

There was an old man from Peru, (A)
da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (3 DUMS)
who dreamed he was eating his shoe. (A)
da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (3 DUMS)
He awoke in the night (B)
da DUM da da DUM (2 DUMS)
with a terrible fright, (B)
da da DUM da da DUM (2 DUMS)
and found out that it was quite true. (A)
da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (3 DUMS)

It’s rather “sing-songy” so just play around with it and then check to be sure the correct lines end in rhymes and that you have the correct number of syllables. It’s tricky, but very fun!!

Here you can see me PLOTTING out a fun little limerick I wrote a few years ago about my then 6-year-old grandaughter: 

 

Six-year-old granddaughter, Taylor,

da DUM da da DUM da da DUM
Amazing piano player.

da DUM da da DUM da da DUM
A song she will hear

da DUM da da DUM                    
Then play it by ear,

da DUM da da DUM
So pretty, I’ll have to pay her!

da DUM da da DUM da da DUM

Here is the finished version: 

The Piano Player 

   

Six-year-old granddaughter, Taylor,

Amazing piano player.

A song she will hear               
Then play it by ear,

So pretty, I’ll have to pay her!

                   © 2012 Stephanie Abney

And,  here’s the one I wrote the first time I did a "30 Poems in 30 Days" challenge in 2011:

The Poetry Fest

        

Stephanie had a poetry fest

Encouraging friends to do their best

“Write a poem each day,

I’ll show you the way.”

“At the end of the month we will rest!

                       © 2011 Stephanie Abney

 

Your turn ~ whatcha' got?

 

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.