Monday, February 06, 2012

Monday Poetry Stretch - Skeletonic Verse

While looking over verse forms I came across some references to Skeletonic verse. Most references link back to Robert Lee Brewer's blog Poetic Asides, but I can't get the darn link to work. So, here's what I've been able to cobble together from other sources about the requirements for writing in this form.

  • Lines should be between three and six words in length
  • Every end word rhymes with the previous, until a new set of rhymes is started
  • The rhyme should stay the same until it loses its energy or impact

You can read a much more academic definition at Poetry Magnum Opus - Skeletonic Verse / Tumbling Verse / Sprung Rhythm. You'll also find an example here (in ye olde English!).

You'll find a nice description at Daniels Nester's Teaching blog with examples of rap lyrics that fit this form (though perhaps not the line length).

I'll share one more example, this excerpt from an Allen Ginsberg poem.
Jumping the Gun on the Sun  
by Allen Ginsberg

Sincerity
is the key
to living
in Eternity


If you love
Heav'n above
Hold your ground,
Look around
Hear the sound
of television,
No derision,
Smell your blood
taste your good
bagels & lox
Wash your sox 

Read the poem in its entirety.
So, your challenge this week is to write a skeletonic verse. Leave me a note about your poem and I'll share the results later this week.

8 comments:

  1. If you believe
    in a reprieve
    then do me a favor
    learn how to savor
    grandma's cooking
    it's not so nasty looking
    actually, it is
    Poor Grandma Liz.

    (c) Charles Waters 2012

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Birder's Big Year

    So I hear--
    Have you heard?--
    The Big year
    Is a bit absurd
    As birders steer
    Towards every bird.

    They fly around
    They car, they train.
    Eyes on the ground,
    The large terrain.
    They hear the sound,
    They count the gain.

    And in the end
    What do they count?
    What do they spend?
    What's the amount?

    They spend the heart,
    They gain the sky,
    They earn a part
    Of God's blue eye,
    A birder's art:
    They learn to fly. . .
    and fly. . ..
    and fly.

    ©2012 Jane Yolen, all rights reserved

    ReplyDelete
  3. A Shoe for Tying

    When learning to tie,
    You should give it a try
    On a carefully chosen shoe.
    The shoe should be new,
    Preferably blue,
    Extra large too,
    Not belonging to you.
    The shoe should have laces,
    And never make faces
    When fingers go places
    There shouldn’t be spaces.
    Its tongue must not fight
    Even if you should bite
    While pulling it tight
    With all of your might.
    Its toe must not tap
    To your shoe-tying rap.
    It should sit in your lap
    And take a nice nap,
    Though it might feel a whap
    As its strings flip and flap.
    The shoe must sit still
    No matter how shrill
    You scream with the thrill
    Of tying it.

    (c) 2012 Liz Steinglass, all rights reserved

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cat

    Cat stare
    from armchair,
    from mid-air,
    from top stair.

    Cat slides,
    slinks, glides.
    Cat bides,
    cat hides.

    Cat sleeps,
    wakes, creeps,
    sees, leaps!
    Catches heaps

    of blue string.
    Paws swing,
    bat and fling.

    Cat crouches,
    yawns, slouches,
    scales couches.

    Jumps down
    with cat frown.
    Whirls around,
    cat clown.

    Tries for tail,
    bound to fail.
    Small wail,
    sets sail

    for my lap—
    cat nap.

    --Kate Coombs, 2012,
    all rights reserved

    ReplyDelete
  5. I tried being Skeltonic, too. My results are here:

    Speak Up!

    Interesting form. Thanks for the prompt!

    ReplyDelete
  6. running river

    running river,
    sluice and sliver—
    shiver, shimmer,
    slip and quiver.
    turning here,
    twisting there,
    silvered hair,
    braided, rare.
    sinewy, slim,
    turgid, grim—
    liquid skin,
    amaranth grin.
    forward-facing,
    fingers lacing,
    racing, racing,
    river tracing—
    twisting here,
    turning there,
    open-air
    love affair.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Please indulge me--I have revised my poem:


    The Birder's Big Year

    So I hear--
    Have you heard?
    The Big Year,
    Quite absurd.
    Birders steer
    Toward every bird.

    They fly around
    They car, they train.
    Eyes on the ground,
    The large terrain.
    They hear the sound,
    They tote the gain.

    And in the end
    What do they count?
    What do they spend?
    What's the amount?

    They spend the heart,
    They gain the sky,
    They earn a part
    Of God's blue eye,
    A birder's art:
    They learn to fly. . .
    and fly. . ..
    and fly.

    ©2012 Jane Yolen All rights reserved

    ReplyDelete
  8. You have intrigued me, so I tried, & am also in the Valentine mood!

    Hey sunshine,
    It is so fine
    that you are mine.
    I know a line
    that makes me thine.
    But don’t have time
    to give a sign.
    You’ll have to pine
    till I make the rhyme.
    Please don’t whine.

    You are divine-
    My Valentine!

    ReplyDelete