Last week I was feeling Fibonacci. Since I'm still in a mathematical mood, this week I'm feeling Zeno. The Zeno is a poetic form that was invented by our esteemed Children's Poet Laureate, J. Patrick Lewis. Here's Pat's explanation of the form.
I've invented what I had called a “hailstone," after the mathematical "hailstone sequence." It has nothing to do with Mary O'Neill's Hailstones and Halibut Bones, but it would no doubt instantly be confused with it. Hence, "hailstone" is problematic. So I call the form a "zeno," so named for Zeno, the philosopher of paradoxes, especially the dichotomy paradox, according to which getting anywhere involves first getting half way there and then again halfway there, and so on ad infinitum. I'm dividing each line in half of the previous one. Here's my description of a zeno:
A 10-line verse form with a repeating syllable count of 8,4,2,1,4,2,1,4,2,1.
The rhyme scheme is abcdefdghd.
Here are two examples.
Sea Song
A song streaming a thousand miles
may sound like a
fairy
tale,
but it’s only
love’s bulk-
coming out of
the blue...
whale.
Why Wolves Howl
Gray wolves do not howl at the moon.
Across a vast
timber
zone,
they oboe in
mono-
tone,
Fur-face, I am
all a-
lone.
Poems ©J. Patrick Lewis. All rights reserved.
So, that's the challenge for the week. What kind of Zeno will you write? Leave me a note about your poem and I'll post the results here later this week.
Metamorphosis
ReplyDeleteThe caterpillar humps along
one small green leaf
at a
time,
and then he stops,
changes
clothes,
from a story
into
rhyme.
© 2012 Jane Yolen, all rights reserved
Jane's lovely poem violates the rhyme scheme of the zeno (as defined by me—ha!),
ReplyDeletebut I think her variation is preferable to my initial definition, which is exceptionally
strict. In other words, rhyming lines 4,7, and 10 may put an undue burden on the
form (and the poet). Rhyming lines 4 and 10 only (as Jane does) may make for a more appealing poem. Thanks, Jane.
xo, Pat
J. Patrick Lewis
J. Patrick--I agree about skipping the line 7 rhyme. It makes for a smoother poem. Didn't do that, but great idea! :)
ReplyDeleteMarch
The sky is gray and I am gray,
wanting what's not—
soft earth,
wings,
white crocuses,
leaves, to
sing
like a young breeze,
kite heart,
spring.
--Kate Coombs, 2012
all rights reserved
this breaks a couple of rules, but...
ReplyDeleteTexas Toast
when it’s snowing in Montana,
and blustery
on the
coast,
I’m glad I’m here
in Dal-
las,
where they serve up
Texas
toast.
© julie krantz 2012, all rights reserved
Robins knitting cushions of twigs,
ReplyDeletebusy making
a new
nest.
They gather more--
hair is
best!
Owl: whooooo needs sleep?
quiet,
rest?
http://writtenforchildren.blogspot.com
Piano Lessons
ReplyDeleteThat jar of jellybeans atop
her big upright
fired my
quest.
Thirty minutes
daily.
Keys!
I still like the
black ones
best.
Hi Tricia,
ReplyDeleteI wrote mine here:
early clues of springtime burst forth
forsythia
yellow
bloom
weather forecast:
rainy days
loom
I retreat to
writing
room
CLEANING MY ROOM
ReplyDeleteDutifully cleaning my room
every weekend
is a
bore
I want to hide
in a
drawer,
Life, a never
ending
chore.
(c) Charles Waters 2012 all rights reserved.