Back in 2008 and again in 2010 we wrote poems in the form of kyrielle. I'd like to do this again, but think we should try a different definition of the form. This one comes from the book Fly With Poetry: An ABC of Poetry, written and illustrated by Avis Harley.
Kyrielle - a kyrielle is divided into couplets, each pair of lines ending with the same word which acts as the refrain.
Here is her example.
Birthstones
How is it the salmon know
where to bury ruby roe?
Something signals when to go;
they journey homeward, rich with roe.
To birthstones of so long ago
the fish return to lay their roe.
Under currents, just below,
the jade green streams are jeweled with roe.
Poem ©Avis Harley. All rights reserved.
So, your challenge this week is to write a kyrielle. Leave me a note about your poem and I'll post the results here later this week.
So glad you're out there. Well wishes to your family.
ReplyDeleteI just learned something new!! Thanks, Renee
ReplyDeleteCousins Reunion 2012: A Kyrielle
ReplyDeleteWe are over ripe, not prime,
Come together once last time.
Partners in a family crime,
In it till the end of time.
Whispering or done in mime,
We excoriate this Time.
Bill’s the oldest, but even I’m
Fighting gravity and time.
©2012 Jane Yolen All rights reserved
Lovely poems by Avis H. and Jane. Here's my offering--not quite a kyrielle, but David Harrison's word of the month is window, so I decided to combine the two...
ReplyDeleteMona Lisa
winnowing and windowing
my stern resolve is thin-owing,
up and down, all around,
you set my head a spin-owing.
here I sit in shuttered space,
safely sealed in cloistered grace,
but shimmering and shivering,
you set my head a spin-owing
out my window, beauty lies
greening trees, bluing skies,
wintering and summering,
you set my head a spin-owing.
coiled in this craggy nest,
I keep myself from love’s ingress,
from splintering and spluttering,
you set my head a spin-owing.
winnowing and windowing
my stern resolve is thin-owing,
up and down, all around,
you set my head a spin-owing.
(c) jgkrantz, 2012
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFlying Circus
ReplyDeleteStep right up! Take a peek!
Spy the Striking Circus Fly!
Above the crowd she spins, she streaks.
There isn’t a ring she won’t fly.
With daring feet, she cruises your cheek,
Gathering crumbs before they fly.
No matter how well your swatter sneaks,
No act can beat the Circus Fly!
I'm back with a revision. Thanks again for putting out your challenges. Liz
Between us
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing to invent
I have but a few cents to toss on this lament.
A space between two trees is what we meant
The wind has bent and broken branches of the lament.
Words like gestures old and misspent
have lost meaning, all intent but room for this lament
The rehearsal was the clapping then the event
The applause stopped its echo now there’s silence for a lament
Ferns cover the ground and then they’re spent
There are no more tears for this lament
Once we were corpulent with life, magnificent
Let it go let it go without lament…
I'm not really sure I can use corpulent like this but I like the sound of it....working on this for the little bit of time that I did, I was pulled in the direction of the ghazal and I think it may revise into one.
wondering if my poem is awaiting moderation
ReplyDeletethis will be the test which I will delete later (it may be that due to lack of sleep that i never sent it)
JOE
ReplyDeleteScoring a touchdown with the perfect throw,
"Nice toss buddy, way to go Joe!"
Watching mountain rivers endlessly flow
"That water looks tasty doesn't it Joe?"
Rubbing dinosaur bones from long ago,
"How did it feel touching it Joe?"
Attending my school's variety show,
"Thanks so much for stopping by Joe."
Gazing at the Moon's shimmering glow
"Nice to be alive isn't it Joe?"
(c) Charles Waters 2012 all rights reserved.