The form for this week's stretch is climbing rhyme.
Climbing Rhyme is a form of Burmese poetry containing a repeated sequence of 3 internally-rhymed lines consisting of 4 syllables each. Since Burmese is monosyllabic, this works well, but in English this might be difficult. Instead of 4 syllable lines, let's try writing in lines of 4 words. (If you're feeling brave, go ahead and try four syllables!)
The rhyme scheme for climbing rhyme is internal. That means the position of the rhyming word changes. The rhyme appears in the 4th word of line one, 3rd word of line 2, and 2nd word of line 3. The pattern continues as a new rhyme appears in the 4th word of line 3, the 3rd word of line 4, and the 2nd word of line 5. This continues on, giving a stair-step feel to the poem, hence the name climbing rhyme.
For those of you who need to see this visually, here it is. Each x stands for a word. The letters stand for rhyming words. Just remember the 4-3-2 pattern.
x x x a
x x a x
x a x b
x x b x
x b x c
x x c x
x c x x
I hope you'll join me this week in writing a climbing rhyme. Please share a link to your poem or the poem itself in the comments.
Writer
ReplyDeleteSearch for a word,
a sound unheard, like
a bird, bright sigh
against the sky but
too high to hold,
wings flash gold, spin
away bold-feathered, gone.
—Kate Coombs, 2014
all rights reserved
I'm rushing to meet a deadline this week, so I'll reprise a climbing rhyme I wrote a while ago. High marks, Kate!
ReplyDeleteA Fare-Thee-Well
Before we go,
let us slowly
compose ourselves,
like toy shelves kept
by elves, or pins
pointed in a
cushion, like poems.
© 2014 Steven Withrow, all rights reserved
You both set such a high bar! Your poems are lovely. I found this form very hard. Clearly end-rhymes have been etched in my brain. I've agonized over this one long enough.
ReplyDeletePoor Snail
Here lies the trail
of a snail who
set sail along
the slim prong of
the wrong green blade.
Poor snail paid but
the jade frog ate.
© 2014 Elizabeth Steinglass, all rights reserved
Sweet Little Kitty
ReplyDeleteCat curls up tight,
closes eyes, purrs.
Disguised by sleep,
sinks down deep where
cat dreams are found
and stalks, soundless,
huge now, lethal.
©Mary Lee Hahn, 2014
Such nice stuff! (And thanks, Steven.)
ReplyDeleteLOST IN THOUGHT
ReplyDeleteGazing at turquoise sky
I wonder why this
Stupid guy from school
Thinks I’m uncool. Dan’s
So cruel to me,
Could it be that
Maybe he’s lonely too?
(c) Charles Waters 2014 all rights reserved.