A triolet is an 8-line poem that uses only two rhymes throughout. Additionally, the first line is repeated in the fourth and seventh lines, while the second line is repeated in the final line. Because of this, only five different poetic lines are written. The rhyme scheme for a triolet is ABaAabAB (where capital letters stand for repeated lines).
My poem was inspired by a memory of my grandmother and the realization that I was complaining and just needed to buck up and do my work. While writing it, I was also reminded of a letter my grandmother wrote to my father during the war. (One page is pictured below.)
If you can't read it, the portion at the beginning says:
We are having lots of fun trying to get butter, so far we have had enough, & now Truman says we have to tighten up our belts, so we can feed the other countries, & we are going to have to eat dark bread, so there was a flour scare on & Sat. I went shopping in the Star Market & the people in there it was just like a mad house & no flour.
So, that's a long introduction to my poem, which isn't really about heat, but uses the word.
Grandma Quoted Truman
Grandma quoted Truman in times of trial
"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
Would tell tales of Depression and war, if you'd just sit a while
Grandma quoted Truman in times of trial
Made my worries seem so juvenile
I think of her words when I feel like bitchin'
Grandma quoted Truman in times of trial
"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
You can read the pieces written by my Poetry Sisters at the links below. (I won't be adding them again to the round-up below, so be sure to visit them!)
- Tanita Davis
- Rebecca Holmes
- Sara Lewis Holmes
- Kelly Ramsdell
- Laura Purdie Salas
- Liz Garton Scanlon
- Andi Sibley
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Original Poems
At A Journey Through the Pages, Kay shares an original poem entitled Lady Liberty.
Kimberly Hutmacher shares a poem she wrote for a clunker swap (cool idea!). It is entitled Be Changed, Be You.
Molly Hogan shares a "little love song to oatmeal" in her poem entitled Oatmeal.
Linda Baie shares a poem entitled Looking Long. It was inspired by the exhortations of a John Moffitt poem that says "If you would know that thing/You must look at it long."
Michelle Kogan is sharing an acrostic poem for the 4th of July reflecting on American values. She's also sharing "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus.
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater is sharing her poem "For A Little While" in the new anthology I Am Someone Else.
Carol Varsalona is reflecting on nature the part it plays in her writing life. She shares some digipoetry and a cherita.
Matt Forrest Esenwine shares a tanka in the form of photo poem. What a lovely window box!
Irene Latham is sharing a number of poems she's written, inspired by LOST WORDS>
Inspired by the word feldgang, Margaret Simon wrote a poem while looking out her kitchen window.
Heidi Mordhorst is cleaning out, going through papers, and sharing some original poems from childhood.
Mary Lee Hahn is showing off her fence beautification project and her poem entitled The Choice is Yours.
Cheriee Weichel is writing about her family history and sharing these inspired poems. Today's poem is entitled Crossing.
Jone MacCulloch is sharing a lovely haiga/haiku.
Tabatha Yeatts is sharing the poems of Christine Potter and Cambra Koczkur, two poets writing about current events.
Catherine Flynn is honoring her dad and sharing the poem High Flight by John Magee.
Ruth is sharing a lovely collection of thoughts and poems on and by Donald Hall.
Sylvia Vardell is is asking poets to share poems that did not end up in a published collection. One such poem and an interview with Janet Wong are highlighted today.
Little Willow is sharing song lyrics from the Duncan Sheik song She Runs Away.
Poetry Projects and Exchanges
Linda Mitchell is showing off some of the incredible poetry swap goodies she has received.
Talking Poetry and Writing
Michelle Heidenrich Barnes is kicking off a new series of reader highlights. Today she's spotlighting Linda Mitchell, who also set the ditty challenge for the month.
Poetry Books and Other Inspirations
Carol is sharing a review of Kate Messner's middle grade novel, Breakout, where one of the main characters uses mentor poets to write her own poems.
Myra from Gathering Books is sharing thoughts about the collection Standing Female Nude: Poems by Carol Ann Duffy.
Robyn Hood Black shares a link to her artsyletters Summer Letter. There are so many fun things in it. Do stop by for a visit.
