No, there’s no special magic in breaking
lines just so to make an Etheree
“poem” (if you insist on using
quotation marks on that word),
but counting syllables
does force me to take
more care writing
“poems” than
writing
“prose.”
*********************************
*Consisting of ten lines, the Etheree poem starts with a one syllable line, then adds one syllable per line, ending with a final line of ten syllables yielding an overall syllable count of 55. In other words the syllabic structure is as follows: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10. It's also okay, and still and Etheree to reverse the sequence from 10 down to 1 and even to combine such progressions into compound forms of Etherees. It’s an uncomplicated, unpretentious form of poetry that has the quality of slowly opening, like a flower. Try composing one; it won't take you too long. Who knows? You may like it!
25 comments:
No, there’ no special magic in breaking lines just so to make an Etheree “poem” (if you insist on using quotation marks on that word), but counting syllables does force me to take more care writing “poems” than writing “prose.”
I've never written Etheree. Right now I am into the Haiku. This was a nice treat.
dan - i can't find a form that matches the words that come out. i love to read etherees, haiku, tanka, the soft-edged rich writing contained in the finest economy of words. steven
Kristen, thanks for commenting. I love Haiku as well. I find it very challenging to stay within the seventeen syllable limit.
Also there are a variety of "rules" for Haiku that, depending upon who you talk to, are essential for Haiku to be Haiku. All that controversy leads me to try other forms.
Hi, steven. I find that the forms help me find a way to begin. I regard them somewhat like "training wheels" though they are not that, really. For me, it is helpful to have a form to fill, a convention to shape my words. Without that support it's hard for me to start.
You obviously have no such need. Your poetry flows smoothly, easily and naturally (or seems to) on to the page together with sublime images. Thanks for doing your blogs. I really enjoy reading them.
Perfect! :-) That was very enjoyable!
Pearl
Glad you enjoyed it. Hey, let's get live bands and masseuses in every bus. What do you say?
You are a beautiful and brilliant poet, an evolved man. I salute you!
BTW we prefer the term "massage therapist" as "masseuse" can be seen as rather sketchy. x
Totally off topic here ... did you see this?
"see this" is a link.
Hi, Reya. Thank you. Massage therapist, yes. Thank you for the update. That's what I meant, on the bus. Can't you just see little salsa bands playing in the backs of buses and people dancing? And those who are just too tired getting a chair massage for their too tight shoulders? It's an employment plan! Let's give people jobs!!
Regarding Jake--yes, he's great. But I think of the ukulele more as a people's instrument to get us singing out loud OUT LOUD. Singing out for justice, freedom, and love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land.
I like the form - and your words...
Thank you, Tumblewords, for the comment. I like your Tanka to Tess at Willow. Good to meet another poet online.
I'm so glad I found my way to your blog. It's uplifting, enlightening, and full of wisdom. I look forward to following it regularly.
smiles,
jo
Thank you, Jo, and welcome to Mindful Heart!
I get a certain satisfaction from counting syllables and words ... you counted them perfectly.
I just keep finding such beautiful poems, nice one
Ever thought of using this form to write a news-related poem?
Poetry24…where news is the Muse
Helen, thanks. I like counting syllables, too. It can get interesting with some words, like "fire." Does fire have one syllable or two? If it's rhyming with, say "liar" then definitely two. If rhyming with pyre, well, then, maybe one syllable.
Kudjo, thanks. That's why I like poetry so much.
Martin, it's tempting to write about the news. I find the news so depressing I've given up keeping up with the news, well, corporate news like FOX, CNN, NPR. Of course, those news outlets intend to depress us, I think. It's best for me to keep them at arm's length.
Love i! Here's mine http://thelunaticsdiary.blogspot.com/2011/02/magpie-tales-extras-1.html
It is much like working a jigsaw puzzle. Well done, Dan.
Thanks, Tess, for stopping by and leaving an appreciation. It was my first post in response to a Magpie Tales prompt.
Interesting form, will have to give it a whirl some time. Puzzling...
Post a Comment