French Poetry Forms (2): Quatern

Background to the Quatern form can be found here. 

Compose a Quatern poem! Instructions can be found here.

My published example: 'William Burges Wallpaper' (at Knightshayes Court, Devon) took Second Place in the 2010 Writelink Poetry Competition on the theme of 'Rivals'. Sarah James was the judge, and you can read her report here.

New Forms (6): Davidian, created by Wendy Webb

 The Origins of the Davidian

• can be found here on Wendy Webb's blog, 'New Forms for Old'. 

Compose a Davidian! Instructions can be found here:

• can be found here. 

My published examples:

• My poems in Wendy Webb's Davidian style (first published in the Davidian anthology, Wendy Webb Books), 'A Splash of Memories' and 'All the Fun of the Brecon Beacons Summer Fayre' have been re-printed in Aspire vol.4 2010 (ed. Ian Deal of Partners Poetry). This issue includes Part Two of the stipulations for Wendy's Davidian form. If I recall correctly, the previous number contains Part One. Partners Poetry has a Facebook page.

Persian Forms in English (2): The Tercet Ghazal

 The Origins of the Tercet Ghazal

•  can be found here, on Gino Peregrini's online journal, The Ghazal Page. 

Compose a Tercet Ghazal in English! Instructions can be found here:

• can be found here, on Gene Doty's online journal, The Ghazal Page. N.B. I am particularly drawn to this manifestation of the Tercet Ghazal ('Valentine Ghazal' by Ellen Pickus) on The Ghazal Page. 'Dawn' by Robert Bly is a brilliant example.

My published examples:

• 'Waves' can be found here on Gino Peregrini's online journal, The Ghazal Page.   
• 'The Ceilidh House' features here on My Delayed Reactions, Joanna Ezekiel's site. 

New Forms (5): Domino Rhyme

 Bass Rock, off the Scottish coast,

with Tantallon Castle in the foreground below

The origins of the Domino form:

I discovered this form on Bob Newman's site here. I am assuming that Bob created the form, but I am not sure whether this is the case. 

Compose a Domino poem! Instructions can be found here.

My published example:

'Tantallon' has been published in The Dawntreader, issue 012, Autumn 2010, (Indigo Dreams Publishing, editors Dawn Bauling and Ronnie Goodyer). [52/2009]

New Forms (4): The Lilibonelle

Mother and Pup

I have just heard that my poem, 'The Wishing Woman of Seal Bay' has been awarded First Prize in the Writelink 'Grape and Grain' Poetry Competition.

The judge was Jenny Moore, (Winner of the Divine Poetry Competition 2006, runner-up in Mslexia Poetry Competition 2007, Winner of Best Devon Poem in 2009 Plough Prize).

The poem is a Lilibonelle.

The Origins of the Lilibonelle form: 
It is a form created by Sol magazine editor, Bonnie Williams in the USA.

Oriental Poetry Forms in English (1): Guan Xiu's Unrhymed Quatrain

Guan Xiu wrote 9 poems about orchids
in the Complete Poetry of the Tang (Dynasty)

This post is, perhaps, rather late in the day, as I submitted my poem to Sol Magazine so long ago; but having found it on the web, it seemed a case of 'better late than never'.

*

My published example: you will find my short poem here, if you scroll down to the section marked:

MAY -- SIGHTS AND SCENTS OF SPRING -- UNRHYMED QUATRAIN

My Swansea poem took Second Position in a competition for unrhymed quatrains in the style of the Chinese poet, 貫休 or Guan Xiu (832-912).

*

Compose an Unrhymed Quatrain in the style of Guan Xiu:

The first of Two Poems Written on the Wall of a Villager's Cottage in Late Spring (here) will serve as a template for you to follow.

Persian/Arabic Poetry Forms in English (1): The Ghazal

The Origins of (or Mythology behind) Arabic Ghazal form:

1] Bernard M. Jackson has an excellent introduction to the origins of 'The Ghazal - A Poem of Passion' on p.38 of the latest edition of Quantum Leap (ed. Alan Carter), issue No. 51 for August 2010.

2] Gino Peregrini has brought out his Arabic Challenge edition of The Ghazal Page.

*

Compose an Arabic Ghazal! Instructions can be found here:

You will find Gino's edition here, along with a description of the form (and here).

*

My published example:

in the Arabic Challenge edition of The Ghazal Page: 'A Lonely Soul'*.

* ref. [8/2010]

Familiar Forms (2): The Kyrielle

'We leave the high road through the glen...'

from
The Winding Way
by Caroline Gill

[photo: sheep on Raasay]

I have just heard that my Kyrielle, The Winding Way*, has taken Joint Second Position in the Metverse Muse Fixed Form Poetry Competition 2010.

Dr H. Tulsi from Visakhatpatnam is the editor of Metverse Muse. The magazine's new book of poetry forms, Muse Clad in Costumes, contains two of my poems. I am looking forward to its arrival from India.

The Origins of (or Mythology behind) the Kyrielle:

The Kyrielle originated in France, where it was a favourite form of the Troubadours. The name evolves from the word Kyrie - as in liturgical Christian prayers. The title, Kyrie, derives from the Greek word, κύριος.

• Kyrielle
• Definition in the Encyclopedia Britannica

Compose a Kyrielle! Instructions can be found here:

• Robert Lee Brewer
  

My published example:

The Winding Way (in a new book of poetry forms, Muse Clad in Costumes, a Metverse Muse publication edited by Dr H. Tulsi, Visakhatpatnam, India, Summer 2010)


* [ref. 10/2010]

Poetics (1): Quotations on Craft

• Introduction and Welcome

'True ease in writing comes from art, not chance,

As those move easiest who have learned to dance...'

*
Alexander Pope

An Essay on Criticism

Sonnet Sequence (3): Millennielle

Background to the Millennielle Sonnet form ... 

This form was, I believe, created (or adapted from traditional sonnet forms) by Ian Deal, editor of Aspire. There is a feature on the form in Aspire Vol. 2 (2010). Vol. 3 contains two examples, Meteor by John Brown and Millenielle by Perry McDaid.

The Millennielle is based around the Shakespearean and the Petrarchan sonnet forms.

Compose a Millennielle Sonnet! These are the guidelines ...

The poem should have 14 lines not of iambic pentameter but of 8 syllables each, in tune with present calls for concise wording in poetry.

It should include the three stages of (1) introductory preposition, (2) development of preposition, and (3) conclusion.
 
The rhyme scheme and layout should be as follows:

ABBA

CDDC

EFFE

GG

I am guessing that the Volta or Turn comes at line 9 (thereby leading in to the conclusion at line 13), but this is an assumption on my part.

Sonnet Sequence (2): Wendy Webb's Brentor Sonnet

Brentor

A good example of this form can be found on p.14 of TIPS for Writers 77 (Wendy Webb Books 2010). The poem is called Icumen In, and is by Peter Davies. The original poem in this form is called The Brentor Sonnet, and is by Wendy Webb.

Brentor is a favourite hill of ours on Dartmoor, with a church dedicated to St Michael on the top.

New Forms (3): The Epulaeryu

Croeso! / Welcome!

Entrance to the Mumbles Pier in Swansea,
home town of Dylan Thomas

About the Epulaeryu form:

The word (and concept of) Epulaeryu is explained here. The form was invented by Joseph S. Spence, Sr.

My example:

Wilda Morris of the Illinois State Poetry Society in the USA informed me that one of my Epulaeryu poems, Seaweed from the Home of Dylan Thomas, was on display alongside other 'Food Poems' in the Lisle Public Library from 27 March 2010.

My poem is about laverbread, a local Swansea speciality. Its chief ingredient is seaweed (porphyra umbilcalis). It can be bought in Swansea market in small plastic bags. Many people like to fry it - sometimes with bacon - for breakfast. I have tasted it once so far, and would happily try it again.

• Form Summary on the Poetry Soup site (scroll down to Epulaeryu) 
• About the creator of the form (and here) - and a couple of his examples
• Apple crumble example by DreamOfOlwin
• Ziti pasta example by stonespell
• You might care to try a Double Reverse Epulaeryu

New Forms (2): The Hybridanelle

You can read about the Hybridanelle here in Volume II of Series III of Zahhar's pdf book, Cloudscapes in Passing. I have attempted a 'wave-on-the-page' version, laid out in a similar way to the poem, 'Stormlight' by Zahhar, the creator of the form. You will find 'Stormlight' on p.20 of the pdf book.

The form combines aspects of the Villanelle and the Terzanelle, as you will discover if you click the Hybridanelle link above.

New Forms (1): The Jenny

The Jenny

More Familiar Forms (1): The Tetractys

For the range of possibilities within this short form, you may find it helpful to read Quantum Leap (ed. Alan J. Carter), issue 49, February 2010. This issue contains the adjudication report and winning poems of the biennial 2009 Ray Stebbing Memorial Tetractys Competition.

Korean Poetry Forms in English (1): The Sijo

A helpful feature by Bernard M. Jackson can be found in Quantum Leap (ed. Alan J. Carter), Issue 49, February 2010. Bernard mentions Yun Seondo (1587-1671), a well known exponent of the Sijo form.

• Pyongsijo
  
• Chung Sijo
• Chang Sijo

Italian Poetry Forms in English (1): The Strambotto

Examples can be found in Quantum Leap Issue 49, February 2010 - with examples by Norman Bissett and others.

• Strambotto Romagnuolo
• Strambotto Siciliano
• Strambotto Toscano
• Strambotto Romagnuolo with Caudate
• Strambotto Toscano with Caudate

Sonnet Sequence (1): The Cornish Sonnet

Photo: Rinsey Mine

"There are plenty of worlds still to conquer in Cornwall - worlds which succeeded each other in time.
Out of the ruin of these worlds Cornwall is built, and it is for young geologists of our county
... to set themselves with patience and perseverance to the task,
and rest not until the stratigraphical puzzle has been solved..."

Howard Fox, 1894

N.B. Poltesco on The Lizard had not only a pilchard fishery and processing plant
but later on a water-powered factory for the working of serpentine.

Those who know me will be appraised of the fact that Cornwall holds a very special place in my heart. I was delighted to stumble across a Cornish Sonnet form as I surfed the web. There appear to be slight discrepancies in the exact rules of this deviation from the traditional Sonnet forms, but I hope you will enjoy experimenting and finding out what works for you.

The Origins of (or Mythology behind) the Cornish Sonnet form:

• The Poet's Garret
• Poetry Magnus Opus

Photo: St Michael's Mount (Ictis Insula)

Compose a Cornish Sonnet! Instructions can be found here:

• writing.com: How to Create a Cornish Sonnet
• The Poet's Garret: #23 Cornish Sonnet (and here)

My published example:

• Poltesco (TIPS for Writers, 74 (25/2009) p.27. TIPS for Writers is edited by Wendy Webb of Wendy Webb Books.

N.B. The 'Cornish Sonnet' form referred to in this post is not (necessarily) the same as a Sonnet in the Cornish language.

Introduction: Welcome

The Eridanos flowing through the Kerameikos in Athens,
with the Akropolis behind

Photo: © David Gill
(click photo to enlarge)

'Brekekekex koax koax...'

['Croak, croak']

the refrain of the frog chorus in The Frogs,
the comedy by Aristophanes, performed at the Lenaia festival in Athens in 405 B.C.

Welcome/Croeso
to
my blog of poetry in all its forms.

Those who wander along the lush banks of the River Eridanos in the Κεραμεικός region of Athens will experience for themselves something of the marshy setting that Aristophanes evoked so wonderfully in his comedy, The Frogs.

It is as well to remember that there has been much debate over the actual location in the poet's mind. We may be tempted to associate the marsh with a real place; but the setting for some of the play at least is the Underworld rather than Athens, and the procession may represent the walk to Eleusis as part of the Eleusinian Mysteries. The Kerameikos was also where the Iera Odos or Sacred Way to Eleusis began.

The ancient cemetery in Athens exists today, and is alive with tortoises (Testudo marginata and Testudo hermanni) and the frog-like Green Toads. There have been no contemporary sightings of frogs. Vibrant orange flag-like Canna lily flowers adorn the banks of the river, which is itself a visual reminder of the Greek 'Key' or 'Meander' pattern of Greek art. Sadly the invasive Canna lilies are not a native species.

We are all familiar with the concept of a 'meandering' stream. The word finds its source in the river known in the days of Classical Greece as Maiandros or Maeander (Μαίανδρος). The actual Meander River runs through present-day Turkey, flowing south of Izmir in an easterly direction towards the Turkish town of Milet, once the ancient town of Miletus.

Strabo noted in connection with the river that...

'... its course is so exceedingly winding that everything winding is called meandering.'

'Meander' patterns began to appear on Geometric Greek vases in the tenth century B.C., alongside triangular and rectangular shapes. Much later on, we find the Greek 'Key' or 'Meander' pattern surfacing in the pebble mosaics at the palace in Vergina. The fragmented ivory shield (4th century BC), discovered in the Vergina tomb of Philip II of Macedon, includes a version of the pattern in its design.

As I think of the word, 'meander', I like the paradoxical connotations on the one hand of the free-flow of stream-like form; and on the other, of the tight, repetitious rhythm of the Greek 'Meander' (or 'Key') Pattern. I plan to explore both these poetic strands in this blog, and I hope to discover some intertwining cross-over forms in the process.

The Kerameikos lies within the ancient Attic 'deme' of Kerameon in the city of Athens. The word, Kerameikos, comes from the classical Greek for 'pottery' as in our word, 'ceramics' (although Pausanias claims that the name was a derivative of Keramos of Kerameon). The area was inhabited by potters and by those who decorated their wares. The potters found a ready source of clay deposits in the river bed. The words for 'poet' and 'potter' share the same root, for in the ancient world the potters and painters were both considered 'makers' - a word that resonates today with the Scottish 'makar'.

The River Eridanos (and here) sometimes appears to be little more than a small stream. You can see how a section of its course today has been straitjacketed into a canal. Long before the Eridanos was 'tamed' and channelled, the river changed course on several occasions. It was prone to flooding in antiquity; so the area straddling its banks was converted into a cemetery. The earliest extant burials date from the Early Bronze Age, and later burials took place during the Sub-Mycenaean age through to the end of the Early Christian period in the 6th century A.D. Some of the bodies were placed inside tumuli while others burials were marked with funerary monuments. The Dipylon Oinochoe was found in the Kermeikos tombs: it bears the earliest extant inscription in the Greek alphabet.

The frogs of Aristophanes' comedy may not have jumped along the banks of the Eridanos; but we find a mention in ancient literature of some other frogs who lived there, along with Prince Puffy Cheeks, in the 'Battle of Frogs and Mice', the parody of an ancient poem.

Feel free to join me on my personal quest as I wander along the metaphorical stretches of the Eridanos. I am keeping my eyes and ears open to unusual possibilities, and am hoping to encounter and experiment with a range of poetry forms. This blog began life as a private resource; but having reached a certain stage, it seems sense to 'go live'.

Brekekekex references

• Word of the Day
• Chapter 4 of 'Biographia Literaria' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) - in relation to the novel work of a certain Mr Wordsworth, with reference to the contest between the frogs and Dionysos, when Dionysos descended to the underworld to reclaim the lost spirit of 'genuine' poetry.
• Postcard
• Singing frogs in the desert (Edward Abbey)
• The term was used by Hans Christian Andersen, in the fairy tale 'Tommeliden' ("Thumbelina", 1835)
  
  

Bibliography

• The River Eridanos of Ancient Athens (Gen. Editor: Evangelia Kypraioy), Hellenic Ministry of Culture 2004

Postscript

Professor Lewis Turco's work, 'The Book of Forms: a Handbook of Poetics' (ISBN-10: 1584650222 AND ISBN-13: 978-1584650225) has been a constant source of inspiration for many years.

You may be interested to know about one new work and two works-in-progress, relating to 'form' in poetry:

• Alan J. Carter and Bernard M. Jackson's book, 'Covered in Rhyme (Poetry: its Forms & Terms)' (QQ Press in two parts, UK, £6 incl. of p&p. Rest of world postage on request). Part 1, by Bernard, covers 37 forms. Part 2, by Alan, is a glossary of literary and poetic terms.
  

• Professor Turco's work, The Book of Odd and Invented Forms (USA)
• Dr H. Tulsi's 'Muse & Metre' (India)

May 2010: Two of my poems appear in Professor Lewis Turco's draft manuscript. 'Thalatta! Thalatta!' represents the Folded Mirror Poetry form, created by Dr Marc Latham. 'Echo on the Nile' represents Echo Verse.

May 2010: Two of my poems have been selected for inclusion in Dr H. Tulsi's book, authored by Bernard Jackson (from the UK), 'Muse & Metre'. The volume will be a handbook for those who wish to write in poetic forms. My poems will demonstrate the Kyrielle and the Virelai. The volume is due to be published in July/August 2010 in Visakhapatnam in India. Dr H. Tulsi is the editor of the poetry journal, 'Metverse Muse'.