I generally take part in the TLD challenge as it gives me an opportunity to think outside of my short-form box of haiku. Those who know me, know I only write a haiku in 5-7-5 syllables if that is what the poem demands. If the poem demands 3-4-5 syllables, or 5-6-2 syllables, then that's how I write it. Only as much as is needed. Nothing more. So, the 7-7-7 septercet was a real challenge for me!
Catherine at Reading to the Core is this week's Round-Up hostess!
And a little bit of news, this week the 2016 Cybils Awards judges were announced and I'm one of the people who gets to be a Round 2 judge in poetry!
For someone who is syllable-counting averse (and even for someone who is not), you did a fantabulous job with this septercet challenge, Diane. Power to the poem!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle!
DeleteSo true...3 lines, 21 syllables, a billion interpretations! Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matt! I looked for you today at the NH Poetry Festival. Were you there?
DeleteI hear you on the outside-a-short-form-box comfort zone - and yet you did a fabulous job! We need a few billion more conversations, less assumptions, in this old world.
ReplyDeleteThe world has a population of approximately 7.125 billion, but the extra syllables in point one two five didn't fit!
DeleteI'm with you - rules can be hard, but sometimes - as with your septercet - those rules push us to produce something marvellous. I really should sit down and try one myself.
ReplyDeleteYes, try it! And don't forget to post it to the September 2016 padlet.
DeleteIt flows nicely rather than feeling constrained. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you find it flows. I had some trouble with that part of it.
DeleteA few more words, and beautifully done. Writing in the form certainly took me on the search for different words. I've often thought that poems show how few words can push us into new thoughts, as you wrote, new conversations!
ReplyDeleteThe Thesaurus is my best friend!
DeleteNice job! It must feel good to have met the challenge, and I imagine you surprised yourself with what you learned as a result.
ReplyDeleteI learned that septercets aren't easy! Especially, since I always try to make each line about the same length on the page. I've got this thing about rectangles surrounded by white space.
DeleteIt's great to shake yourself up creatively from time to time, definitely helps get the brain's gears moving in new ways, and gets the creative juices flowing! You've created a wonderful little poem!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jane!
DeleteNicely done! This would be a great one to share with kiddos..thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYes, it might make for a good social studies lesson, too, if you asked the kids why I used seven million as opposed to another number.
DeleteMichelle said it. "Fantabulous!"
ReplyDeleteA lovely word--thank you!
DeleteI like your philosophy of including only the number of syllables the poem demands. I'm going to do more listening to the poem and less counting from now on. That said, your counted syllable poem doesn't sound at all forced or puffed. Lovely takeaway.
ReplyDeleteViolet, in haiku, less is more, but that's only true if the image is clear. So, use the amount of syllables to say what needs to be said.
DeleteWell done, Diane! And I love that it reminds us that everyone has a different perspective. I don't mind counting syllables, but I'm getting a little anxious about the number of days remaining for this challenge, which I haven't started yet. Thank you for inspiring me!
ReplyDeleteI think the hardest part is deciding what part of reading or writing is left to be written about!
DeleteThe beauty of poetry is that there are so many options to challenge us in different ways - and that's just in the writing of it.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest challenge is getting something down on the page. Then comes the fun part--rewriting it!
DeleteYou are a philosopher, as all poets should be. :-)
ReplyDeleteHa, ha! I once went out with someone whose job was a teacher of philosophy. I could never wrap my head around that as a profession. ;-)
DeleteHoorah for you, twice--I like your seven/
ReplyDeletebillion interpretations of the septercet, and I'm glad you'll be doing Cybils again. I planned to but missed out on application process completely.
Don't forget to apply next year. If I remember, I'll give you a nudge.
DeletePoetry can be such a wonderfully communal act. Stepping outside of the comfort zone is a rewarding act when the task is complete. Thanks for sharing your trepidations on your septercet challenge. From my vantage point you entered a new domain with great dexterity.
ReplyDelete