I found that writing an octopus poem was fun, so I wrote two more!
Last Friday, Margaret at Reflections on the Teche celebrated the publication of Irene's new book by having her students write octopus poems. One student, Madison, even created a new form, the Octaiku. Madison explains:
"An Octopus form, or, as I like to call it, a Octaiku (A combination of Octopus and Haiku.) The form is 2, 4, 8, 2, 4 because 2 and 4 can go evenly into 8."I tried my hand at an Octaiku and here is the result:
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Original image from The World Book: Organized Knowledge in Story and Picture (1917).
Text:
she dwells
in the deep this
creature of agility and
mistress
of disguises
I took the liberty of disguising my octopus in rather funky camouflage!
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Original image from "Guide leaflet" (1901) of the American Museum of Natural History (1917).
Text:
Deep Sea Plural
Our language is a puzzle,
this I can't deny.
Is more than one cephalopod
octopuses or octopi?
I'm a big fan of a book by Sy Montgomery, The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness. In it, she tells us the plural of octopus is octopuses, and that's good enough for me. My online Merriam-Webster, though, lists octopuses as well as octopi AND octopodes.
Head over to The Opposite of Indifference where Tabatha is holding the Round-Up today.
Oh, this is wonderful! I love the octiku form. I meant to give that a try....need to get on it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it, Linda. Give it a try!
ReplyDeleteI love this! Mistress of disguises indeed! Thanks for sharing. I've been mulling over Irene's challenge as well... thanks for reminding me to get on that!
ReplyDeleteWell, the month is still young, but time definitely gets away from us.
DeleteYour blog is always an inspiration and delight, Diane - and today is no exception. But how wonderful that you were first inspired ... by a student! Loving the octaiku. Must try one!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed writing the octaiku and I have another one ready to go for Happy Haiga Day! on Sunday. But, it's not about an octopus!
DeleteI can't wait to tell Madison that you used her new form to write an octopus poem. Your image is striking. Octopus poems have been fun to write.
ReplyDeleteI don't write my haiku with a fixed syllable count. But, I thought the exercise in writing this form 2-4-8-2-4 was a nice change/stretch. Tell Madison I said, "Thanks!"
DeleteMadison's clever idea, that Octaiku, works perfectly for you, Diane. Love that "mistress of disguises". As I read about octopuses after Irene's challenge, I was amazed at the many ways they do hide, can move into small places for survival. Love your turn of phrase with the 2nd one, too. I did think it was 'octopi' until Irene's post.
ReplyDeleteIf you get a chance, please read The Soul of an Octopus. You will be further amazed!
DeleteBoth poems are fun! Octopodes...hmmm, never heard of that one!
ReplyDeleteNeither have I--now I'll have to be on the lookout for it.
DeleteFun octaiku--and I hope Margaret's student finds out how her form is spreading! (I have always said octopi, but have no idea why.)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Margaret will share!
DeleteLove the new form. These octopus poems are great fun. Love the images you chose too.
ReplyDeleteThe very old illustrations are fun to tweak, and, since they are in the public domain, I can do it abandon.
DeleteBoth of these are so much fun. I love the "dwells in darkness”and "mistress of disguises”
ReplyDeleteI had originally written "master of disguise," but, it is a rather over utilized term. Then I realized a lady octopus would be a mistress--it's just enough of a change to be effective.
DeleteWhat an enchanting octopus creature and Octaiku you matched her with-both are charming and mysterious… I like your second octopod poem too–for "Our language is" definitely "a puzzle," thanks Diane!
ReplyDeleteI love both these poems--and learning more about octopuses. They are such fascinating creatures.
ReplyDelete"Mistress of disguises" <3 Love that image, too.
ReplyDeleteVery fun! Love the new form and your pondering about plurals.
ReplyDeleteI like your octohaiku, Diane. It is both visually appealing and fun to read. I think I would like to try out this new form just for fun.
ReplyDelete