Day 31:

July 31, the last day of the month. This occasion prompted this poem.

The Last Day

Where will you be on the last day?

Is there something you need to say?

Something left to do on that day?

Some will beg and plead and to pray

It will be too late on that day

Before then, all they did was play

They did not stay within the way

What will you do on the last day?

Day 30:

July 30-Another form of Etheree is the Double Etheree. 1 to 10, then back again.

Rock

Solid

Unmoving

Dependable

Strong as a mountain

Utterly trustworthy

Totally responsible

Steadfastly enduring trials

Silently seeking serenity

All the good sides of a person’s nature.

All the bad sides of a person’s nature.

You have a blockheaded person, that’s

Painfully sharp, prickly and cold

Prejudice personified

Totally unbending

Completely heartless

Irritating

Abrasive

Itchy

Stone.

Day 29:

July 29-To fight the war against writer’s block, poets need to arm themselves with a  knowledge of as many poetry forms as possible. Poring over, studying each style, with examples helps the poet. In fact any writer can learn the same way. Vladimir Nabokov said “one cannot read a book: one can only reread it.” Thinking about it, I agree. Many times I glance through a book. Later, something grabs me and I read it again, learning something I didn’t know before. The Bible is like that as well. Unfortunately, rereading can lead to something else. I’ve always said that imitation is the sincerest form of plagiarism. While children learn through imitation, eventually they grow up. Learning by rote is one thing, but taking the credit for it is another. You will note attempts to give credit for the one who created the form. Many times, I’ve seen in websites a number of things that I’ve done claimed as their own. And while good things come about because of the innovation I don’t make too big a deal about it. After all, the saying goes “it’s amazing what can be accomplished when it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.” Students need to do more than copy material into a homework assignment. They need to learn the material enough to put it into their own words. That, and cite the source. After all, books have bibliographies for a reason. Now that I’ve had my say, I’ll get off the soapbox and discuss today’s poetic form, with an example.

Reverse Etheree-start with 10 syllables, and count down each line by one.

A poem does not have to rhyme, you know

Poetry passes pressing critics

By alliteration, phrases,

Form, enjambment, and other

Applications poets

Use. An Etheree

Even reversed

Is known truly

By its

Sound.

Day 28:

July 28-A Palindrome is written the same forward and backward.

Since this is poem number, 11, 311, a palindrome seems in order. You may ask how it is possible to write so many poems. You may ask. Ok, let’s do some math. Suppose you had 100 friends. You write them a birthday poem for 10 years. That is 1,000 poems. But let’s not forget family members. Let’s make that number another 100. That’s 2,000. But wait. What about other landmark events in a person’s life, such as weddings, anniversaries, births, illness, and the like? Add another 2,000, which makes it 4,000. But wait. What about holidays? That makes the numbers reach 10,000., especially when including obscure ones like Bosses Day and Sweetest Day. But you don’t want to just write any poem. There are hundreds of forms used throughout the world, and when practicing all those forms, 11,000 doesn’t seem like such a huge number after all. For my part, I’ve written poems for over three decades, and the number of friends and family exceed the 200 ascribed for the demonstration.

Now, future palindromes may sound better than this. Give it a try.

1 1 3 1 1

Madam, I’m Adam

1 1 2 1 1

Ten a net

1 1 1 1 1

Top a pot

10101

Bob a bob

1 000 1

Huh?

Day 27;

July 27-A Lento is a 4 lined poem. abcb. Every line use the same letter or rhyme. There are double & triple Lentos, 2 or 3 stanzas.

Lentos are fine for writing things

Lines a b c b are the rage.

Letters are the same from the start

Lastly, stage left, finish the page.

Day 26:

July 26-In addition to posting a poem a day, I can’t help but give examples of the various forms used by the world’s poets. But a widely used form isn’t everything. A book once stated that anything a poet writes has form. So, this poem. Try to figure out the form used.

It is said that when a poet writes

A form then forms, a fine fit form.

Syllables match, the sounds alike

Alliteration fights the storm.

So when viewing a poet’s style

Read and listen to how it pounds

Scan the code, as Morse did as well

Accommodating through the sounds.

Peering this poem perhaps now

Perceive you the pattern as well?

The poet is making his point

So in what form did he just tell?

Day 25:

July 25-Etheree, a counting.poem.  1syllable, 2 syllables, til  line 10, 10 syllables. Created about twenty years ago by Etheree Taylor Armstrong, a poet from Arkansas.

Count

To ten,

Etheree.

A ten lined poem

Also syllables

Counting one to ten,

Follow along if you will.

It does not have to even thyme,

Just fill in the phrase, line by each line

And when you finally reach ten, then stop!

Day 24:

July 24, 2012-CHI-YEN-SHIH-from China, abcb;defe;ghih, 7 syllables, break after each  4^th syllable. Some poems use only abcb, but can extend to 2 or 3 phrases,

Chi Yen Shih

A Chi Yen Shih

                Count seven

Four syllables

Then three

A b c b

                Form follows

Broken apart,

Can you see?

Can you follow

This pattern?

A Chinese form,

Asian rhyme

One, two, or three

Phrases work

Follow along

In your time.

Closing this rhyme

We finish

The Chi Yen Shih

                You can tend

D e f e

                Was before

G h I h

At the end.

Day 23:

July 23:COPLA DE ARTE MAYOR-Spanish, abbaacca, 12 syllables, stress 2,5,8,11.

A Spanish poem, yes it is stressed by certain numbers.

At two, then at five, then at eight, last at eleven.

Fro joys, writing love, of the spirit, and heaven.

The Copla De Arte, yes the Mayor slumbers

Without a large doubt, a hard poem for takers

Or can it be so tough for a rhyme scheme to make it?

The Spanish, their rhythms unique, yes recommit

To write a fine poem, though many are but fakers.

Day 22:

July 22:CLERIHEW- a short humorous poem about a famous person. aabb. Typically Uneven lines.

P.D.Q. Bach

I’ve had a shock

Is he for real?

Songs he did steal!

Day 21, July 21:

Had a Cinquain, now let’s up the ante with a Cin-Cinquain, which is basically 5 Cinquains connected by a theme.

Music

Form, Style

Rhythm, Meter, Tempo

Melody, Harmony, Monophonic, Polyphonic

Lyrics

Form

Organized sound

Making a pattern

Regional or more worldwide

Style

Rhythm

Timed speed

Words or instruments

Drums beating Morse code

Patterns

Melody

Accompanied? Unaccompanied?

Single, multiple sounds

Two part or more?

Harmonic

Lyrical

Maybe words

Sung or played

All over the world

Music.

Day 20:

July 20-Cinquain- French,unrhymed, like the Haiku and Tonka. It has five lines. The lines describe the object in the poem. The title is one word, followed by two words, 3 words, four words, then close with one word.

TV

Boob Tube

News, Sports, Weather

Sitcoms, Dramas, Movies, Reruns

Entertainment.

Day 19:

July 19- Balassi- bbaccadda, syllables 667667667. Did you notice how patterns are found in life?

That seems to be a writer’s lot, finding patterns. Speaking of writer’s here is a quote I find interesting.

“Sleep is for those who don’t write.” Rebecca Carey, a young writer, coined this phrase. While I try not to fall into the trap beginning writers end up, there is a truth there. Many times an idea pops into my head, and I have to get up and write. Sometimes inspiration grabs me and I keep writing until late. A writer has to learn to exhibit discipline in his craft. A notepad by the bed helps. Keeping regular writing hours helps to train the brain into doing the work at a regular time. But still, it happens. After all, writing isn’t just a job, it is a passion. As another writer puts it, we must “Tame the Beast”, as N.M. Kelby states. He also states “Writing is a meditation on life.” That is why poetry is so important. We think about the great and small things of life, and communicate it., from simple joys of celebrating one’s birth, to the all encompassing nature of God and the universe. Well, that said, let’sd look at the Ballasi. The Ballasi is named after sixteenth century Hungarian poet Balint Balassi, who is credited with founding the modern Hungarian movement.

A Ballasi is here

More rhyming lines to cheer

A,a,b,c,c, to start

B,d,d,b to end

8 lines to phrase and tend

Syllables to put out in heart

Alternate 6 and then

7 syllables pen

Then you’re done, go on and part.

You will notice that today, July 18, I posted several "Daily" poems. When out of town, I have trouble finding internet access. I still write them daily, it just takes time to post them. Speaking of day 18-

True Quartina, in Iambic Pentameter. This one even rhymes. Here’s to jokes!

A practical joke, a banana slip

Can make the best genius into a fool

Be sure and be careful lest you do trip

Instead of Joe, and make you lose your cool.

A Joe, or John, or pawn starts out so cool

Until a prank is sent their way. Don’t slip!

A practical joke can make you a fool

On April Fool’s Day, watch out lest you trip.

A joke can be funny until you trip

A pun or riddle can seem so cool

But sometimes a jokester can really slip

It can really turn you into a fool.

So watch it, jokester, don’t be a fool

Prepare puns and be ready for a trip

Yes, run away from those who lost their cool.

Go on, be ready to give them the slip.

Banana peel to slip on April Fool

Or shoelaces to trip may still be cool.

Day 17:

July 17, The Abhanga is from India, abbc, deef, etc. 6,6,6,4 syllables.

What is a Abhanga?

Syllables 6, 6, 6

And 4 closes the mix

A B B C

It came from India

Write out what you can see

Show alphabets with glee

Abhanga, yes!

Day 16:

July 16, 16 is a square, and a cube. 2 to the third power. So I wrote a Cubic. A similar form to 3X3 is the Cubic. The form can be Cubic 2, where there are 2 stanzas, with 2 lines, and each line is 2 syllables. The strict cubic forms even have rhymes. Some call the rhymed Cubic a Tetric. The Cubic 3 has everything in threes, while the Cubic 4 has everything in 4. A rare form is the Cube 1, which is a single syllable word. Some are even larger, like Cubic 5 or even 6. It is possible to modify the basic form to make it more interesting. It is different than a 3X3 which uses only a single phrase. The following is a rhymed Cubic 3 (or Tetric). 3 phrases, 3 lines, 3 syllables, aaa, bbb, cccc which could be called a Teric. Interestingly, Richard Pryor had a comedy routine where a poet used a Cubic 1 poem called “BLACK!”

Grandmother

Cherokee

Family

Yes, our tree

Grandmother

He sought her

Wedded, sure!

She married

Kids carried

And harried.

Day 15:

July 15

This is a Burmese form called a Ya Do. 5 lines.1- 3 stanzas. 1^st 4, 4 syllables, climbing 4,3,2.,(1^st, last 3 lines) last line 5,7,9, or 11 syllables, lines 4 & 5 rhyme.

Write this with ease

The Burmese show

Don’t tease, just write

Just don’t fight it

Fleas climb down with rhymes abound in wit.

Day 14: 

Haiku-5,7,5 syllables, typically refer to nature, rarely use articles(“The”, etc.) Typically uses “Aha” discovery and pivotal point at end of first or second line.

Peaceful surroundings

Echoing silence along

Gentle green pastures.

Day 13: Friday the 13^th and so to push the envelope, this poem has 13 lines, 13 syllables, and is unrhymed, so that makes 13 as well.

Friday the 13^th

Are you superstitious?  Does thirteen bother you so?

Then skip this poem, or at the least protect yourself.

Bring along a lucky charm, say like a rabbit’s foot

Be sure not to break a mirror, or to spill some salt.

Don’t walk under ladder, to be safe from all harm.

Silly superstitions saturate society.

Numerology numbs the mind into a coma.

Horror-scopes honor happenstance to a high level.

Friday the 13^th has always been lucky for me.(Mwa?)

Spells, taboos, voodoo, tricks and treats, all fill up this date.

Horror pictures fulfill our fears as well as the books.

Scary scenes can be fun, but fear can also be bad.

I’m finished now! Nothing bad has happened, knock on wood!

July 12, Day 12;

This is a Mawaddes, an African form. A 9 line monorhyme, using 12 syllables, typically iambic Hexameter, broken into 2 6 syllable phrases, typically using a comma. Typically religious material used.

The Mawaddes is here, a poem that is clear

A monorhyme all A’s, and breaks that show no fear

Iambic to the core, dot dash is full of cheer

A Hexameter line, with 6 and 6 so dear

If you can write this phrase, praise God for being here

An Ethiopian, religious or not peer

An African poem, 9 lines put things in gear

It could be secular, or show that God is near

And then when you are done, give yourself a big cheer.

July 11,

Day 11:I found out this is my 11,111^th poem. So in honor of the number one, I wrote this:

On and on the numbers run

Where do all the ones come from?

Don’t just sit there feeling glum

Finish counting and you’re done!

July 10 poem

Day 10:Dodoitsu-Japanese form, 7,7,7,5 syllables, typically unrhymed. Usually discuss love or humor.

Dinner Time-

Dinner time has come this evening

Hunger pangs are now creeping

I’m wondering what to have

Fine! TV dinner!

July 9 poem

Day 9:

Climbing rhyme- Burmese and Malay poetry usually use climbing rhymes. A Than Bauk or Luc Bat will have an internal rhyme. 3 lines. Line 1, 4^th syllable rhymes with line 2, 3^rd syllable and line 3, 2^nd syllable.

Mountain Climbing:

When you’re climbing a mountain

You can sing high at the top

Just bring what you need to live.

July 8 poem

Day 8;Sedoka, part 2. I decided to try the longer version of this poem, 5,7,5  5,7,5 syllable framework.

What’s a Sedoka?

Not a real puzzle

But an Asian poem

Numbers may not count.

A Sedoka is

A longer phrase type poem

Just like two haikus.

July 7 poem

Day 7: Sedoka- 2 descriptions, 2 haikus, or a Haiku like form with 5,7,7 syllables.

I choose the smaller form for this poem.

I even made it rhyme.

Short

How short can you be?

Are you smaller than a bee?

Is it hard for them to see?

July 6 poem

Day 6:

Tonka- 5,7,5,7,7 syllables.

Movies-

How about a show?

A movie could be real nice

Theatre, tonight!

Maybe a comedy or

Action, drama or cartoon.

July 5 poem

Day 5:

Ukiah-a reverse Haiku. Typically used for more humorous poetry. Not as strict, but there have been poems that followed every Haiku rule. 7,5,7 syllables.

Sushi-

How do you make this Sushi?

Pickle it, frame it,

Just do not cook it at all.

July 4 poem

Day 4:

A Bina, this time Iambic Pentameter, this was written to celebrate July 4^th. I debated on whether or not to put this in, and finally decided to show what a strict Bina should look like.

July Fourth

The path to freedom rings along the way

Reminding us of brave acts on the fourth

A document was signed right on the fourth

To bring us liberty, yes freedom’s way

Oh by the way, a happy July Fourth!

July 3 poem

Day 3:

This is a Bina, another of the Sestina family. 2 words, ABBA A/B. This one also rhymes. A strict Sestina is in Iambic Pentameter. A future Bina will do the same.

Sometimes it may feel like a maze

Trying to find the perfect phrase

But when you get that just right phrase

You are no longer in a maze.

This Bina maze is now a phrase.

July 2 poem

Day 2:

This is a special Quartina, from the Sestina family. A Sestina is iambic Pentameter. I’ll write a future Quartina in the same way.

This one actually rhymes. A & C rhyme, as does B & D, similar to the rhyming Sestina.

The form goes as follows: ABCD  DABC  CDAB  BCDA  A/B C/D(poem #11,102)

This poem will start out in time

Please permit me now if I may

While some do not, this one will rhyme

To make this Quartina the way.

This is not the regular way

For a Quartina at this time

But please permit me if I may

If I decide to make it rhyme.

A and C, and B and D rhyme

Using four words is the right way

It just may take a little time

To get it correct, if you may.

Set a nice meter, if you may

But just make sure that it will rhyme

There is not just one lonely way

To make this Quartina in time.

Out of time, to close if I may

Make it rhyme, it’s the only way.

I was stuck in the boondocks with a broken down vehicle for a week, but now I'm back to civilization, where the internet is freely available. I wrote a number of poems to match each day in July, for the purpose of writing a poem a day for a year. Posting will be a bit haphazard.
Day 1-written July 1:

be my attempt to write an Octina. This form is of the Sestina family. It has 8 words used in each phrase, one per line. The Pattern follows: ABCDEFGH  HADBCGEF 

FHCAEDBG  GFEHBCAD   DGBFAEHC   CDAGHBFE  ECHDFAGB   BEFCGHDA  A/B G/E D/F C/H(last 4 have all 8 words) . A strict Sestina is Iambic Pentameter. A future Octina will do so.

Octina: How To

So what do you think of numbers?

What about poetic phrases?

A poem does not have to rhyme.

Alliteration can make it.

Letters set along little lines.

Sounds are set out as parts of speech.

One line sentences or broken

Into a fine lined Octina.

How do you make an Octina?

It is all done with the numbers

One through eight, each line you make it

A word. They then make eight phrases.

Remember, it does not have to rhyme

Unless you want it to. A broken

Enjambment keeps thoughts within lines,

Read aloud to sound like a speech.

Are you getting tired of my speech?

There is more to this Octina.

 You can try an internal rhyme

Just don’t slumber with the numbers.

Don’t forget to connect all the lines.

Yes, it is long, but don’t give it

Up yet. Keep working the phrases.

It can still be fixed if broken.

Yes, it might look to be broken.

It may not sound like a fine speech,

But what’s important are the lines.

Each part make up the Octina.

Moving words around the phrases

Can make it hard to make it rhyme.

Don’t fret it, just use the numbers

To make it work, then you’ve done it.

If you need some help to write it,

Try music to fix a  broken

Writer’s block. Then work the phrases

Out into a fine sounding speech

Of a poem. Make the numbers

Work for you. You will find the lines

Write themselves in an Octina.

You might eventually rhyme.

Take time too, for an internal rhyme

A real strict meter can make it

Hard, but remember the numbers

Are the point. a sentence broken

Is okay. Make the Octina

Alive with sounds in the phrases

Using all the figures of speech

Within the framework of the lines.

The Octina has two more lines

Than the Sestina. Neither rhyme

Typically. The Octina

Is a poem, a form and it

Is also challenging for speech

Making. Now just take the numbers,

Move them around. Even broken

Sentences can make good phrases.

We’re almost done with the phrases.

Combine words in the last four lines

Then you’re through with your little speech.

Remember, there’s no need to rhyme.

Doesn’t rhyme? No, it’s not broken.

The phrases make the Octina.

You just might make a speech from it.

Make sure the lines match the numbers.

Match the numbers to the phrases

Then combine all the broken lines.

It does not have to be a speech.

Don’t rhyme, just make an Octina.