Day 184:
Dec 31-New Year’s Eve, A poem for Celebrating. Title New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve

Cheer or grieve
Gone the past
Time went fast
Future hope
Easy slope
Time to leave
New Year’s Eve.

Day 183:

Dec 30- Byr A Thoddaid, short toddaid, Any number of quatrains of 2 couplets.  Series of cyhydedd fer couplets, add toddaid byr to stanza for texture to poem with break in rhythm. Can be reversed beginning  quatrain with toddaid byr, ending with cyhydedd fer. Shorter line of toddaid byr end rhymes with main rhyme of stanza. This form makes use of the gair cyrch in which main rhyme appears somewhere near the end of longer line & end word is a 2ndary rhyme. 2ndary rhyme echoed by alliteration or assonance in 1st half of the next line. stanzaic, written in any number of quatrains made up of 2 couplets,syllabic, either L1-L2 8 syllables, L3 10 syllables L4 6 syllables, or the couplets are reversed L1 10 syllables, L2 6 syllables, L3-L4 8 syllables. rhymed, either AAbA with the main rhyme A occurring somewhere near the end of L3 and the secondary rhyme b echoed by alliteration or assonance in the first half of L4 or the couplets are reversed bAAA. So Technically the Byr A Toddaid is a short Cyhyded with a Toddaid. This version has 2 couplets, 2 lines with 8 syllables, then a 10 syllable with internal rhyme and ends with a 6 syllable line with internal rhyme. Xxxxxxxa, xxxxxxxa, xxxxxxbxxxc, xcxxxb. A modified Byr A Thoddaid will have the Syllable count: 10, 6, 8, 8, 10, 6.

A Byr A Thoddaid type phrase

Eight syllable couplet thus phased
With ten and six, the Celtic type of verse
Reverse, just take your pick.

Day 182:

Dec 29-Let’s get back to some Celtic poetry. Clogyrnach, clog-ír-nach, 16th Welsh meter,  Awdl, associated with Cynddelw framed with cyhydedd fer couplet combined with longer form.  rarely used today. features of Clogymach are: stanzaic, written in any number of quintets, combining cyhydedd fer (rhymed couplet of 8 syllable lines) and tercet of 2 5 syllable lines followed by one 6 syllable line of 2 equal parts, 3 syllables each.rhymed, rhyme scheme AABBA. 1st phrase of L5 rhymes with previous line & 2nd phrase rhymes with cyhydedd fer couplet. flexible, L5 of cinquain can be added to end of L4 creating quatrain or broken into 2 separate lines creating a sixain.

x x x x x x x A x x x x x x x A x x x x B x x x x B x x B x x A

x x x x x x x A x x x x x x x A x x x x B x x x x B x x B x x A

x x x x x x x A x x x x x x x A x x x x B x x x x B x x B x x A

A Clogyrnach is Celtic made

Short Cyhydedd and short Toddaid
Internal rhyme here and nothing to fear
Get in gear, close and fade.

Day 181:

Dec 28- Surrealism, experiment. Make up words, or randomly pick from a book, magazine, newspaper, box of cereal, then make a poem out of those words. The following poem I took from random words and phrases from a couple of Astronomy books, and fit into a sonata like form, a,b,c,b,a. I alternated the syllable count  to be 6,8,6,8,6. Some surrealists take a single word or phrase, and randomly placed them within the poem. Some use dice to pick out the phrases. For example, I could have rolled the phrase “Cathedral stands great and small.” OR “Nature’s Diamond.” I limited the randomness to hopefully produce a meaningful poem. Title: Cosmos(#11,978)

 Across the great divide

Universes great and small
Can there be more than one?
Nature’s cathedral stands for all
Diamond skies on God’s side.

Day 180:
Dec 27-St. Stephen’s Day, another holiday. Here’s a poem celebrating this day.

Day of the Wren

Is also when
St. Stephen’s Day
And boxing day
A holiday
Feasting away
Along your kin.
Women and men
Celebrate then
For the day when
Martyred Stephen
Killed by bad men.
Mummers, Galway
Festival play
The Gaelic way
On this feast Day.

Day 179:

Dec 26-Kwanzaa celebrated this day. Here’s a poem for that holiday.

Kwanzaa

African Heritage to be observed

Unity, responsibility and faith that’s served.

Purpose, creativity and more

Seven principles are at its ‘core

The first fruits of the harvest make their way

To celebrate the Kwanzaa Holiday!

Day 178:

Dec 25-Merry Christmas! Here’s a holiday poem. Title: Christmas

May this holiday

Go truly your way

Just don’t make a fuss

And merry X-mas!

Day 177:

Dec 24-Christmas Eve, the time for Santa, so an appropriate poem for that as well. Title: Santa’s Coming

Okay kids, time for bed

Santa’s coming now

Wearing suit so red

Gifts galore and how!

Christmas Eve is here

Better be asleep!

Santa’s here, not a peep

Morning comes with cheer!

Day 176:

Dec 23-closing days of Advent. I noticed that earlier a holiday period called Advent started a few weeks before. It closes around Xmas time. So an appropriate poem to mind. Title: Advent thoughts

Birth

Advent

The coming

Foretold

The promised

Nativity

Rejoicing

Angels

Praise

Shepherds

Visiting

Wise men

Gifts.

Day 175:

Dec 22- Zuni and Hopi Purification Day. A time for renewal, a type of Native American New Year. A poem called Zuni Dance for consideration.

Zuni Purification Dance

Dancing the Old away

Purification

Fire in the homes

Renewal

New Times

Hope

Day 174:

Dec 21-Winter Solstice. Several groups around the world celebrate this time. The Hindu celebrate Pan Da Ganapati, the Iranians have the Yalda Festival, The Zuni and Hopi  have the Soyad, the early Romans had Saturnalia, It is also called Mother’s Night.

Mother’s Night

Hopi’s Light

Mayan end of days.

Solstice mark

Winter dark

Celebrate your way.

If the end

Last I’ll spend

Heaven then I’ll stay.

Day 173:

Dec 20- Short toddaid, 10 syllables, then 6. Xxxxxxaxxb, xbxxxa.

A short Toddaid you can choose to amaze

This phrase, just don’t abuse.

Day 172:

Dec 19- Ember Day, Actually 4, are the days at the beginning of the seasons ordered by the Catholic Church, as days of fast and abstinence. Might as well have a poem for this holiday, so here goes.

More accurately called Advent Embertide.

Ember Day

Fast away

Abstain play

Worship Day

Day 171:
Dec 18- modified Toddaid, if quatrain, xxxxaxxxxx, xxxaxxxb, xxxxcxxxxx, xxxcxxxb.

A fun way to show poetry’s fine style
Syllables know how it should work.

Another Toddaid, the Celtic’s cool way
Ten and nine make, the poet’s perk.

Dec 17- Thoddaid, A basic form, a couplet with 10 syllables followed by 9 syllables. A short modified form has 10 syllables followed by 6 syllables. Typical form as follows: xxxxxxxxbxx, xxxxbxxxa.

The Thoddaid is a basic Celtic form

Ten syllables tell at first then nine.
 
Assonance hosts a poet’s shell
Alliterate well to make it fine.

Day 169:

Dec 16-Heard that an important group of Educators siding with a number of publishing companies and widely reported by the liberal media as a groundbreaking positive effect for students. The report? The textbooks will now state that the Boston Tea Party was a terrorist act. Now, the British might consider it thus, but any freedom fighting group from France to India, South America, Africa and other democracies created as a result of this act of civil disobedience should disagree. While Americans have been short sighted about a great many things, we can be proud of the far reaching long range planning of the founding fathers. As it is appropriately stated, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” Since today is the anniversary of this “Act of Terrorism”, it is only fitting to write a poem about it. Title: Freedom

Freedom!

The word brings joy and terror.
Joy to those who have experienced it after a life of slavery.
Terror to those who have been discovered to act against it.
A brave band of civilians stood against an empire.
Freedom from oppression was the cause.
The odds were against them, but they were the emblem
Of a new concept brought to civilization.
Terrorists? Freedom fighters? Patriots?
Civil disobedience to teach others throughout history.

Day 168:
Dec 15-Today was the day when the Bill of Rights became a part of the U.S. Constitution. History shows that these first ten amendments gave more power to the people, and hailed throughout the world as the first sign for people to come to a free land. A poem now for this special document. Title Freedom Pages

Freedom Pages

People with power
Government of the people
Freedom remembered
A law for, by, and of the people
Let Freedom ring!

 Another item for your consideration: Today is also National Wreath Day, where those who lost their lives defending this country had wreaths placed upon their graves. The killings in Connecticut also brought this poem into focus, for the brave teachers who defended the innocent children. Wreaths were placed in special prominence at the school for remembering those that died.

Remembering those that fell

Lay the wreath and ring the bell.
The brave sacrificed for all
Salute who answered the call.

Day 167:

Dec 14- Hir a Thoddaid, heer-ah-thódd-eyed (long stanza with toddaid), 22nd Meter,Most common. Eisteddfod. Theme: memorial, eulogy. Hir a thoddaid: stanzaic, any # of sixains of mono-rhymed quatrain followed by Toddaid couplet. syllabic, lines 1-5 written 10 syllable lines & L6 is 9 syllable line. rhymed, rhyme scheme AAAAAbA main rhyme echoed late in L5, 2ndary rhyme gair cyrch echoed somewhere in 1st half of L6. Sometimes just 4 10 syllable lines. Rhyme Pattern: a, a, (a) b (the internal rhyme a can come on the seventh, eighth or ninth syllable), a.
Note: form can be modified by adding extra versions of the first couplet between the first couplet still keeping the second couplet for the end. Remember that last 10 syllable line and 9 syllable line appears like the following. Xxxxxxbxxx, xxxxbxxxxa, after 10 syllables ending in a.

The Hir A Thoddaid is the Celtic phrase

Ten syllabled form lines, it’s all the craze
Take four monorhymed lines and make it blaze
Add any numbered phrases you can raise
A special poem you see, and can do
Now try it with glee, then close this phrase.

Day 166:

Dec 13-for those superstitious types, here is a haiku for you: Title: Superstitious

Oh my, it’s thirteen

Superstitions wander by
Will you knock on wood?

Day 165:

Dec 12-Gwawdodyn Hir, or long Gwawdodyn, , gwow-dód-in heer (gwawd means poem - hir means long), 21st Welsh Meters, an Awdl, elongation of Gwawdodyn. toddaid or cyhydedd hir couplet preceded by 2 or more cyhydedd naw ban couplets is called long or hir.
Gwawdodyn hir is:  stanzaic, the length of which is established by the number of Cyhydedd Naw Ban couplets followed by a Toddaid couplet or a Cyhydedd Hir couplet. syllabic, 9 syllable lines in cyhydedd na ban couplets & combination of 10-9 syllables in last couplet. rhymed, cyhydedd naw ban couplets-  monorhymed, rhyme scheme of added cyhydedd hir or toddaid couplets must remain consistent w/ main rhyme. last syllable of  9 syllable line carries linking rhyme to end syllable in succeeding stanzas. 6 line stanzas, 4 nine syllabled a, and a doddaid, 10 syllables, then 6 syllables. Syllable count per line: 9, 9, 9, 9, 10 (sometimes split into 5+5), 9. Rhyme Pattern: a, a, a, a, (a) + b (internal rhyme a can come on 7th, 8th or 9th syllable), (b) +a (the internal rhyme b comes in middle of the line). Remember: with this and any other Celtic form, there may include with the rhyme extensive alliteration or assonance.

A Gwawdodyn Hir sounds silly I know

Nine silly bulls four times in a row
A doddaid follows to fit the flow
A Celtic poem’s the way to go
Alliterate, rhymes to fit, Celtic line
A fine assonant wit.

Day 164:

Dec 11-Gwawdodyn, gwow-dód-in-heer (gwad = poem) 20th codified, Official Welsh Meter, an Awdl. combination of cyhydded naw ban couplet followed by either a toddaid or cyhydedd hir couplet. is stanzaic, written in any # of quatrains of a Cyhydedd Naw Ban couplet followed by either a Toddaid or Cyhydedd Hir. syllabic, L1,L2,L4 are 9 syllable lines & L3 is 10 syllable line. rhymed, rhyme scheme end rhyme w/ cyhydedd hir AABC or w/ Toddaid AABC w/ main rhyme B echoed in 1st half of L4. end rhyme of L4 repeated in L4 of subsequent stanzas. Syllable count per line: 9, 9, 10 (sometimes split into 5+5), 6
Rhyme Pattern: a, a, (a) + b (the internal rhyme a can come on the seventh, eighth or ninth syllable), (b) +a (the internal rhyme b comes in the middle of the line).

9 syllable couplets, 4 line stanzas. Toddaid typically ending. Sometimes switch back and forth with 9 syllable a, 9 syllable a, 10 syllable with internal rhyme, ending in 6 syllable internal and extrnal rhyme.
Xxxxxxxxa, xxxxxxxxa, xxxxxxbxxc, xcxxxb.

A gwawdodyn is a Celtic phrase

Nine syllables start the poet’s praise
Or reverse the couplets here. Stanzas grow
A doddaid’s rhyme show cheer!

Day 163:

Dec 10-Adjusted Byr A thoddaid, this one has the syllable count 10, 6, 8, 8, 10, 6.

Another Bur Thoddaid here to amuse

Now choose which one to cheer
Mix and match these Celtic rhyme schemes
Make them short or burst at the seams
The closing is very near, it’s not a ruse
This muse helps, do not fear.

Day 162:

Dec 9-Chanukah, or as we gentiles call it Hanukah. I wrote this for my Jewish friends. Here is a Happy Hanukah Haiku!

Jewish Holiday

Celebrating Hanukah
Seven days of lights.

Day 161;

Dec 8-We’ve made note of various holidays. Today is the Buddhist holiday known as Bodhi Day, the day Buddhists say Buddha gained enlightenment. In a way, poets explore their own form of enlightenment, inspiration, or what have you. Here is a poem called Enlightened.

Enlightened

Inspired
Reaching heights
Reaching out
Heavenward.

Day 160:

Dec 7-In honor of Pearl Harbor Day, this poem: Pearl Harbor

A calm morning was broken

By planes tearing through the sky

December Seven, the day

Infamy was the loud cry

May we never do forget

The sad loss that came our way

Salute the fallen, my friends

Always remember that day.

Day 159:

Dec 6- Rhupunt Hir- 3 lines, 12 syllables, broken into 4 each aab, aab

Do not stress it, Rhupunt Hir wit is standard rhyme.
Have a permit? Twelve then beat it, syllable time!

Day 158:

Dec 5- Rhupunt Byr, a short Rhupunt, 2 lines, 8 syllables, broken into 4 each, bbba. Typically merged.

Rhupunt Byr see, short as can be. Count out, it’s free, syllables eight.

A Celtic phrase, try it for praise. Status you’ll raise now choose your fate.

Day 157:

Dec 4-Cyrch a cywta, Celtic, stanza of eight 7 syllable lines. The first 6 monorhyme, lines 7 and 8 similar to Awdl gywydd couplet. Xxxxxxa, xxxxxxa, xxxxxxa, xxxxxxa, xxxxxxa, xxxxxxb, xxbxxxa.

The cyrch a cywta is great

Seven syllables the rate
Count the lines, the phrase in eight
First six use a, take the bait
The last two a couplet’s gait
Awdl gywydd ends the slate
Line seven end on a b
You will see, it’s fine, don’t wait.

Day 156:

Dec 3-cyhydedd naw ban, monorhymed, rhyme scheme of added cyhydedd hir or toddaid couplets must remain consistent w/ main rhyme. last syllable of  9 syllable line carries linking rhyme to end syllable in succeeding stanzas. XXXXXXXXa, XXXXXXXXa, XXXXXXXXa. OR XXXXXXXXa(4 lines) Some have added other Celtic forms such as Toddaid[x x x x x x x B x x/ x x x x B x x x C], or Cyhydedd hir[x x x x x A x x x B/ x x x x B x x x C to merge with it. Celtic.

The cyhydedd naw ban is real fine

Nine syllables must rhyme in each line

Make them like couplets to close the sign.

Day 155:

Dec 2-ok, let’s get back to some Celtic poetic forms. Cyhydedd hir(pronounced Heer), most often written as a couplet following other metered couplets within a stanza.Cyhydedd Hir is: any number of lines of 19 syllables divided into 3 rhymed 5 syllable phrases ending in 4 syllable phrase carrying linking rhyme to next line.or written as couplet of 10 syllable line & 9 syllable line. 5th &10th syllables of 10 syllable line echoed in rhyme mid line of 9 syllable line which carries linking end-rhyme echoed in end syllable of each succeeding couplet or stanza. or couplet can be separated at the rhyme, into tercet or quatrain. Most typically the hir consists of an 8 line stanza with 2 quatrains. Each quatrain has 3 lines of 5 syllables and carry the same rhyme, b,b,b, c,c,c, etc. the fourth line is 4 syllables and carries main rhyme, A, B, etc. sometimes the quatrain rhyme is written as a single 19 syllable line. Eacch stanza would then revert back to a series of 19 syllable couplets. Xxxxb, xxxxb, xxxxb, xxxa, xxxxc, xxxxc, xxxxxc, xxxa/ xxxxd, xxxxd, xxxxd, xxxb, xxxxe, xxxxe, xxxxe, xxxb,  etc.

Are syllables four?

B has to be more

Five clears out the floor.

Cyhydedd hir.

The lines will combine

To make stanzas fine

Now fill out each line

And give a cheer.

Syllables nineteen

Combine for this scene

Two quatrains this clean

Put it in store.

A fine Celtic way

Poems that can play

You’ve now had your say

Now close the door.

Day 154:

Dec 1-In honor of another month, this poem. Title: A New Day

A New Day

Bright and blessed

Resurrected month

The continued cycle

The phoenix reborn

Rise and renew

Dawn declared

Begin

Another first.