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Sunday, January 1, 2012

For Real Toads: create a new form

For the writers' group Imaginary Garden with Real Toads:
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Just because one member of the group decided to create his own poetic form, a new form he called Orion, Kerry has decided to challenge all of us to create our own verse forms, of up to 15 lines. To create them, and then to name them.
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Sigh.
It is late at night, and midnight looms. I'll finish this tomorrow.
*
Okay, I'm back, and it is finally the year 2012 in western Canada. I have named my poem form after our dog Lindy, as well as an old dance I've never seen performed.
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This form consists of three quatrains with AbAb rhyming in the first two stanzas, and aBaB in the third. The final verse contains only three lines, rhyming AbA, in order to add up to the 15 lines Kerry specified, and for no particular reason otherwise.
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I might previously have taken liberty with rhyme schemes, etc., but my New Year's Revolution for 2012 includes following the rules right out the door. This is the new me: obedient unto obsequiousness. Don't you love the new improved me already?
*
THE LINDY
*

The new year’s creeping ever closer
In half an hour it will be here,
Bringing with it dreams of closure,
Amends to all we may have hurt.
*
Dreaming we’ll let go of grief,
And let resentment lose its hold, 
Thinking each of our belief
In Buddha, Krishna, Allah, God.
*
Old faults, too awful to admit to,
Crimes, perhaps, for some of us,
Or just the sins of plain omission,
Too lazy, we, to help or fuss.
*
Years have gone, we cared not a whit
Now we know it’s getting later,
Perhaps it’s time to care a bit.
*

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Love it!! You are very clever.xx

Kerry O'Connor said...

Oh yes, we must care a whole lot. I love this form and its namesake. Wishing you a most successful year of writing in 2012, in the great hope you will find your voice for the Unfittie's Guide again.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I am impressed. Way cool, Kay. And I love hopw the red lines could make their own stand alone poem. Good one!

Unknown said...

The same to you!!

Grace said...

Interesting form...I like letting go of resentment and grief, into the past year.

Happy New Year ~

Joyful said...

Impressive indeed. I like your closing line :-) Happy New Year!!

Maude Lynn said...

Well done!

Happy New Year!

Laurie Kolp said...

You are so creative, Kay. This is a great guide for us all.

Daydreamertoo said...

Yes, I agree, very creative.
Happy new year to you.

Mary said...

I enjoyed your new form and your message. May we each try new things in the new year.

jabblog said...

Well done, Kay - just thinking about creating a new form makes my head ache, though I'll keep thinking about it;-)

Traci B said...

Great message and a good form. Lindy should be proud of having it named after her. :)