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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Day 17 brings double dactyls

Aprille has encouraged us to write double dactyls for the 17th day in our poem-a-day-for-April challenge. Seems somehow fitting she should do so.
A dactyl is a word with the EMphasis on the first SYLlable: for instance, the word APril seems self-evident.
But what of Aprille? Is that her mother's choice of spelling for the name April? Or is it pronounced in the European way: Aprille?

This is what we like at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads: a challenge with a quandary in it, accompanied by encouragement.

Another thing we like is an illustration of the form, which Aprille gives as follows:

ONE two three ONE two three
ONE two three ONE two three
ONE two three ONE two three
ONE two three DONE

and a brilliant idea: "Just think of a waltz," she says.

Don't forget a statement of requirements...
a double dactyl has two stanzas (i.e. two of the above)
and contains one proper noun/name
plus one 6-syllable word,
with no particular rhyme scheme.

Aprille provided a handy list of dactyls and another of 6-syllable words which are double dactyls. Of course, I just had to play around with some of those:

authoritarian
octogenarians:
conspiratorial,
unconstitutional:
dubious Senators all

So, I overdid the 6-syllable words and didn't get anyone's name in, but Senator with an uppercase S is arguably a proper noun? Isn't it? Anyone want to argue? Or do I have to argue with myself? (Not impossible.)

Fortunately, Aprille included two of her paintings of England in the 70s when infrastructure was breaking down. One contains a dog who looks like a Golden Retriever, so I definitely had to write to that.

Copyright. Used with permission.

bicycle is useless
overloaded, tires flat,
humanitarian
dog can tell that

hazardous woodlands here
helping hands not so near
he’ll guide you til you reach
Hill Farm ahead

Kay Davies, April 17, 2013










13 comments:

Kerry O'Connor said...

I enjoyed both your responses to the prompt, Kay. Love the little golden doggy.

Janine Bollée said...

Dear Kay,
I'm thrilled that you gave us a double dose: both ekphrastic and the form. And yes, I did pick the Goldie picture because of you. They are so human in their emotions and this dog didn't want to pick up sticks and move 'house' yet again. A dog can feel like a DP [displaced person] as much as its master.

Kay L. Davies said...

@ Aprille — Thanks for thinking of me and the Goldie. It looks so watchful and caring. And dogs do suffer from moving. We adopted Lindy from a rescue society nearly four years ago, and she still has episodes of separation anxiety, despite all we do for her.
K

Susie Clevenger said...

Such beautiful work. What a blessing our faithful pets are to us...giving us more comfort than many humans.

Marian said...

nice! i love the Senator poem. :)

Helen said...

Poetry treat times two! The first, oh so true, the second, oh so sweet.

Ellecee said...

A wonderful well crafted poem (I am taking both as one) I have a pet like Goldie too and I appreciate her so much,,,

Anonymous said...

Kay, excellent, both. I particularly liked the first, being a political animal. Since you asked, "senator" is only capitalized when it's attached to a name, as in Senator Windenbagger. If it's a senator, then lower case.

Your second was charming. Glad to hear you are a rescue person, too. Lex and I are moving in July and the first thing we'll do once we are settled is adopt a pair of rescue kitties! Peace, Amy

Margaret said...

Awe. Hugs to lovely Lindy for me :)

hedgewitch said...

Looks like you both had fun with this and used it to make a few points. I love 'authoritarian octogenarians' (a group that has raised my ire today with their spineless caving to the gun lobby.) Did you see the Goldens they brought to the hospital as 'comfort dogs' for the injured in Boston to pet? They had such a sense of peace about them.

Other Mary said...

Oh, your first one really hits the nail on the head! I like your second one as well, especially the second stanza.

Maude Lynn said...

Nicely done, Kay!

Daryl said...

well done!!!!