JAPANESE FORMS
HAIKU IN ENGLISH: Traditional Haiku in English 5-7-5, Modern short-long-short syllable structure. Series or sequences are accepted.
a shower— white petals adrift on wet pavement © Colleen M. Chesebro
SENRYU IN ENGLISH: Traditional 5-7-5, Modern short-long-short, syllable structure. Series or sequences are accepted.
faery... in-between the veil time shifts © Colleen M. Chesebro
HAIGA IN ENGLISH: Traditional 5-7-5, Modern short-long-short, syllable structure.
TANKA IN ENGLISH: 5-7-5-7-7 syllable structure or the modern short, long, short, long, long. Series or sequences are accepted.
blue sky, cloud watching under the green canopy, opaque day dreams build poetry and story plots, fashioning magical worlds © Colleen M. Chesebro
GOGYOHKA IN ENGLISH: A Gogyohka contains five lines but could have four or six lines. Gogyohka has no restraints on the numbers of words, or syllables used. However, this form should be written as other Japanese short verse poetry. Series or sequences are accepted.
Gemini new moon— dreams and illusions set adrift heading into the unknown shadowy communications boundaries challenged © Colleen M. Chesebro
HAIBUN IN ENGLISH: There are different Haibun styles: Idyll: (One prose paragraph and one haiku) haiku/prose, or prose/haiku; Verse Envelope: haiku/prose/haiku; Prose Envelope: prose/haiku/prose, including alternating prose and verse elements.
“The Neighborhood”
My first walk in the new neighborhood turned up some surprises. Across the street, a fast-running stream bordered the edge of the forest along the walking path.
So, this is where the deer came from, I thought. We’d spotted deer tracks in the snow as they came right up to our front porch. A real Michigan welcoming committee!
Around the corner, I spotted a pond, frozen beneath the afternoon sun. I day-dreamed about the frogs and crickets serenading us in the stillness of a long summer night.
frosty pond— cattails whispering mourning dove cries © Colleen M. Chesebro
TANKA PROSE: Tanka prose 5-7-5-7-7, or short, long, short, long, long. There are many tanka prose combinations, such as Idyll: (One prose paragraph and one tanka) tanka/prose, or prose/tanka; Verse Envelope: tanka/prose/tanka; Prose Envelope: prose/tanka/prose, including alternating prose and verse elements of your choice.
“The Illusion of Power Spell”
On this Samhain eve of the full blue moon, I wait until midnight darkens the shadowy edges of the glen. I dip the tip of my right index finger into moon oil as I trace the shape of the orb on the flat surface of a nearby stump. Within the circle, I place four white candles around the edge, adding the fifth one in the middle. With a snap of my fingers, the candles are lit.
I call to the moon to receive her powers cast tonight, caught and kept used for good intent only that no evil shall arise © Colleen M. Chesebro
AMERICAN FORMS
CINQUAIN: The Crapsey cinquain contains five lines, and is a non-rhyming poem featuring a syllable structure of 2-4-6-8-2. Series or sequences are accepted of any cinquain forms.
Crapsey Cinquain (2-4-6-8-2) "Heed the Call" our world must unite with one mind–one consciousness as light workers allied to save mankind © Colleen M. Chesebro
The Crapsey cinquain has seen several variations by modern poets, including:
Reverse Cinquain (2-8-6-4-2) "Karma" karma... share your gifts wisely with others only cause "good" trouble give back good deeds tenfold © Colleen M. Chesebro
Mirror Cinquain (2-4-6-8-2, 2-8-6-4-2) "Shadow Play" daybreak— shadows holdfast to the gathering light clinging to the semi-darkness waiting searching— for cover from the heat of day hiding until twilight when safe harbor returns © Colleen M. Chesebro
Butterfly Cinquain (2-4-6-8-2-8-6-4-2) "Stone Ghosts" stone ghosts— the false idols of a treasonous past dedicated to slavery hateful tokens of white supremacy the darkness of death waits— patriarchy shattered © Colleen M. Chesebro
Crown Cinquain (2-4-6-8-2, five stanzas) "Pear Blossoms" spring sun white blossoms shine glittering diamonds in the azure afternoon sky gleaming hazy moonbeams glisten keep the umbrella close April showers grow weeds and seeds moonglow cool winds blast from the north white petals cascade down lacey spring snow—a fairyland daydream daybreak dark clouds gather shutting out the starshine rain, manna from the heavens, falls a gift sweet blooms, fall down like tears a coverlet of white sweet perfume lingers in the air past spring © Colleen M. Chesebro
Garland Cinquain (2-4-6-8-2 for five stanzas, 6th stanza formed from the preceeding five, line one from stanza one, line two from stanza two, etc.) "The Old Gods" old Gods guard the river where fast water runs deep a far northern estuary rushes coastland weathered heartwood reveals the mystery of the dryad’s saddle parasite mushrooms white-rot weakens the host maple, elm, box elder united wood nymph sentinels protect the core symbiotic connection to the tree If one falls, they die together fungi fairy air, earth, water powers drawn from the trees ambrosia from the other world enshrined old gods weathered heartwood maple, elm, box elder, if one falls, they die together enshrined © Colleen M. Chesebro
ETHEREE: The Etheree poem consists of ten lines of 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 syllables.
Classic Etheree "Riding High" cold dawn sky heat rises enveloped in a hot air balloon what Son of Son spotted on the way to school. I say; ‘Good observation’ and he smiles hopefully they land before the rain that is predicted for our area © JulesPaige
Modern Poets have created variations for the Etheree:
Reverse Etheree: (10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1) "A Modern Begging Dilemma" reigning chaos, her words flowed; closing doors while the barrage continued to flow seeking, yet pushing sympathy was there any saving grace? perhaps only that she didn’t come right out asking for funds an awkward bit of time © JulesPaige
Stacked Double Etheree (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10, 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1) "Honoring the First Day of Spring" Praise Vesna the Slavic Goddess of Spring and fertility, who declares victory over the cold of winter, by bringing forth new life this day, and returning the light from the dark past of winter's inhospitable chill exalt the Vernal Equinox on this full moon night, with chanting and dancing as we carry clay birds adorned with brightly colored flowers to bless our fields in your ethereal glow all hail, Vesna— the patron of new life. © Colleen M. Chesebro
Stacked Double Inverted Etheree (10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10) "Downcast Outcast" too tall are those glass walls with stacked boxes I used to live in an apartment that looked out over a river nothing for a teen to do just dream of escaping how could I live life being restrained - reflecting who am I I am me reflecting— on my limits was this true living where could I go, so I imagined traveling down that muddy brown river flowing far from those limited rooms of gloom those stacked glass walled boxes they were, too tall © JulesPaige
NONET: A nonet is stanzaic and written in any number of 9-line stanzas with the following syllable count per line: 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 syllables per line. Series or sequences are accepted of any nonet forms.
Classic Nonet "Memories Locked in Stone" from the shadows of the castle keep I watch and wait for my ladylove whose misty form inhabits the aged walls remaining a prison fortress to bind our hearts time without birth or end © Colleen M. Chesebro
The nonet has variations created by modern poets, as well:
Reverse or Inverted Nonet (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9) "Celebrate" now— honor yourself first, this is your time for self-loving too, enjoy sumptuous treats by doing something special commemorate your achievements reward yourself for a job well done © Colleen M. Chesebro
Double Nonet (9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1)
"Beware the Fairies" in Ireland, there is a magic path where otherworldly wights travel nightly from hills to the sea... returning home again through the white square of limestone one finds the door to fairy- land when it swings open at nightfall, out pours an eerie troop of spirits for those gifted to hear their voices—whistling music through the leafy trees mind the fairies or you'll be carted off! © Colleen M. Chesebro
Double Nonet (Reversed) (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9) "Home" home— sends me bittersweet dear memories, wrapped tightly in love, where hearts dwell together, welcoming all kith and kin cicadas sing their summer songs as the fringes of darkness descend— some secrets remain to guard through the night from the circles of family we protect kindred lives past and present the ancient legends of our clans. hark—the distant lands summon us home. © Colleen M. Chesebro
Double Inverted Nonet (9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9) "A Spring Avalanche of Sound" sitting on my stone bench, I am at a natural party; birdsong staccato trilling, birdie, peter-peter, squeak-meek twea-tea-tee, cheep-cheep heeer-here, quack, chew-coo-coo, voices tweet splash water playful creek small rapids run breeze flips the trees leaves distant train whistle sighs along with motors of cars and planes—those engines attempt to distract me… but not for very long © JulesPaige
Double Inverted Nonet (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9, 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1) "Be Careful What You Wish For" time brings us this rebirth— across our lands life stoked climate change quenched the fires and flames— water, the life source endured brought moisture to the thirsty earth— wind, the calming breath of the goddess storm remnants ebb into silvered mists where sky and water join as one I struggle for air above the rising ocean tides, as shrill sea bird screams welcome me to a fresh day without land © Colleen M. Chesebro
SHADORMA: The Shadorma is a poetic form consisting of a six-line stanza 3-5-3-3-7-5 for a total of 26 syllables. Series or sequences are accepted.
left at the bus stop, a canvas bag, a note and daisies told us, no coppers, thank you if life was valued © JulesPaige
BADGER HEXASTICH: The Badger Hexastich is syllabic and written in six lines with a 2-4-6-6-4-2 structure. Series or sequences are accepted.
"Cornerstones?" Badger Hexastich Sequence guarded sanity ebbs returns, flows free as the oceans are salted with hopes and dreams; joined by tears what fears keep one awake the lingering or the eventual exit that all must take— love waits brilliant the horizon preparations in lines buckaroo troops rally healing forces unite © JulesPaige
ABHANGA: The elements of the Abhanga are: syllabic, 6-6-6-4 syllables each, stanzaic, written in any number of 4 line stanzas. Rhymed L2 and L3 rhyme. Often internal rhyme is employed. End rhyme scheme x a a x , x being unrhymed. Series or sequences are accepted.
"Promises Laid Out" Abhanga Series cold air; so we lie close leaning in to face fears of aged marching years winter again we dream of traveling perhaps this coming spring with lighter steps, we’ll sing always lovers warmth in our embracing proactively preparing our future we’re sharing from first ‘I do’s’ © JulesPaige
DIATELLE: The Diatelle’s syllable structure follows: 1/2/3/4/6/8/10/12/10/8/6/4/3/2/1, but unlike an etheree, has a set rhyme pattern of abbcbccaccbcbba.
"Mahlon’s Crew: Two" sprang did they— dawn of day not one was ouphe up, readily away just doing their job, not aloof to fix, repair and replace the old roof rhythm assaulting neighbors ears – not to harangue! pros not to play, diligent, not a goof just doing their job, not aloof to bare, tare and display the bare bones roof work today, did they bang! © JulesPaige
Learn how to write syllabic poetry on Word Craft: Prose & Poetry HERE.
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