Mara mentioned villanelles at Spoken Word last weekend. Here's a form I like: the pantoum.
It is a series of quatrains; the second and fourth lines of each stanza are repeated as the first and third lines of the next. This pattern continues until the final stanza, which differs in the repeating pattern.
AUTUMN SACRIFICE
Holy ghost mist
Walks on water
In morning’s sacred hour.
Autumn hovers above,
Walks on water
In reflections of the sky.
Autumn hovers above,
Mild, then meek, in wind.
In reflections of the sky
Leaves deny death.
Mild, then meek, in wind,
Branches scratch testaments.
Leaves deny death,
But frosty breath withers.
Branches scratch testaments.
Sun draws blood,
But frosty breath withers
Holy ghost mist.
Sun draws blood
In morning’s sacred hour.
“Autumn Sacrifice.” Poetry. 2006 Explorations, MECC, Third Place.
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Comments: 7
Ooooooooh - that was really neat !!!
mesmerizing picture of dawn
and autumn to come
Love your work, as always, Neva and this one is now featured in Poet's Weekly Muse!
Thank you! I appreciate that.
What is Spoken Word?
Spoken Word is an open mic night that takes place at Cafe del Sol in Floyd, Virginia once a month. It's the third Saturday at 7PM. Fun crowd. Lots of diverse poetry, fiction, and music.
I am not Christian, but I liked your work. Thanks for sharing this type of poem. I have never read one in such form.
Thank you David N. I appreciate that.
I don't set out to write Christian-themed work, but my beliefs do pop up, whether outright or in an underlying way. The pantoum is fun to write because it stretches your mind. There's comfort in repetition but it's hard to write it. :)