Clogyrnach Poems Besides being another intriguing word to say 'clogyrnach ' is also a poetic form, both challenging and engaging to write. A  form of poetry, Welsh in origin, typically a six-line, syllable driven stanza with an ab rhyme scheme:   Line 1: 8 syllables with an a rhyme Line 2: 8 syllables with an a rhyme Line 3: 5 syllables with a b rhyme Line 4: 5 syllables with a b rhyme Line 5: 3 syllables with a b rhyme Line 6: 3 syllables with an a rhyme So when I stumbled upon it recently, I thought I must try this. My desire to meet this new poetry challenge was compelling. Here is my Clogyrnach Poem.   The Wind On A Winter's Night A winter's night, without the moon The wind directs the fall leaves -swoon It rattles the doors Shaking trees, it soars The night roars Wild tunes. ©Alan j Wright It is once again Poetry Friday and our host this week is Irene Latham . Irene is exulting all things autumnal in her post.Please call by to find out

Kimo poems are an Israeli version of haiku. It is claimed that there was a need for more syllables when writing  haiku style poems in Hebrew. That said, most of the rules are still familiar to traditional haiku: 3 lines.  No rhymes. 10 syllables in the first line, 7  syllables in the second,  6 syllables in the third. The Kimo focuses on a single image (kind of like a snapshot). So it's uncommon to have any movement happening in Kimo poems. So, here is my kimo poem. Give it a try... Nature's Cathedral I stand in awe among the giant trees This glorious cathedral While silence surrounds me. ©Alan j Wright It is Poetry Friday and our host this week is Laura Purdie Salas   . Laura shares some Tankas about autumn for the #PoetryPals challenge. She also has a new book coming out: If You Want To Knit Some Mittens!

We all display behaviours that set us apart, identify us. Oddities and quirks that have become part of our way of operating- our habits. They are often referred to as idiosyncrasies (distinctive individual behaviours).  We frequently perform them unconsciously. It is often the observations of others that draw attention to our strange and wonderful ways. Some quirks are quite odd such as the behaviour of the character, Robert Barone in the TV series ' Everybody Loves Raymond ' who would touch his chin with snacks before placing them in his mouth. Some quirky behaviours are driven by superstition such as one I recall from my childhood when we were told never to step on cracks in the concrete for such action would surely break your Grandmother's back-'Don't step on a crack or you'll break your grandmother's back.' We were impressionable enough to comply with this horrifying edict. Some of our quirks are driven by order and repetition of certain actions. So

Rondelet Poems This week I am sharing information regarding Rondelet poems. The rondelet is a typical French form with rhymes and refrains.  Here are the basic guidelines for this poetic form: 7 lines Lines 1, 3, and 7 are refrains Refrain lines are 4 syllables long, other lines are 8 syllables Rhyme scheme: AbAabbA So here's my attempt at a Rondelet poem... Let Me Lift Your Spirits Just let me know If you need words to make you smile Just let me know I can bring you love and laughter I could walk with you awhile We could celebrate with style Just let me know Alan j Wright It's Poetry Friday once again... Our host this week is Tricia at Miss Rumphius Effect   Please visit to discover more about the effects of grief on the human condition. 

It was BOOK Week in Australia last week and while Covid tried its hardest, it couldn't dampen our collective spirits for books and all things literate.  So, while I couldn't visit schools in person,  I was able to contribute and be part of the celebrations with on line sessions reading poetry and presenting a range of poetry forms for young poets to try for themselves. I read some poems from my books and also presented some more recent poems- freshly made, still warm!  The idea was to share the good news that ideas for poetry are all around us. Anything can become the focus of our poetic attention. We must try to become observers and curious explorers! Here are three of my latest poems about a range of matters.  Poems that have bubbled up while trying to remain creative in these Covid times.  Hope you enjoy them... It is once again Poetry Friday and our host this week is Heidi Mordhorst   at ' My Juicy Little Universe .' Heidi's post focuses on a number of matters i

 THE BANANA POEM CHALLENGE Here's an idea that came from UK Poet, Liv Torc and I am more than happy to bend with it. After the quite serious nature of my last post, this was a most welcome, frivolous and enjoyable distraction. Write a poem on a banana every day for a term, a week, a month or for as many days as you can be bothered. Send them to school with your kids, or invite your kids to write their very own (make sure they agree, -consensual bananas only) and see what happens. In time we may become members of a new banana republic!  At the very least we can trigger a real banana revolution together. I have not considered other fruit forms, and this project is certainly not recommended for fruit you just happen to randomly meet in the supermarket aisle... Are you ready to go bananas? It's once again Poetry Friday and our genial host this week is Elisabeth Norton at Unexpected Intersections   .   Elisabeth is celebrating the writing of Jane Yolen, the acclaimed writer of some

 Sometimes  poets  experience a strong need to respond to current events -global or local. Poets across many generations have frequently taken a position on matters enacting around them. They raise their voices, they speak out and  write their words.   Sometimes they are directly affected, at other times they are keen observers...  For this reason I felt compelled to write about the sad events currently occurring in Afghanistan, a country that has already endured two long decades of war and disruption. There is so much uncertainty surrounding life for the vast majority of the Afghan people. I am aware of my ineffectualness here, but I must speak my truth at this time.  I am both sad and angry regarding this lamentable outcome. My words reflect deep disillusionment regarding past and present actions. Life and poetry often converge in the thoughts arising from these emotional peaks and troughs we all encounter. Afghanistan Falling Weak resolve Is never fulfilled Vague, half belief

 Across  the course of our lives we can expect many significant moments. Some directly impact our lives, while others happen on the world stage and impact indirectly. Sometimes, we recall exactly where we were and what we were doing at a precise moment in time. Our recall often remains crystal clear on these events and not others.  It is amazing the memories we retain.  We often hear the question -where were you when...?  This poem is a narrative poem in a docu-poetry style.  It forms part of a collection of anthology of poems I am writing celebrating events that occurred during my fortunate teenage years growing up in the semi rural town of Monbulk situated in the Dandenong Ranges approximately 60 kilometres from the city of Melbourne. This poem contains  a sense of history and nostalgia. Reference has also been to certain items which with the passing of year have become obsolete.  You will note  a few Australian references have been included.  Hope my poem prompts your memory regardi

I quite like quirky news stories and go looking for them in newspapers whether in print or on-line. It is a diversion from the endless tsunami of bad news to which the media frequently flocks.  There is gold to be found among all that negativity. We just need to bring our keen observer's eye. I urge poets of all ages to strike out as text detectives in search of the unconventional and unusual, the wacky and the weird.  The recent story of the diver who was swallowed and then spat out by a humpback whale is one such amazing story.  I  make sure to keep these stories in my notebook for later reference. This story regarding attempts re-introduce beavers to urban London caught my eye immediately. It has also allowed me to revisit the Triversen poem structure. Beavers Are Returning to Tottenham   After some considerable time away Beavers are returning To inner London.   The fair folk of Tottenham Want them back Living wild and free.   They have a licence To nature