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Short Cuts - Short Form Poetry

 Last week I shared a rather lengthy Rant poem. This week I am journeying to the opposite end of the poetry terrain and presenting some much shorter poems. Variety is good for us...

During my school days I loved athletics. I built a reputation as a sprinter. I could run run quickly over short distances, but longer forms of running such as cross country were very much a personal challenge. Maybe that's why I enjoy short poems so much...

When we write short poems they require a certain sharp focus. The writer has less time and words in which to deliver the desired outcome. The aim is to be pithy and engaging within a few lines and leave the reader both satisifed and surprised. 

So here are few examples of recent short form poems I have lifted from my notebooks and polished for readers to consider.  They quite unashamedly lean on wordplay and deal with totally unrleated subjects and have arisen arose organically in recent times. 

They currently sit in my poetry vault awaiting further consideration and possible assignment onto a broader stage. I urge every one to occasionally take a short cut and see what it leads to...

Hyenas Ha Hugly






They’re quite unattractive

There’s few creatures meaner

So I really do think

The laugh’s on the hyena.

Alan j Wright


Gratitude 

When the penniless farmer

Was gifted two books

By a friend

He responded with produce

Which was a turnip for the books.

Alan j Wright

Montecristo Island




there’s a three year wait

for approval

to visit

the island of Montecristo

where visitor numbers

are capped at one thousand

per year

a sanctuary for goats

they check those numbers carefully

i ponder the question-

is this the real count of Montecristo?

Alan j Wright








It is once more Poetry Friday and this time our gracious host is Catherine Flynn at Reading To The Core. Catherine rises to the challenge of writing a poem that answers an unasked question. Visit Catherine to learn more and find out what a host of poets are currently writing about.
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Comments

  1. Anonymous3 December 2022 at 02:21

    These all made me smile, and I especially liked the meaner/hyena attempt at rhyme. And paying for books with turnips is funny! I guess I'd have to be a farmer to try that at Barnes and Noble.

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    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright3 December 2022 at 16:34

      Smiles are good. I like that response. Barnes and Noble are not known for accepting turnips as legal tender, unfortunately.

      Delete
  2. PATRICIA J FRANZ3 December 2022 at 06:46

    I'm especially enamored of Montecristo! Here's to short form! I will take your advice and comb my vault for possibilities.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright3 December 2022 at 16:35

      Agreed Patricia, -here's to short form poetry! May you have success in your poetry vault searching for examples.

      Delete
  3. Linda B3 December 2022 at 09:01

    It feels like the only pics of hyenas are of those terrifying growls. Now I wonder if they'd like a new reputation but don't know how. Love the 'turnip' & 'count', Alan, poetry playtime! Happy weekend!

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    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright3 December 2022 at 16:38

      It's true Linda, hyenas do need to take a chill pill. Their personality profile is not that great. So gald you enjoyed the poems shared here. Wishing you an equally grand weekend.

      Delete
  4. Linda Mitchell3 December 2022 at 21:30

    I love these! I'm sharing the hyena poem with my students. It's been a challenging year. We all need a giggle. Thanks, Alan!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright4 December 2022 at 15:44

      Thanks Linda. Giggles are good. I have a poem about that hidden away somewhere... Hope my hyena behaves.

      Delete
  5. Heidi Mordhorst3 December 2022 at 23:47

    Oh, my friend, you are not writing poems (yes you are are); you are writing jokes! Thanks for the pithy giggle.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright4 December 2022 at 15:47

      I guess you are on the money with this assertion Heidi. My desire for humour is a strong inner push. I am an avowed joke teller afterall. Pithy giggles has a certain ring to it...

      Delete
  6. Anonymous4 December 2022 at 03:39

    Thanks for the fun shorties. :) Montecristo is my fave. Now I will have to contemplate my turnips. . . . ~ Jama

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    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright4 December 2022 at 15:49

      Thank you Jama. Montecristo did give me a chuckle as I was writing it, I must admit.

      Delete
  7. Mary Lee4 December 2022 at 09:53

    I'm groaning at the punchlines -- especially the hyena and the Monte Cristo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright4 December 2022 at 15:50

      They're a bit like Dad jokes, Mary Lee. My cousin refers to me as the painful punster. It can't be high art all the times, now can it?

      Delete
  8. Anonymous4 December 2022 at 14:29

    I love the turnip poem especially!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4 December 2022 at 14:29

      This is Jone posting.

      Delete
    2. Alan j Wright4 December 2022 at 15:52

      Thank you Jone. The wordplay opportunity easily won me over when it came to the Turnip Poem.

      Delete
  9. Michelle Kogan5 December 2022 at 16:59

    Thanks for all the grins Alan, love those turnip books!

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    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright6 December 2022 at 12:48

      Thanks for turning up for the turnips, Michelle. Much appreciated.

      Delete
  10. Catherine Flynn6 December 2022 at 21:49

    So clever! I especially like the Montecristo poem. Thank you for the laughs!

    ReplyDelete

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