This week, I  have  taken up the challenge of writing a  'monotetra poem.' A monotetra is a poetic form developed by poet,  Michael Walker sometime in the early 2000's.  I tried to find out more about how Michael came up with this form, but It's all a bit vague, actually. Monotetras are comprised of quatrains (four line stanzas) and a closing refrain. Each line has a total of eight syllables and end with mono rhymed lines. The final line of each stanza delivers a repeat of four syllables.  The rules: Four line stanzas Each line has eight syllables Each line ends with a mono rhymed word The fourth line of each stanza has a four syllable repeated refrain  The poem can have as many stanzas as you wish.  My monotetra is two stanzas long.   A Poet On The Launching Pad Sometimes it's hard to make a start Ideas land, but stay apart The challenge of this writing art To trust your heart, to trust your heart. Then words upon the page arrive Your writing heart feels so alive Y

Fibonacci poetry was founded by Gregory K. Pincus. It is a very recent invention.  Fibonacci poems comprise a 6-line format that follows the Fibonacci sequence for syllable count per line.  In mathematics, the Fibonacci numbers, commonly form a sequence, the Fibonacci sequence, in which each number is the sum of the two preceding ones. The link between poetry and mathematics reflects the patterns that emerge in both fields. How good is that? All that means is the 6-line poem looks like this: 1 syllable for first line 1 syllable for second line 2 syllables for third 3 syllables for fourth 5 syllables for fifth 8 syllables for sixth For inspiration, I had to go no further than my own garden and the adjacent reserve. Sometimes you just need to go somewhere, sit still and look around you. Fabulous Fibonacci fun... Late In The Season a day late in summer's reign conjures mild sun showing the season's advanced age. Red Spotted Jezabel The Time Has come... Jezabel Enters the garden A

 I n this post I am focusing on poems that feature people. Sometimes such poems are sparked by people we know and sometimes the inspiration can arise from clse observation of people we may not even formally know. There are times when the focus of the poem may in fact be a composite of several people. When poems are written in prasie of people, the poem is referred to as an ode. The poems presented below feature the quirkiness of human beings, rather than being odes. I have written a number of poems concerning people, particularly family members I know well, but those poems were specifically written for that individual, so I won't include them here.  Writing a poem about another person requires the poet to observe them with a keen eye. Your own feelings and attitudes towards them come into play. The aim is to express yourself   in a lyrical way. When I began to search my Poetry Vault for poems about people, I was surprsied to feed so many from which to choose. The more I look at the

I am grateful to fellow poet,  Laura Purdie Salas for alerting me to the work of J Patrick Lewis last week.  In my quest to discover more, I uncovered the fact that as a poet, J Patrick Lewis invented a light verse form he called, 'Careerhymes.'  When writing this form, you need to be aware that the occupation must appear in the first line. It is, as the name implies, a rhyming form. Here is an example of Careerhyme Computer Geek: A square, a nerd A rather anti-social bird Who keeps a mouse; a devotee Of virtual reality. J Patrick Lewis I found myself rising to the challenge. I love new forms of poetry and the chance to explore new possibilities, so I went for it. I urge you to focus on a new career... Grave Digger: Earth mover for a burial plot Who digs the final resting spot Six feet down they dig that shaft Practicing an ancient craft. Alan j Wright Painter: Surface performer, colours galore Inside, outside, ceiling, walls and floor Coats of paint, freshly applied Brushes, r