Let's give a cheer for the Choka!
Across the years I have willingly explored a host of poetry forms from Japan. I appreciate the orderliness and scaffolding of these syllabic forms. They radiate a sense of calm
The Choka is yet another Japanese poetic form with a variable length that follows these guidelines:
- Five syllables in any odd-numbered lines
- Seven syllables in any even-numbered lines
- Finishes with two consecutive seven-syllable lines
As with other Japanese poetic forms, the choka does not typically rhyme or have rules on length.
Spider Webs Strung Along An Old Fence
The old wire fence
Festooned with spidery webs
All shimmer dancing
With the passing morning breeze
Festooned with spidery webs
All shimmer dancing
With the passing morning breeze
Rusted strands unwittingly
Host flimsy webs of intrigue.
Alan j Wright
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| Australian Garden Orb Weaver Spider. Impressive Web Designers |
It is Friday and more importantly, it's Poetry Friday and our host this time is Amy Ludwig VanDerwater from the Poem Farm. Amy presents a triolet poem that ponders the question of goodness and the many ways it can manifest itself.
This is Janice. (for some reason I can't identify myself on this platform) I enjoyed learning about yet another form that is new to me. The photo is remarkable and "flimsy webs of intrigue" seems just right.
ReplyDeleteNot sure why this is happening to you, Jan. I appreciate your persistence. So glad you found something for your efforts.
DeleteThank you, Alan, for a new form, the choka, and your lovely spider web poem!!! I love the "shimmer dancing" and the "rusted strands unwittingly/host flimsy webs of intrigue."
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome, Mona. So glad you found some take-aways from my words.
DeleteThanks for sharing this new form. Festooned is such a fun word! I can imagine the silvery webs dancing. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI too enjoy the sound of the word, festooned, Cathy. Thank you for your kind response to my poem. I confess to being quite pleased with it myself.
DeleteThanks for the intro to the Choka! What kind of spider made the webs in the photo, Alan? I, too, like the rusty strands hosting "flimsy webs of intrigue."
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure which spiders made these webs, Tabatha. One of my favourite web spinners is the Garden Orb Weaver , a large spider capable of creating expansive webs over impressive distances seemingly over night. Quite spectacular. Glad my word choice made a connection.
DeleteI love this form and have never heard of it. I love what you did with it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Liz. Much appreciated. Chanced it with a Choka and it turned out to be fun in the making.
DeleteThanks for introducing a new-to-me form, Alan. Your poem has a mysterious vibe, just right for the scene. I especially like the way the sounds in "dancing" and "passing" are in conversation with each other. And hooray for "festooned"!
ReplyDeleteYes, another fan of festooned! Thanks, Rose.
Delete"Flimsy threads of intrigue" is so compelling Alan. Certainly makes me want to stop and see that fence. The choka form is new to me. Thank you for the introduction.
ReplyDelete--Susan Thomsen
Thanks, Susan. Hope you find charm in the Choka.
DeleteI like "flimsy webs of intrigue"! And thanks for introducing me to this form, Alan.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked that line, Karen. As I noted earlier, this poem gave my real pleasure in the making.
DeleteThank you for introducing me to this form, Alan. I really enjoy the sound of the alternating meter. Off to find a subject worthy of the Choka now!
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to bring something new to the poetry space and share with like minded writers. Have fun with the Choka, Patricia.
DeleteI agree that forms (especially Japanese forms) give comfort in their structure.
ReplyDeleteWe are at one on this, Mary Lee. I am thus reminded by American educator and researcher, Mary Ellen Giacobbe who stated- 'In the most predictable environment, the most unpredictable things can take place.' She was talking about classrooms, but I think this applies equally to many forms of Japanese poetry.
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