Last Wednesday's Poetry Writing Workshop was a huge success! Here are some notes from Jayne about Fun Forms.
Haiku: A haiku is one of the shortest forms you can write in. It only has three lines: the first has 5 syllables, the second has 7 and the third has 5 (try clapping to count the syllables in a word.) Traditional haikus have some words that relate to a season (snow for winter, rain for spring, etc.)
Example:
Temple bells die out.
The fragrant blossoms remain.
A perfect evening!
Cento: A cento is a form of poetry in which you put together different lines from a poet. Pick your favorite poet and cut and paste lines until you have something that you like and that makes sense! For more of a challenge, some people use lines from all different poets. Remember though to credit your sources!
Pantoum: A pantoum is a very difficult form to follow, but it is far from the most difficult you can try. I'm putting this here just for those of you who want to try something different and harder - kind of like a puzzle. A pantoum has 4 lines in each stanza (in case you don't know, a stanza is just like a paragraph.) The last and first line of the poem must be the same. Here's where it gets to be harder: the second and fourth lines of the first stanza then become the first and third lines of the second stanza. The second and fourth lines of the second stanza become the first and third of the third stanza and so on. Here's an easier way to look at it: pretend the letters are the lines in the stanza, a, b, c, d. That's the first stanza. Now look at the second and notice what repeats: b, e, d, f. The e and the f lines are your own invention.) In the last stanza you repeat the second and fourth lines of the previous stanza BUT instead of making up your own first and third lines, you take the first and third lines of your first stanza. Confusing, I know. Try looking for an example online are at the library.
