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Concrete Forms

It seems
The poetic forms
Outnumber the norms
Of rhythm, pace and meter
As if meeting an old acquaintance
But didn’t want to meet her

I prefer the Iamb
With fingers counting ten
Thus, with the joy of every line
I count them all again

The Etheree
Confuses me
It takes so long to get there
With but one line of ten
And then my eager fingers
Don’t get to  count again

Then there are the echoes
of lines that slip and slide
as somewhere in their mystery
a hidden rhyme abides

Thus, I count, and scream and write
Pour word concrete into forms
Knowing that when left alone
My dreams will slowly turn to stone.

John G. Lawless
©7/10/2023

Copyright © John Lawless | Year Posted 2023

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Jim Slaughter Date: 7/11/2023 10:02:00 AM Well, John, if it was easy...everyone would be doing it. I'm fairly satisfied with the few forms/styles I've attempted in my writing pursuits. Been experimenting with "monoku" of late. Login to Reply

Gershon Wolf Date: 7/10/2023 8:08:00 PM Count, Scream, WRITE!!!!!! Sounds like a formula from Dracula or a recipe from the Sewer Department. Login to Reply

Lin Lane Date: 7/10/2023 10:39:00 AM Thank goodness we have ten fingers when we're too lazy to go to howmanysyllables! You can do a double Etheree, John, and start with 10 immediately then count backwards... don't call me the name you're thinking of right about now. lol Login to Reply Lin Lane Date: 7/10/2023 4:24:00 PM Fingers work just fine for me! John Lawless Date: 7/10/2023 3:58:00 PM HEY, howmanysyllables often counts a dash as a syllable. I had often (when we could post other than the poem) posted the response to the rule to verify the syllable count....verified by my fingers

Jan Allison Date: 7/10/2023 9:30:00 AM hahaha I am sticking to rhyme especially limericks if I can, love your wit John:-) hugs Jan xx Login to Reply John Lawless Date: 7/10/2023 3:59:00 PM Alas, Jan, it seems that the Jester is the only one can mock the king ..... and live to tell about it....