Home » Poems » Tom Cunningham » The Rules For 8x8

The Rules For 8x8

Compose eight lines consult your muse Subject matter is what you choose Just eight syllables on each line Follow these rules and you'll be fine Pretty pictures you do not need Your words only so please take heed Only plain text no fancy fonts And that you'll find is what she want's. Written on 10th November 2018

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Valsa George

Date: 8/7/2022 8:58:00 AM

Highly rhythmic and beautifully enunciated !

Tom Cunningham
Date: 8/7/2022 10:01:00 AM

Thank you very much Valsa as you've probably guessed it was for an 8x8 contest. I was surprised it got POTW. Tom

Jay Moore

Date: 11/22/2018 8:43:00 AM

Nice rhymes, great job

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/22/2018 9:52:00 AM

Thank you very much Jay. Tom

Robert Lindley

Date: 11/19/2018 11:12:00 AM

Congratulations my great friend on your poem being honored as Poem Of The Week... Both very creative and clever...

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/19/2018 11:27:00 AM

Thank you very much Robert, I hope that you are we'll. Regards. Tom

Susan Ashley

Date: 11/19/2018 8:05:00 AM

Your wonderful poem is humorous and delightful, Tom. Congratulations on your wonderful and well deserved recognition with POTW honors. Warmest wishes always.. ~Susan

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/19/2018 11:10:00 AM

Thank you very much Susan , it certainly was an unexpected surprise. Tom

Silent One

Date: 11/18/2018 1:55:00 PM

Excellent choice for potw... Congrats my friend..

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/18/2018 3:33:00 PM

Thanks very much S.O, I was pleasantly surprised this morning. Tom.

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 11/18/2018 12:14:00 PM

I am back to congratulate you on having this wonderful poem honored for POTW Tom. I am very happy for you! : ) xxoo

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/18/2018 12:31:00 PM

Thank you very much Connie, it was a lovely surprise this morning. Tom.

Vladislav Raven

Date: 11/18/2018 9:01:00 AM

Hi Tom, dropping by with my congratulations on your Poem Of the Week honour. Much deserved my friend. Have a wonderful Sunday. your friend always....Mike.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/18/2018 9:21:00 AM

Thank you Mike,happy you liked it. Tom.

Jan Allison

Date: 11/18/2018 7:35:00 AM

Many congrats on potw tom, seeing your comment below i wish there was some way offinding outwhere mick is,hes not replied to my mails since august:-( hugs Jan xx

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/18/2018 8:02:00 AM

Thank you Jan, it us a shame he used to be so active on here. He used to run blogs online I'll have a look and see if he's blogged recently. Tom.

Wren Rushing

Date: 11/18/2018 7:32:00 AM

Congratulations Tom on POTW! Have a blessed Sunday my friend.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/18/2018 8:00:00 AM

Thanks very much Wren, and you too. Tom.

John Gondolf

Date: 11/18/2018 6:54:00 AM

Very cleverly done, Tom, congrats on POTW. John

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/18/2018 7:01:00 AM

Thank you John for that lovely surprise this morning, I wasn't expecting it. Tom.

Paul Callus

Date: 11/14/2018 1:49:00 PM

I love your delightful take on this contest, Tom...a serious-humorous presentation! Regards // paul

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/14/2018 8:15:00 PM

Thanks very much Paul, I'm happy you liked it. Tom

Jan Allison

Date: 11/13/2018 5:06:00 PM

What a witty way to approach the contest and to have this used as a future example is better than contest win! Hugs Jan xx

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2018 5:16:00 PM

Thanks Jan, I was thinking of our good friend Mick when I thought of that one, he was a stickler for the rules. Sad that he has disappeared from soup. Tom.

P.S. Awtry

Date: 11/13/2018 1:29:00 PM

Tom, thank you for writing this poem and entering the contest. This was very clever. Should I ever do that contest again, I hope you won't mind if I use it as an example! (I am fav-ing it)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2018 4:30:00 PM

Thank you P.S., there were some brilliant entries for the contest and it must be a real headache for the sponsor running it. I'd be honoured if you used it as an example, thanks for the fav. Tom.

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 11/13/2018 1:12:00 PM

How clever this is Tom....great example for her contest too! : )

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2018 4:16:00 PM

Thank you Connie, the idea came to me after reading the rules. Tom.

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 11/13/2018 1:34:00 AM

- Always follow the rule :))) - Well done, Tom - Good luck in the contest - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2018 3:10:00 AM

Thank you Sunshine, happy you liked it. Tom.

Janice Canerdy

Date: 11/12/2018 9:16:00 PM

Such a clever approach to the prompt, Tom! WELL DONE! Janice

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/13/2018 3:10:00 AM

Thank you very much Janice. Tom.

Vladislav Raven

Date: 11/12/2018 2:56:00 PM

Hi Tom, love the content of this one. Your words spot on. If the contest isn't over yet I wish you good luck. reads like a winner to me my friend. A fave. Have a wonderful Tuesday. Your friend....Mike.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/12/2018 4:59:00 PM

Thank you Mike, read the contest rules and thought why not one about the rules, happy you liked it. Tom

Ravi Sathasivam

Date: 11/12/2018 1:03:00 AM

Excellent my friend. Very well done. You deserve it. Thanks for sharing it.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/12/2018 1:21:00 AM

Thank you very much Ravi, happy you enjoyed it. Tom.

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 11/11/2018 2:06:00 PM

The apotheosis of 8x8 . A fav dear, Tom! You deserve it!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/11/2018 2:48:00 PM

Thank you Demetrios, I'm happy you think so. Thanks for faving it too. Tom.

Mystic Rose Rose

Date: 11/11/2018 7:10:00 AM

That is exactly what she is asking for well done Tom. Have a blessed day.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/11/2018 11:43:00 AM

Thank you Pixie. Tom.

Charles Messina

Date: 11/11/2018 6:28:00 AM

You have summed it well, Tom. In a most enjoyable way...Best of luck in the contest. Charlie

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/11/2018 6:58:00 AM

Thanks Charlie, if everyone follows that they should be ok. Lol. Tom

Gershon Wolf

Date: 11/10/2018 7:55:00 PM

Nicely done, Tom... I remember how impressed I was by your tips were in Line Gauthier's contest on tips for budding poets … You are great at this stuff. Good luck in the contest! Best wishes, Gershon

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/11/2018 1:07:00 AM

Thank you Gershon, it was when I saw an entry that hadn't followed one of the requirements that I got the idea. So if folk see this it might help also they should go back before contest finishes in case something changes. Tom.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 11/10/2018 6:23:00 PM

It's so cool when poets use a form to describe that same form. I have done it with triolet and etheree, sonnet and others. I really enjoyed this approach and I bet the sponsor will too, Tom.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/11/2018 1:03:00 AM

Thank you Andrea, so many poems get n/a in contests I thought a little reminder won't go amiss. Tom.

Arthur Vaso

Date: 11/10/2018 5:12:00 PM

Great write, I read the rules as "ate x ate", so I had a lot of pizza today!!! LOL

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/11/2018 1:01:00 AM

Haha love it Arthur.

Lindsay Laurie

Date: 11/10/2018 4:48:00 PM

G'day Tom … the strict rules for 8x8 competitions is a great example for new poets to learn how to structure their work, particularly rhyming poems. You have written commandments beautifully Tom - Lindsay

Tom Cunningham
Date: 11/10/2018 5:03:00 PM

Thanks Lindsay, after reading the rules the idea came out of nowhere so quickly jotted it down. Tom.