The tetractys poetic form was devised by the late Ray Stebbing as a grammatical 20 syllable verse of 5 lines.Syllable sequence 1,2,3,4 & 10.Each line to stand on its own,as in my example Ichthys below.The challenge is to express a complete thought,profound or comic,witty or wise within the 20 syllables.The tetractys can be doubled or inverted.
ICHTHYS
White
blossom,
a welcome
springtime emblem,
the foretaste of succulent fruit to come.
BLUE NUDE-Matisse
Her
figure
created
stark sensations,
aroused by the simple blue cut-out shapes
NATAL THERAPY
To
forget
those bygones
done and dusted,
lost,forgiven and now forever gone.
SHORT MEASURE
Eye
poems
displaying
a shapely form-
exempting audition from needless stress.
SUMMER BALL
Love
blossomed
suddenly
that evening
they met by chance,in the 'excuse me' dance.
RENEWAL
Rain
upon
frozen earth,
metamorphised,
now emerging as bluebells in the glade.
REVERIE
Way
beyond
bygone's reach,
ambitions lay
buried deep in his forgotten dreams.
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1Corinthians 15:55-57 King James Bible
Accepting death-appointment or avoiding its attack?
Bravely bowing to its beseeching or boldly beating its blow?
Circumspectly cautioned by its coming or cowardly curtailing its case?
Denying its dangerous duty or demanding for its determined destination?
Expecting for its entry or entreating for its exempting exit with excuses?
Faith in God helps me face death with fortitude
Graciously, I succumb to it when the appointed time comes
Helped to be ready since my soul is redeemed by the Saviour
Instilled with imputed righteousness with divine love
Just as I am… I cling to the Author of life for my last breath.
as below
Eye
poems
displaying
a shapely form,
exempting audition from needless stress.
Huddled together
Around fire place we draw nigh
To combat coldness attacks...
Singing joyous hymns
Grateful to God* for love’s warmth
Exempting us from Winter**.
*1Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
*We live in the Tropics, yet our family resides in the one of the coldest provinces in the country.
January 14, 2022
2nd place, "Winter Sedoka" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Charles Messina; judged on 1/25/2023.
The tetractys was devised by Ry Stebbings & the challenge with the tetractys form is that each line is required 'to stand on its own ' and yet it the poem is to express a complete thought,within the narrow compass of 20 syllables.
My example today thereof is
Eye
poems
displaying
a shapely form,
exempting audition from needless stress.
Eye
poems
displaying
a shapely form,
exempting audition from needless stress.
NOTE:The challenge with Ray Stebbing's tetractys form is -that each line is required 'to stand on its own ' & the poem itself is to express a complete thought,within the narrow compass of 20 syllables.
Eye
poems
displaying
a shapely form,
exempting audition from needless stress.
The challenge with the tetractys form is that each line is required 'to stand on its own ' and yet it the poem is to express a complete thought,within the narrow compass of 20 syllables.
Copy Brian Strand | Year Posted 2007
Clear as black and white, they say,
In Occam’s razor slashing terms,
Exempting endless hues of gray.
Despite spotless reputation,
“The Obvious”, on occasion -
Subject to interpretation.
Findings depend on where we look,
How far we venture to explore
Beyond the cover of the book.
The most erroneous of all -
Character sketch at a quick glance -
An eye assessment of one’s soul.
Through the prism of closed mind’s sight
A premature line is drawn,
Assuming either black or white.
Unless we deeply delve within
We scratch the surface of what seems,
While substance lies beneath the skin.
Hard proven facts one can’t deny,
Nevertheless, each story holds
Second, eye opening blind side.
“Stating the Obvious” I deem,
Unless they're clearly black and white,
Things are not always what they seem.
April 17, 2021
Contest : Just Stating The Obvious
Sponsor: Brother Jacob
Eye
poems
displaying
a shapely form,
exempting audition from needless stress.
Eye
poems
displaying
a shapely form,
exempting audition from needless stress.
The challenge with the tetractys form is that each line is required 'to stand on its own ' and yet it the poem is to express a complete thought,within the narrow compass of 20 syllables.
Glee freely flowing from the heart
The countenance captures; hard to depart
Jubilation gladness* of gratitude start
Contagious, defying selfishness-dart.
Laughter midst sheer bliss is indeed therapeutic
Poetry attests midst schedule so hectic
Joy-bursts brighten the optimistic
Delighting all; exempting not the religious fanatic.
April 11, 2019
*Psalm 45:15 With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.
Edited on April 25, 2019
1st place, "Free Verse or Rhyme Poetry in its Beauty"
Sponsored by Eve Roper; judged on 4/23/2019.
Human and animal,
Are alike;
Death comes to all,
No matter how high you climb;
You can’t escape its wall.
Death comes to all;
It always hits its mark.
You can’t escape it’s wall;
Not even in the dark.
It always hits its mark;
With arrows of precision.
Not even in the dark;
Can you escape its decision.
Death makes no distinction;
It always hits its mark.
Exempting not one nation;
Not even in the dark.
Its prey is all-inclusive;
Death makes no distinction.
Awaiting, no excuses;
Exempting not one nation.
Death does not discriminate;
Its prey is all-inclusive.
No race escapes the claws of fate;
Awaiting no excuses.
As claws clench the unaware;
Death does not discriminate.
Blink an eye and it is there;
No one escapes the laws of fate.
Deaths rules will never bend;
No matter how high you climb.
Everything has an end;
Human and animal alike.
Eye
poems
displaying
a shapely form,
exempting audition from needless stress.
The arms were bent to such degree
my elbows formed a pickle.
Where girls would laugh and carefully rub;
their actions all but fickle.
My knobby knees would catch their eye
alluring them with teeter.
My sex appeal was next to God.
Their motions now a beater.
My ankles seen as swollen out
would beckon for embrace.
When girls would reach to grab my frame.
Me blushing some disgrace.
My chin bone coming to a point
was shunning all but tempting.
The ladies wondering where it stops.
Not one of them exempting.
With knuckles bulging sightly bones
These beads of flesh made ripe.
A xylophone of sexy music
that women find their type.
My greatest feature boldly out.
A forehead bright to sight.
My headbone shining "Here I Am"
for which most women fight.
And finally not forgetting this-
My greatest gift to part.
I won't be sharing any of this,
for no bone is a heart.
Let Me Know
The big job for today will be making my bed
Then turning into toast what once was bread
Followed by dusting floor which we do adore
And waving at my wife who left for the store.
Making much incredible coffee is really first
Because of my wife with her great thirst
For something she likes which is tempting;
No wonder me she is always exempting.
So if all my poems you want to really resist
Will remove your nice name from address list;
In an email to you each poem will have gone
When you like them and want to continue on.
So if you in person will please let me know;
To my eccentric ego, it won't be a big blow
If all my pathetic poems you do not prefer;
For all of them, there is no known cure.
[email protected]
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Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.