Variation Poems | Examples

Relentless beast

Cancer, a relentless beast, shadows creep,
Day or night, it strikes, no sleep.
A force so dark, yet we rise above,
With fire in our hearts and boundless love.

Than-Bauk variation

Here are a few more Than-Bauk, where I have used a particular letter-sound instead of a rhyme on the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd syllables (lines 1,2,3) I find this to be a fun alternative to the limited rhyme version. Hope you enjoy. Let me know which ones you like.

careful blue sea
calm the sail breeze
why spoil with land
-
spite words you ate
gulped down angry -
have apple, Doc
-
the first cool breath
of Fall’s brisk leaves -
a ball, raking
-
sex symbol ruse
pol’tic’s rude lies
eyes rent go blind
-
li’l pinking rose
lips inked red, hushed
by roar of falls

Broken Monoku a Variation

BROKEN MONOKU

at ease on my bookshelf-
                                     yesteryear's leisured hours

Fifer a Quintain Variation

PAINTING
so,so easy to do
when we know not..
oh so difficile
when we 
do!

Omambala In February

Present since antiquity 
Sustaining humanity 
Participating in the dance 
The seasonal variation 

Tired and weak after the annual labour 
As if the water is abandoning it's track 
Allowing traders erect shops on her path
Awaiting the rains to replenish the volume

Grandfather Clock - Variation On a Triolet

Grandfather Clock
             (A Variation on a Triolet)

     When I was young, not four foot tall,
     My Grandpa’s clock I remember well
     Stood and chimed, alone in the hall,
     When I was young, not four foot tall.
     Taller than I, standing by the wall.
     Older than he? I could not tell. 
     My Grandpa’s clock - I remember well!
     When I was young, not four foot tall.

     My Grandma polishing the fine grained wood,
     I remember the hands, time’s steady measure.
     Day and night the clock in the hall-way stood,
     My Grandma polishing the fine grained wood.
     Pacing the hours across my passing childhood
     The pendulum swung in timeless leisure.
     I remember the hands  -  time’s steady measure,
     My Grandma polishing the fine grained wood.

     ABaAabBA

     06/13/2021

Monoku a Broken Variation

in the midst of death-
                                  lichens come to life

NOTE
A one line haiku known as a monoku (was the original form of haiku,written vertically) my version is a variation( I introduced here on PS some years back in 2007 )a broken line monoku.

Dim Hex a Variation

Fascination held
in passion's grip
may kindle
one-track
mind's
Captivation held
in ardour's grasp
will secrete
selfless
love.

Variation On 'Giving To'

An important truth of compassion therapy
endorses co-investment,
cooperatively sharing from a back-and-forth healthy heart,
to receive a wealthier, more resonant, mind,
soul,
improved by NonZero-Sum win/win inspirations
more strongly than Zero-Sum win/lose aspirations.

To improvise on a Giving To
Ruth Bebermeyer melody,

I always feel less given to
when you won't take from me--
When you don't understand the joy I feel
when heard by peaceful you.

And, you don't know
my giving is not done
to put you in my awe,
but because I want to grow this love
I feel to win with you.

To receive life's grace
may be Earth's greatest health.
There's no way we could separate
the two--Earth and life 
grow wealth.

When Earth gives to me,
I give you my receiving.
When you won't hear from me,
I feel Earth not given to,

And,
when you take from me,
I can feel Earth given True.

Relax :: the Variation of the Espinela

Why we can't afford to relax?
Ways to feel ease just forgotten;
stress felt to do what's important,
can't think to lag behind perhaps.

'Work hard' thought for kids, to advance
taught since childhood, now why you blame
them, they've grown up learned only fame
can bring success; life asks to stay
smart, if wants to win, to display
victory is needed, no shame
to try whatever ways it's done;
Where is time to relax today?
~X~X~X~

A Sonnet Variation For Greta

This run of good days is going to end
bad times are coming just around the bend
cash in your chips, there ain’t no tomorrow
future holds only worry and sorrow.

Armageddon of our own creation
as we burn in pyres of  self-cremation
caught in words of convenient denial 
grasp not the flash of the truthteller’s smile.

Yet from the rubble, a New Deal is made
Fridays for Future, a children’s crusade
as those whose time has come, now realise
elder’s inaction has darkened their skies.

We who’ve failed in our prognostication
pass the stick to a new generation.


7/9/2019

The Path Less Traveled - Variation of a Frost Poem

Two loves had I, a careless youth 
And sorry I could not love them both.
One I loved more, which is the truth.
The fair one, beautiful yet uncouth.
The other dared not swear her troth.

I chose the younger, as just as fair,
And as such perhaps I was to blame
For a mystery she would not share.
Though as for that my being there
Had judged them equally about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In my bed; my loving claque
Although I loved the first, the second stayed
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if she would ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two hearts converged in my bed, and I—
I took the one less experienced,
And that has made all the difference.

Variation On a Door's Theme Untitled

Variation  on a Door's theme

I forge the night
forget the day
Ask your heart
If I love ok

A dead format, 
do we subscribe
just a game of
sociocide

No free love
thy bounty gone
in terms of time 
all is deep undone

I hide knee-deep
in a tiny shell,
A moment's talk 
a tale will tell

Your bait and switch 
says steal away
take a number 
suffocate away

I liquid languish in a loveless pause
re-missed of feelings, so un-involved
Keep the faith- a loveless cause?
forever dodging, problem solved!

Never a being, sick saturnine, 
with dead unyielding 
so G damn sublime!

I tell you now, I'm aloneeee; 
I tell you ever, I'm me unknown.
(repeat)

All there is, it was to be;  all there was was is never me.
I watch the world go fade to black, a nowhere place, no way back.

Variation of An Explanation

Variation of An Explanation

What we would see was another invitation;
Each time Trump does offer an explanation
We soon should see,
Some story will be;
Was either a viable lie or existing variation.

Jim Horn

Variation of a Lullaby

v.1 Hush little baby don't say a word
Mama's gonna buy you a mocking bird
And if that mocking bird don't sing
mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring don't shine
mama's gonna give you all her time
Every hour of every day for the rest of your life

(chorus)
So hush little baby don't you cry
You'll always be within my eyes
Within my arms, within my touch
Within my heart, within all my love

v.2 Now hush little baby don't you cry
Mama's gonna sing you a lullaby
of all the times that we will share
We'll learn to love and we'll learn to care
And if our ways should part some day
in your heart my love will stay
Every hour of every day for the rest of your life
(chorus)

- only the first 4 lines are from the original song

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