Poetry Soup Friends:
Today is November 23rd, or 11/23. The numbers 1-1-2-3 are the syllable count for the first four lines of the poetry form known as the Fibonacci. For that reason I celebrate this form on this day.
There are quite a few syllabic forms that have found a place in English language poetry beginning in the early 20th century with the Crapsey Cinquain (2-4-6-8-2). The Fibonacci, as far as I can determine, does not have a specific individual who invented the form. Rather, a number of poets began writing in this form at the same time.
The form derives from the Fibonacci Sequence, which is a mathematical sequence that starts with Zero, then goes to the number 1. Each subsequent number in the seris is the result of adding the two previous numbers. Like this:
1 + 0 = 1
1 + 1 = 2
2 + 1 = 3
3 + 2 = 5
5 + 3 = 8
8 + 5 = 13
If you read down the left column, you get the Fibonacci sequence and the syllable count for the poetry form: 1-1-2-3-5-8. Though most Fibs (as they are humorously called for short) are six lines, the form is open ended and I have seen Fib that use some of the longer lines. The continuation would be:
13 + 8 = 21
21 + 13 = 34
34 + 21 = 55
Etc.
I've also seen reverse Fib, and Fib which go up to six lines than back down to the one syllable lines.
There is an online journal devoted to the Fibonacci at:
http://www.musepiepress.com/fibreview/The fibonacci seems to have generated a small, but dedicated, following, Why not give the form a try on this day? I have found them to be both a challenge and a lot of fun.
Best wishes,
Jim