WC Newsletter #135 The Tetractys

** #427081 Not An Image **


Writers' Circle Newsletter

Issue #135: July 12th, 2004

(To read back issues of the Writers’ Circle Newsletter, see "WC Newsletter Back Issues" .)

TETRACTYS: The number of the universe or a new poetry form?

Well, it’s a little of both! In fact, the tetractys is found in religion, numerology, the occult, music and more.

By him (Pythagoras) who revealed the Tetractys, Fountain of Eternal Nature, I speak the truth. –Pythagorean Oath.


SAY WHAT?


Teh track tiss (rhymes with practice)


BRIEF HISTORY - All is number


In 1999, a retired London lecturer and poet, Ray Stebbing, invented the form after searching through the Oxford English Dictionary. He said that Euclid - 300 BC - named the number series (1, 2, 3, 4) a tetractys, but upon further research I found that Pythagoras – 575 BC – 495 BC - (and perhaps even earlier in Babylonia) felt numbers explained the ways of the universe. For the Pythagoreans, the number ten represented the universe and was named, tetractys.

.

.          .

.          .          .

.          .          .          .

A Tetractys

MUST HAVES


*Five lines (or multiples of five lines) with a syllabic count of:

1
2
3
4
10

Subsequent stanzas invert the count before it. (Example of a double: 1, 2, 3, 4, 10. 10, 4, 3, 2, 1. Example of a triple: 1, 2, 3, 4, 10. 10, 4, 3, 2, 1. 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, etc.)

*Using a word that has an important effect to the overall piece in the single syllable line(s).

*Line breaks that don’t break the flow of the poem.


COULD HAVES or What's The Poet's Choice In All This?!


Everything else! Rhyme, alliterate, create a metaphor or choose none of the above.

Think haiku/senryu when you try this form. Say something significant in a small amount of words. Remember, there are only twenty syllables if you do a single tetractys.


Final thoughts: Based on the source of this form (Pythagorean), I suggest we take this even further.

The number one represented: reason or unity.

Number two symbolized: opinion or diversity.

The number three stood for: harmony.

Number four symbolized: justice and retribution.

The number ten represented: the universe.

Lets take the Tetractys to the next level:
I suggest taking reason, unity, harmony, justice or retribution as theme’s for your poem and using line ten to sum up or showing how the rest fits in or affects the universe.

MY EXAMPLE:

867107

Smile – A Tetractys  [E] My first stab at the Tetractys form. by Red Writing Hood

Red Writing Hood

Next week’s newsletter will be brought to you by the letter J, several people, born under the sign of Leo, cheering and the wonderfully witty Nikola .

Featured Poetry From Members:

686258

Invalid Item  [] by A Guest Visitor

319163

IS Cleanliness Next to Godliness?  [E] What if mom WANTS to preserve her toddler's grubby footprints above the baseboards? by Jessiebelle™

848337

The Pretty Pebble  [E] Poetry for children by Vivian Zabel - author

824731

A place for just about everything  [E] Written for Final Round 1 of Feb. 2004 SLAM. Twisted proverbs. (prose poem) by ElaineElaine

798174

Invalid Item  [] by A Guest Visitor

Featured Tetractyses From Non-Members:

"Invalid Entry" 
"Invalid Entry" 

815640

Leaves in Springtime  [E] I am impatient for the winter to end. Open those buds and show me spring. by Shaara Dragon Breath

815944

Thirsty Leaves  [E] Poetry Week... Write a tetractys poetry form of unfolding leaves. by Cubby

815781

Invalid Item  [] by A Guest Visitor

836820

Pained  [E] A Stone "Tetractys" - An ode to Stones by Karen Just Got Married

Writing Prompt:

Try the tetractys or, if you've tried one already, try my version mentioned above.

Please feel free to submit your results to this prompt here: "Prompt Response Forum" 

Featured Quote

"Poetry is a mirror which makes beautiful that which is distorted." -Source Unknown - submitted by Leona

SOURCE: "Quotations for Writers" 

Recommended Reading, Groups and Forums:

460276

Invalid Item  [] by A Guest Visitor

554651

A Poet's Tool Box  [E] Tools for the trade. by Red Writing Hood

461425

Grammar and Punctuation Problems?  [E] Message forum for WC grammar and punctuation problems. by Jessiebelle™

843744

Invalid Item  [] by A Guest Visitor

AND check this out!


"Invalid Post"  

You are invited to submit suggestions to the Writers' Circle editors. To submit an item for consideration in the WC newsletter:

641406

WC Newsletter Feedback and Submissions  [E] WC newsletter submission, a cheer or jeer, or just want to join the group? Find it here! by Red Writing Hood

All comments about this and any WC newsletter are welcome!

Tell your friends about our newsletter! They can sign up through the link above. Feel free to forward this newsletter, in it's entirety, to your friends.



Issue #135
7/12/2004
Edited by: Red Writing Hood