From My Mind to....

Expanding My Horizons

Okay.  So a lot has happened in my life since my last entry.  And little Jace is no longer little--he's a veritable hefty youngling with a fabulous smile (and emerging personality).  At least he's eating an a fairly regular schedule says young mom, Valerie.    Hmm, I really need to post an updated picture.

Anyway, my real reason for posting to my blog (other than the little annoying note that says my last post was 128 ... 131 ... 135 days ago), was to mention I decided to expand my writing horizons this year by joining a poetry group called "Poetic Exploration" .  Over the next 50 weeks, I will write one poem each week using a different form each week.  At least, that's the plan.

I've discovered that I really enjoy trying new and different poetical forms.  If you have some time, check out my attempts at the first three weeks. 

Week 1:  Acrostic:  There are three types of acrostics.
    Regular: A poem or series of lines in which certain letters, usually the first in each line, form a name, motto, or message when read in sequence.

    2nd Letter: A poem or series of lines in which the second letter in each line forms a name, motto or message when read in sequence.

    Double/(Mirror): A double/(mirror or shadow) acrostic poem is the same as an acrostic poem, except that the line ends with the same letter that it starts with.

My Acrostic attempt: 

Island Time  (E) A Mirror Acrostic with a rhyme twist. Inspired by a visit to a friend's beach house. #1739228 by JACE

Week 2:  Cinquain:  There are five versions of a cinquain.
    Single: five-line syllabic verse of the pattern 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 2

    String: five-line syllabic verse of the pattern 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 2 repeated up to 4 times

    Butterfly: nine-line syllabic verse of the pattern 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 2 / 8 / 6 / 4 / 2

    Crown: a sequence of five cinquains

    Garland: a sequence of six cinquains in which the final cinquain is composed of lines from the preceding five (generally L1 from S1, L2 from S2, L3 from S3, etc...)

My Cinquain attempt: 

Life's Cycle  (E) A Garland Cinquain poem about my life. #1740943 by JACE

Week 3:  Etheree :  There are three types of an Etheree.
    Single: consists of 10 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables.

    Reverse: consists of 10 lines of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 syllables

    Double: consists of 20 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 syllables

My Etheree attempt: 

A Bond for Life  (ASR) An Etheree poem about the bonding between a child and mother. #1743126 by JACE

Yeah, I know--that's a lot to take in.  But I'm having a blast.  Time to go and consider what I'll write for Week 4.  More to come.