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Saddle Up Saloon; Colleen’s Double Ennead Challenge

Welcome to the Saloon and the first Double Ennead Monthly Poetry Challenge. Every third Monday of the month, I’ll be over here at Carrot Ranch with another double ennead challenge. Each month, we will explore a different theme or image to inspire our poetry. I hope to see you in the Saloon!

The word Ennead means nine, and a double nine is ninety-nine! Carrot Ranch is famous for 99-word flash fiction. Now, the ranch has its own syllabic poetry form written in 99 syllables!

The Double Ennead comprises five lines with a syllable count of 6/5/11/6/5, (33 SYLLABLES per stanza) 3 STANZAS EACH = 99 SYLLABLES, NO MORE, NO LESS! Punctuation and rhyme schemes are optional and up to the poet.

Why write poetry?

When a writer embraces the ability to convey complex images and emotions in just a few lines, they have learned to strengthen their writing. In the same way, flash fiction helps us hone in on the words to tell our story, syllabic poetry does much the same by forcing us to find the best word and meaning. This brevity of words leads to more concise writing.

Syllabic verse is any kind of poetry defined by the number of syllables in each line. In English, syllables must have a vowel sound. For example, the word “apple” has two vowel sounds, which divide it into the syllables “ap” and “ple.” Depending on our accent, we pronounce some words with different accents on the syllables. For example, the word “fire” and “poem” can be read with either one or two vowel sounds.

Always check your syllables with a syllable counter when composing and writing syllabic poetry. The pronunciation of words is very important to conveying a meaning in your poems. You can use sodacoffee.com as a syllable counter. There is also howmanysyllables.com, which is my favorite because you get access to synonyms as you’re composing.

Our Inspiration:

Credit: https://pixabay.com/users/dreamyart

Use the image above to compose your double ennead poem. Remember to count your syllables.

My example follows:

rosy morn, winter kissed—
fields incandescent
bursting with the glory of a brand new day
the wheel of the year turns
another month gone

From the sun's fiery glow
lilac shadows fade
while frost browned grasses sing anthems to the wind
wild black-headed geese soar
far away from home

Beneath the frosty rime
roots tremble with growth,
awaiting the thaw and the warm rains to come
seeds loiter in the depths
dreaming of the spring

©2021 Colleen M. Chesebro

Poetry is based on your perceptions. While I described what I saw in the image, you might feel and interpret the image differently. Follow your inner voice for inspiration.

  • Write a double ennead poem based on the image above.
  • Post it on your blog.
  • Include a link back to this challenge in your post. (copy the https:// address of this post into your post).
  • Read and comment on your fellow poet’s work. Feedback from other poets is how we grow our poetry writing craft.
  • Like and leave a comment below if you choose to do so.
  • I’ll visit, comment, and share your poetry on social media!

Now have fun and write some poetry!

To See What You Create!


67 Comments

  1. love this post and the syllable counter and great info you imparted Colleen.
    Thank you🙏

  2. Reblogged this on Colleen M. Chesebro and commented:

    Who’s ready to join in the Carrot Ranch Double Ennead challenge? The form is 99 syllables, no more, no less!

  3. I will try!!

  4. denmaniacs4 says:

    Here is a link…it may work…it may not!

    http://engleson.ca/?page_id=204378

  5. Jules says:

    Colleen – I’ll be back to read your verse after I’ve written mine <3

  6. […] Carrot Ranch; Colleen’s Double Ennead Challenge The Double Ennead comprises five lines with a syllable count of 6/5/11/6/5, (33 SYLLABLES per stanza) 3 STANZAS EACH = 99 SYLLABLES, NO MORE, NO LESS! Punctuation and rhyme schemes are optional and up to the poet. Our Inspiration: Art Credit Here […]

  7. Jules says:

    I enjoyed your version Colleen… I stuffed in four prompts and if you go to the link you will find other images too!

    Changing Fate’s Strings

  8. Reblogged this on ShiftnShake and commented:

    It’s the third Monday of the month, so you know what that means. Colleen Chesebro is hosting a syllabic poetry challenge out of the Saddle Up Saloon! See what she’s up to and try your hand at the Double Ennead, a form Colleen dreamed up just for Carrot Ranch.

  9. SueSpitulnik says:

    Hi Colleen,

    Thanks for the interesting challenge. I enjoy stretching the envelope and strict guidelines help me get started.
    My offering is affected by the recent loss of my sister. Sorry it’s a downer.

    https://susansleggs.com/2021/02/15/remembering-alone/

  10. Here’s mine. Hope there’s not too many examples of putting the empharsis on the wrong sylabble. 😉 https://sixcrookedhighwaysblog.wordpress.com/2021/02/16/the-uncommon-cold/

  11. […] Saddle Up Saloon; Colleen’s Double Ennead Challenge […]

  12. Thanks for posting this! It’ll definitely help those trying to write poetry for the challenges. 🙂

  13. […] Meet me at the SALOON! […]

  14. Myrna Migala says:

    What a challenge! Thanks Colleen for the inspiration
    https://myforever.blog/2021/02/15/lets-paint-a-picture/

  15. ellenbest24 says:

    I love ‘seeds loiter in the depth’s.’ Alas the form is not for me, but I see the fun you inspire so hope many join in.

  16. […] The first double ennead challenge is up at the Saddle Up Saloon at carrot ranch.com. Join in and learn a new form HERE. […]

  17. […] HERE for the full explanation of a double ennead : “The Double Ennead comprises five lines with a […]

  18. Norah says:

    I ran out of time to join in with this one, Colleen, but I enjoyed the photo and your double ennead in response to it. Hopefully, I’ll get to join in a future challenge.

  19. Looks like you’ve roped in some poets! I kind of disappeared, took full advantage of a week off from the Saloon, but glad to see such a good crowd. That’s a good point, that there is a month to play. (So I will postpone getting out and about to read the responses)

  20. Hi Colleen, what a wonderful challenge and love your poem. I haven’t written any poetry in some time, especially since undertaking my memoir. I really hope to give this a go in the near future 🙂 >3

  21. […] Peach shared a double ennead (99 syllable poetry I created for Carrot Ranch.com) that gives us a glimpse into her next book! This one is called The Sea Witch’s […]

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