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A Study in Brevity: Crafting Flash Fiction & Syllabic Poetry
There is one thing that flash fiction and syllabic poetry have in common and that’s the brevity of words. Because we’re limited by the number of words (or syllables in syllabic poetry) we must choose concise words to convey our meaning.
I call these words figurative language. I use the same literary devices when writing flash fiction as I do when writing syllabic poetry.
Figurative Language
Figurative language should enhance the meaning of your prose and poetry by making connections that allow the reader to infer their own meaning. Here are a few literary devices that will strengthen your writing:
Analogy: This is when you compare similar attributes shared by separate things or ideas. You do this by using a simile or metaphor.
EX: A coyote running across the arid desert after its prey; the base runner dashed for home plate, kicking up dust in his haste.
A simile is when you compare things that are different. Usually the words, like or as, are used.
EX: A happy memory is like an old friend who welcomes you home when you need it most.
A metaphor implies a comparison between two different things. You don’t use the words like or as, in this case.
EX: He stinks of infidelity. This doesn’t mean there’s an odor. Instead, the sentence implies the guy is a cheater. This creates a visual image in your mind of a person who is disloyal.
Irony: Choosing words to hint at the opposite of their usual meaning. The difference between appearance and reality.
EX: The whipped butter felt as soft as a block of ice. Clearly, in this case, looks can be deceiving.
Personification: Assigning a human trait to something not human. EX: The wind whispered through the dry grasses. The wind can’t whisper because that is a human trait. Yet, the description gives the reader a sensory image they won’t forget.
Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds, such as when two or more words close in proximity, repeat the same vowel sound, without repeating consonants; sometimes called vowel rhyme.
EX: Sally sells seashells beside the seashore (repetition of the short e and long e sounds).
Alliteration: Words that start with the same sound (not just the same letter) used in repetition in a series of words within a phrase or verse line. Usually, the sound is a consonant, and the words are not next to each other. Alliteration does not depend on letters but on sounds—think tongue twisters!
EX: Kim came home to clean the chaos in her closet. (Kim came, is dependent on the same sound, not the consonant letter it begins with).
(From: Chesebro, Colleen M., Word Craft: Prose & Poetry: The Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry (pp. 15-16). Kindle Edition).
So let’s apply those literary devices to writing syllabic poetry. Are you new to crafting syllabic poetry and don’t know how to start? Let me show you two syllabic poetry forms to get you started on your poetry writing journey.
Let’s start with an American form, the cinquain. The cinquain is a five-line, non-rhyming poem featuring a syllable structure of 2-4-6-8-2. Choose words that create drama that builds into the fourth line. The turn occurs on line five, the most important line. This is where you change your focus away from the drama in some interesting way. Cinquain poems need a title.
Use a syllable counter as you compose your poetry. I use the Syllable Counter at https://www.traveldailylife.com/syllables/. See my cinquain example below:
Day Dawns
pink blush—
fairy makeup
smudges morning’s gray clouds
dew sparkles against the grasses
thunder
© Colleen M. Chesebro
In the cinquain above, I described a morning sunrise. True to the form, I pivoted in line five. My last two-syllables are where I turned away from the beauty of the scene and added the word “thunder.” This gives a hint that not everything is as it seems in the idyllic scene I described.
“Pink blush—fairy makeup” is personification. I’ve assigned human traits to the color of the morning sky.
If Japanese poetry intrigues you, start with the haiku. Haiku consists of three lines following the short-long-short, 3-5-3, 2-3-2, (5-7-5 traditional) syllable count. Usually your haiku should contain approximately twelve syllables. We write haiku about nature, the seasons, a beautiful moment in nature, an emotional experience while in nature, or change. Haiku are untitled, and this form requires a Kigo (season word). Haiku does not rhyme. Do not use metaphors or similes in haiku.
(When you’re first learning how to write haiku, feel free to use the 5-7-5 syllable structure until you’re ready to embrace the shorter formats.)
When we write haiku, we’re sharing an encounter between nature and ourselves as a human. We describe our experience at that exact moment. These are the moments that stand out and grab our attention in unexpected ways. Remember, haiku are untitled.
clouds stitched together
against the blue cloth of sky
solstice heat rises
© Colleen M. Chesebro
In the haiku above, I describe the clouds, and how they look against a blue sky. That’s personification! Notice my choice of words. I also used a kigo or season word, solstice heat which we know occurs in summer. Blue cloth of sky wasn’t enough to define a season because we could describe the sky in those terms any season of the year.
Break your haiku into two separate word images:
lines one and two: clouds stitched together against the blue cloth of sky
lines two and three: against the blue cloth of sky, solstice heat rises
This is a great way to check your haiku when you’ve finished writing. Combine the first and second line of your haiku. Does a mental image appear? In this example, you can see the clouds contrast the color of the blue sky. Remember the brevity of words.
However, when you take the second and third line and combine them, you receive another mental image. Now you see the solstice heat shimmers against the blue sky. The summer solstice occurs in June.
The idea in crafting haiku is to write about two contrasting or somehow similar images, and to connect them in unusual ways. Haiku are all about images. How does the haiku make you feel? Have you created emotion without telling your reader how to feel?
That’s it! You’re ready to craft syllabic poetry! Join me for #TankaTuesday on wordcraftpoetry.com.
Copyright © 2022 Colleen M. Chesebro – All rights reserved.
Colleen M. Chesebro lives in East Lansing, Michigan in the United States.
Colleen grew up in a large city in the Midwest. Keen on making her own way in the world, she joined the United States Air Force after graduation to tour the world and find herself. To this day, that search continues.
Today, she’s a Michigan Poet who loves crafting syllabic poetry, flash fiction, and creative fiction and nonfiction. Colleen sponsors a weekly poetry challenge, called #TankaTuesday, on wordcraftpoetry.com, where poets learn how to create traditional and modern forms of syllabic poetry.
Colleen created Word Craft Poetry as an uplifting community where poets can learn the basics of writing Japanese and American syllabic poetry by sharing their own poetic inspiration on their blogs through the challenge written in one of the following forms: haiku, senryu, haiga, tanka, gogyohka, haibun, tanka prose, renga, solo renga, cinquain, and its variations, Etheree, nonet, shadorma, Badger’s Hexastich, and Abhanga. Poets receive positive feedback from their peers, who inspire each other to stretch their creativity.
When she’s not writing poetry or crafting short stories, you’ll find Colleen digging in her garden, or playing with her two unicorn cats, Chloe & Sophie, or spending time with her husband and friends. Most days you can find her writing poetry on wordcraftpoetry.com, or preparing books for publication at Unicorn Cats Publishing Services.
You can follow Colleen’s blog at Word Craft Poetry and follow her on Twitter at @ColleenChesebro.
Saddle-Up Saloon; Colleen’s Double Ennead Challenge No. 10
Welcome to November! We’re almost at the end of another year. Welcome to the Carrot Ranch Double Ennead Monthly Poetry Challenge. Every third Monday of the month, I’m here at the Saloon with another challenge to help get your poetic juices flowing. Each month, we will explore a different theme or image to inspire our poetry. Take your time, there’s no hurry! You have an entire month to write your poem.
HINT: You can find this post again by typing: double ennead challenge in the search box to the right of the Carrot Ranch banner. That will bring up the most recent challenge post. ❤
Check out the poems from last month HERE
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. Remember, please write your poem in 99 syllables.
#Ekphrastic Inspiration
Art has a way of inspiring ekphrastic poetry. The idea is to see behind the obvious, possibly using your third eye to pull out more layers of meaning from a particular piece of art. Van Gogh is a favorite of mine because of the softness—a dreamlike imagery portrayed in his work. So, let’s use the image below to inspire this month’s double ennead poem.
Read: Perspectives in Writing Ekphrastic Poetry
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. Please use sodacoffee.com/syllables/ as a syllable counter.
Our Inspiration:
Painting, Oil on Canvas
Nuenen, The Netherlands: November, 1885
Kröller-Müller Museum
Otterlo, The Netherlands, Europe
https://www.vangoghgallery.com/catalog/Painting/9/Autumn-Landscape-with-Four-Trees.html
Use the image above to compose your double ennead poem. Remember your poem should have 99 syllables.
My example follows:
"Farewell to Another Year" frigid morn, Autumn kissed— quiescent fields glow, tempered with an aura of seasonal flow the wheel of the year turns another month lost under the sun's frail rays, hardwood shadows fade, while frost browned grasses sing anthems to the wind naked tree limbs tremble, upright to the end death's undulations voiced leaves fall... orange rain, bird requiems pay deference to the dead another harvest done, spring dreams fill my head © Colleen M. Chesebro
Poetry is based on perceptions. We will all interpret the image differently. Follow your inner voice for inspiration.
- Write a double ennead poem based on the painting 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!
SADDLE-UP SALOON; COLLEEN’S #DOUBLEENNEAD CHALLENGE NO. 9
Happy October! Welcome to a new Carrot Ranch #DoubleEnnead monthly poetry challenge. Every third Monday of the month, I’ll be here at the Saloon with another challenge to help get your poetic juices flowing. Each month, we will explore a different theme or image to inspire our poetry. Take your time, there’s no hurry! You have an entire month to write your poem.
HINT: You can find this post again by typing double ennead challenge in the search box to the right of the Carrot Ranch banner. That will bring up the most recent challenge post. ❤
Check out the poems from last month HERE
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.
We’ve been writing 99 syllable poetry for a few months now. Explore your own 99 syllable structure. In other words, you don’t have to abide by the syllable structure above. Just make sure that your poem comes out to 99 syllables! Have fun and experiment. I did!
October is my favorite month of the year! Halloween is just around the corner. As a child, I loved this holiday and still do today. I think the attraction was the opportunity to switch identities for one night a year. At Halloween, you could be anything you wanted simply by changing your appearance.
If you could assume any form or persona, what would you choose?
What is a Persona Poem?
Scott Sigil shares his definition: “A persona poem is a poem written in first person from the perspective of someone or something other than yourself. When writing a persona poem, the poet embodies a figure from history, or a fictional character, or even an inanimate object, and writes imagining what that person or thing might say if they had the chance to write a poem.” (Persona Poems by Scott Sigil)
Let’s celebrate Halloween together by writing a persona poem in the style of a double ennead. Be creative! Let your imagination run wild! Have fun!
My example follows:
"A Wise Woman's Companion" the veil thins when dusk falls Samhain spirits rise now, the purveyors of death walk among us... maybe crones in disguise? black magic lives on they burned us at the stake not believing our truths, only lies bad luck, or animal-shaped spies? my coal-black color determined my death my reputation's ruined by superstitions, ancient mythologies, and false statements... My one redeeming feature— black cats have nine lives! © Colleen M. Chesebro
This month, write a double ennead poem where you assume a persona. It can be Halloween related, or not. Remember, your poem must have 99 syllables in total. Have fun!
- Post your poem on your blog or in the comments if you don’t have a blog by Friday, November 12, 2021.
- 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!
Chloe & Sophie assert that no black cats were harmed in the creation of this poem!
Now have fun and write some double ennead poetry!
SADDLE-UP SALOON; COLLEEN’S DOUBLE ENNEAD CHALLENGE NO. 8
Happy September! Welcome to a new Carrot Ranch double ennead monthly poetry challenge. Every third Monday of the month, I’ll be here at the Saloon with another challenge to help get your poetic juices flowing. Each month, we will explore a different theme or image to inspire our poetry. Take your time, there’s no hurry! You have an entire month to write your poem.
HINT: You can find this post again by typing: double ennead challenge in the search box to the right of the Carrot Ranch banner. That will bring up the most recent challenge post. ❤
Check out the poems from last month HERE
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.
With the first day of Autumn quickly approaching on September 22nd, my thoughts naturally turn to pumpkin spice, hot apple desserts, and warm cuddly blankets. Think about how this season interacts with our five (or six) senses: taste, touch, sight, smell, and hearing.
“Your five senses help you take in information from the world around you. These senses are also a powerful tool to use when you’re writing. They help convey a message to readers by providing a strong image in their heads.” Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/article-5-senses-in-poetry
For example, think about Autumn and describe it using your five senses:
- Taste: pumpkin spice, mulling spices, apples, pears, harvest foods, etc.
- Touch: wet rain, cold fog, warm sunlight, soft blankets, bonfires, etc.
- Sight: leaf piles, fall color, red gold and orange leaves, wheat sheaves, corn stalks, bales of hay, pumpkins, etc.
- Smell: wet, moldy, wet leaves, decayed leaves, pumpkin spice, baked bread, etc.
- Hearing: autumn rains, cool or stormy winds blowing, geese honking in migratory flocks, etc.
My example follows:
"Lady Autumn" welcome Lady Autumn— wet dew on grasses, foggy sunrise awash over the fenland sunshine between shadows, chilly to the touch red-tipped maples glitter embracing the Queen of all seasons, trouping their finest colors like burnished leaves displayed in a royal crown nothing gilded can stay every leaf must fall for a vivid autumn is death's finest hour cold rain despoils the bracts death, decay follow © 2021 Colleen M. Chesebro
This month, write a double ennead poem dedicated to Autumn. Pay special attention to sensory words.
- Post it on your blog or in the comments if you don’t have a 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 double ennead poetry!
SADDLE-UP SALOON; COLLEEN’S DOUBLE ENNEAD CHALLENGE NO. 7
Happy August! Welcome to a new Carrot Ranch double ennead monthly poetry challenge. Every third Monday of the month, I’ll be here at the Saloon with another challenge to help get your poetic juices flowing. Each month, we will explore a different theme or image to inspire our poetry. Take your time, there’s no hurry! You have an entire month to write your poem.
HINT: You can find this post again by typing: double ennead challenge in the search box to the right of the Carrot Ranch banner. That will bring up the most recent challenge post. ❤
Check out the poems from last month HERE
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.
Poetic Inspiration
Do you search for poetic inspiration? If you do, I’d like to share a discovery with you. I’m obsessed with the Oracle… what is the oracle, you ask?
The poetry Oracle is magnetic poetry. Click the link above and choose one of the category icons in the lower online version after the first group. A series of words will appear and you can drag and drop the words into the white area to create your poetry. I often use the Oracle when I’m looking for inspiration.
The Oracle works for syllabic poetry as well. On another browser tab, I usually have a syllable counter open as I compose my poem. I type in the words to check my count.
Here are the words I received from the Poet Kit:
Now, I will drag and drop the words until I have the makings of a poem. There is a button to choose more words. I cycle through the word selection and grab words as I compose my poem. I’m conscious of syllable counts, but for now, I’ll just grab words that closely match the count.
Finally, I’ve composed the first stanza of my double ennead poem (6, 5, 11, 6, 5 syllables). I took a screenshot to share with you:
Always check your syllables with a syllable counter when composing and writing syllabic poetry. The pronunciation of words is very important to convey meaning in your poems. You can use sodacoffee.com/syllables/ as a syllable counter. I checked my one stanza below:
I don’t expect you to compose your entire double ennead poem using the Oracle… although the Oracle works well with longer-form freestyle or prose poetry, too. If I’m looking for inspiration when writing syllabic poetry, I enjoy the magic the Oracle sends.
This month, try experimenting with the Oracle. Write only ONE stanza of a double ennead poem and share it on your blog.
My example follows:
"Full Moon Magic" velvet smiles let joy dance through vast heart-sky clouds, remember hot kisses lingering—steamy... delicious poetry, warm perfumed desire ©2021 Colleen M. Chesebro
Experiment with the poetry Oracle. Write only ONE stanza of a double ennead poem (6, 5, 11, 6, 5 syllables) using magnetic poetry. If you’d rather write a double ennead poem, and not try out the magnetic poetry site, write about a theme of your choice.
- Post it on your blog or in the comments if you don’t have a 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 syllabic poetry!
Saddle Up Saloon; Colleen’s Double Ennead Challenge No. 6
Happy July! Welcome to the Carrot Ranch Double Ennead Monthly Poetry Challenge. Every third Monday of the month, I’ll be here at the Saloon with another challenge to help get your poetic juices flowing. Each month, we will explore a different theme or image to inspire our poetry. Take your time, there’s no hurry! You have an entire month to write your poem.
HINT: You can find this post again by typing: double ennead challenge in the search box to the right of the Carrot Ranch banner. That will bring up the most recent challenge post. ❤
Check out the poems from last month HERE
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.
Last month’s challenge was TUFF! So, this month, let’s write our double ennead using the image below or expound on the theme of travel!
For more inspiration read: What Is Ekphrastic Poetry?
Our Inspiration:
Use the image above to compose your double ennead poem. Remember to count your syllables using the sodacoffee.com/syllables site.
My example follows:
"Travel through Books" books give me wings to fly to charming spaces where characters invite me into their lives to stay for just a while— bittersweet friendships books give me wings to fly to far-off places where the battle against good versus evil wins out at the finish— soul-satisfying books give me wings to fly to learn new concepts for writing poetry and fun flash fiction— travel the world of books enjoy your flight—read! © Colleen M. Chesebro
Poetry is based on your perceptions. After all the places I lived and traveled to, in and out of the Air Force, the theme of travel is still exciting. (Although now, I do most of my traveling through reading). While I wrote this double ennead with the theme of travel through the reading of books, you might feel and interpret the image differently. Follow your inner voice for inspiration.
In this double ennead, I used the literary device of repetition by intentionally using the phrase “books give me wings to fly” for effect. Poets often employ this technique. We should use the phrase at least two or more times for the repetition to be noticeable. The words or phrases should be repeated within close proximity of each other. Repeating the same words or phrases in a poem brings clarity to an idea and makes it memorable for the reader.
In the next month:
- Write a double ennead poem based on the image above.
- Post it on your blog or in the comments of this post.
- 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 syllabic poetry!
Saddle Up Saloon; Colleen’s Double Ennead Challenge No. 5
Happy Summer Solstice! Welcome to the Carrot Ranch Double Ennead Monthly Poetry Challenge. Every third Monday of the month, I’ll be here at the Saloon with another challenge to help get your poetic juices flowing. Each month, we will explore a different theme or image to inspire our poetry. Take your time, there’s no hurry! You have an entire month to write your poem.
Check out the poems from last month HERE
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.
This month, let’s take the double ennead through the TUFF challenge like we do for the Carrot Ranch Rodeo. I’ll show you how to take your double ennead from 99 syllables to 48 syllables, to 24 syllables to finally, a haiku *(12 syllable poem).
Why? This exercise illustrates the importance of the brevity of words. This is a great way to craft the shorter forms of syllabic poetry like haiku, senryu, tanka, etc.
*What happened to the 5-7-5 (17 syllable) haiku?
On page 22-23 of “Word Craft: Prose & Poetry,” I explain why poets no longer write their haiku in 17 syllables. It’s a matter of linguistics. The Japanese write in sounds called onji, and we use syllables in English. The Japanese onji are shorter than our syllables. If we’re going to embrace haiku, we should write the form as authentically as we can.
William J. Higginson and Penny Harter, in their book, “The Haiku Handbook” explain:
“Approximately twelve English syllables best duplicates the length of Japanese haiku in the traditional form of seventeen onji.”
“The Haiku Handbook,” Chapter 8: The Form of Haiku, p. 102″
Here’s my double ennead:
Celebrate the Summer Solstice
summer solstice blessings flow from father sun we recognize the longest day of the year wearing bright flower crowns bonfire magic soars celebrate the summer new freedoms restored cast your spells to air, water, earth, and fire jubilant songs voiced to the mother goddess give thanks for connections family and friends influence reality for the better work your magic toward shared fresh beginnings
For the 48 syllable poem I’ll use a 4-7-5 stanza trio:
summer solstice... celebrate sunshine all hail to the longest day wear flower crowns before the bonfire where fiery sparks soar like stars giving thanks for family and friends all together once again
Now, let’s reduce our syllables to 24 (6-6-6-6) and only one stanza:
summer solstice blessings honor the longest day bonfires and flower crowns we're together again
Finally, our 12 syllable haiku (short-long-short):
summer solstice... honor the longest day give thanks
When writing haiku, you should have two images that converge to give you that special moment of insight into the poet’s experience. Here’s how you can check to see if your haiku works.
Take the first line and the second line: summer solstice… honor the longest day. We have our kigo (the season word) along with the phrase summer solstice. This gives us our first mind image. We know it’s summer and the longest day of the year.
Now, take the second line and the third line which is the pivot: honor the longest day, give thanks. The second mind image imparts the “aha-moment” when we realize the experience of the longest night of the year is truly a gift. This experience is something we should be thankful for.
The haiku’s combined images converge into our realization that experiencing the longest day of the year is truly an experience to celebrate. What a great way to celebrate summer!
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.
- Write your 99 syllable double ennead poem on a subject of your choice. Take into consideration that haiku are written about nature. Reduce the syllables until you reach the haiku (12 syllables) written in a short-long-short syllable structure). You should have 3 poems. The double ennead, a reduced syllable poem of your choice of syllables, and your haiku (12 syllables).
- Post it on your blog or in the comments if you don’t have a 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 syllabic poetry!
SADDLE UP SALOON; COLLEEN’S DOUBLE ENNEAD CHALLENGE NO. 4
Happy May! Welcome to the Carrot Ranch Double Ennead Monthly Poetry Challenge. Every third Monday of the month, I’ll be here at Carrot Ranch with another challenge to help get your poetic juices flowing. Each month, we’ll explore how to use this form to inspire our poetic muse. Take your time, there’s no hurry! You have an entire month to write your poem.
Check out the poems from last month HERE.
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 a very important tool to convey meaning in your poems. You can use sodacoffee.com as a syllable counter. There is also howmanysyllables.com, which gives you access to synonyms and rhyming words as you’re composing.
Using Themes in Poetry
What are themes? A theme is a message you want to convey through your poetry. Many poets choose a romantic theme for their poetry, but that doesn’t always appeal to everyone. Another popular theme is “human verses nature.” Writing about the human experience is one way we connect with others through the written word.
Here is a list of some the common themes in poetry from Emma Baldwin. “19 Different Types of Themes in Poetry”. Poem Analysis, https://poemanalysis.com/poetry-explained/poetry-themes/.
- love
- death
- religion
- spirituality
- nature
- beauty
- aging
- desire
- travel
- dreams
- celebrations
- new life
- disappointment
- failure
- war
- immortality
- coming of age
Why are themes important? If you like to read and write poetry it’s because you enjoy “word craft.” At least that’s what I call it. Word craft is the way you, as a writer or poet, shape words into a distinct purpose. It’s your personal brand of magic that you employ to enchant your reader. Often, the theme of your poem reveals itself as an additional meaning. It’s that “a-ha moment” when you make the connection through a poem’s deeper meaning. Remember, without a theme, your poetry does not have a purpose.
The double Ennead is perfect for themed poetry. The three stanzas allow the poem to flow naturally with a beginning, middle, and end, much like our 99-word flash fiction flows.
When you choose a theme, try to break it up into three distinct parts. In my example, I write about the passage of time in the garden featuring a morning glory during the morning, at noon, and at night, per stanza. I added a bit of rhyme because it flowed naturally, unforced. As always, end rhyme schemes are optional.
"The Morning Glory" morning glory dawns bright dew-speckled petals, blossom forth to receive the sun's inner light impermanence of life eternal love's plight morning glory day shines purple, pink, and white noontide sun feeds and sustains unplanted vines no less a pesky weed the will to survive morning glory night wanes flowers snuggle deep under star glow, provocative scents remain promising a new day growth comes with the rain ©2021 Colleen M. Chesebro
At first glance, you might think this poem is only about the morning glory plant. Good grief, they’re weeds! However, there is much more here. I chose this flower because of its will to survive, no matter what. My theme is about perseverance and surviving when the chips are down.
This month, select your own theme for your double Ennead poem. Follow your inner voice for inspiration.
- Write a double ennead poem. Remember to count your syllables.
- Post it on your blog or in the comments at the bottom of the post.
- 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!
Saddle Up Saloon; Colleen’s Double Ennead Challenge No. 3
Happy April! Welcome to the Carrot Ranch Double Ennead Monthly Poetry Challenge. As a guest of the Saddle Up Saloon, every third Monday of the month, I’ll be here with another challenge to help get your poetic juices flowing. Each month, we will explore a different theme or image to inspire our poetry. Take your time, there’s no hurry! You have an entire month to write your poem. No blog? Don’t worry. Add your poem in the comments below.
Check out the poems from last month HERE
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.
This month, let’s explore end rhyme schemes in our double Ennead poems.
First, let’s learn more about end rhyme schemes. Here is a quick definition:
A rhyme scheme is the pattern of sound found at the end of lines. These rhyme schemes are given a letter, usually beginning with the letter A.
A four-line poem with a rhyme scheme is something like this:
The first line rhymes with the third line, and the second line rhymes with the fourth line. The rhyme scheme is ABAB.
Roses are red, violets are blue, Shakespeare is dead? I had no clue.
Let’s use the simple Abhanga syllabic form as an example. The Abhanga is written in any number of four-line verses. The syllable count is 6-6-6-4 per stanza.
In this form, only L2 and L3 rhyme. Often, the letter x, is used to denote an unrhymed end word. This rhyme scheme is:
xaax, x = unrhymed. (Lower case letters only show the rhyming pattern).
magic is found within breathe deep into your core open your heart and soar find inner peace ©2021 Colleen M. Chesebro
We use rhymes in many poetry forms. Rhymes aren’t always used in patterns or at the end of lines, which means not all rhyming poetry has a rhyme scheme.
We only use rhyme schemes for poems that use end rhyme—which is rhymes at the end of lines.
A rhyme is a repetition of sounds, usually the same sound, in the final stressed syllables of two or more words. Poets use rhyming for artistic effect. It makes our poetry more interesting. I enjoy the challenge of mixing syllabic poetry with end rhymes… it’s like solving a word puzzle.
Litcharts.com has an excellent discussion of end rhyme schemes you can read HERE.
For this month’s challenge, write a double ennead poem using an end rhyme scheme of your choice. You can select the theme that inspires you.
If end rhyme schemes aren’t your thing, write your double ennead based on a magical experience… OR do both! I did!
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.
My Example:
I’m a visual person, so I found some inspiration on Pixabay.com.
The rhyme scheme in each stanza (or couplet) is xxaax, x = unrhymed, only L3 and L4 rhyme in each stanza.
“The Cherry Orchard”
down the path from the farm the cherry orchard ablaze in shades of mauve... glows under the moon, while pink katydids’ croon anthems to the stars break of day streaks the sky birdsong welcomes light dew-kissed grasses bend in the delicate breeze wildflowers hail the bees morning glory dawn magic blooms in rebirth, blush buds share secrets life unfolds in cycles and seasons repeat ancient helix complete life in the orchard ©2021 Colleen M. Chesebro
- Write a double ennead poem using an end rhyme scheme of your choice. You can select a theme that inspires you. If end rhyme schemes aren’t your thing, write your double ennead based on a magical experience—or do both!
- Post it on your blog. If you don’t have a blog, copy and paste your poem into the comments below.
- 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! I’ll share a roundup of all of your poetry on colleenchesebro.com the Saturday before the next month’s Double Ennead challenge.
Now have fun and write some magical poetry!
Saddle Up Saloon; Colleen’s Double Ennead Challenge No. 2
Happy March! Welcome to the Carrot Ranch Double Ennead Monthly Poetry Challenge. Every third Monday of the month, I’ll be here at Carrot Ranch with another challenge to help get your poetic juices flowing. Each month, we will explore a different theme or image to inspire our poetry. Take your time, there’s no hurry! You have a month to write your poem.
Check out the poems from last month HERE.
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. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
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 another favorite because you get access to synonyms as you’re composing.
Our Inspiration: “SPRING”
This month, let’s work with the theme of spring. Write your poetry inspired by an image, a photograph, the view outside your window, another piece of poetry like found poetry, or even a song. It’s up to you! Share whatever inspired you to write your poem.
For example, here is my inspiration piece below:
Corinne Bailey Rae – “Put Your Records On”
Three little birds sat on my window And they told me I don't need to worry Summer came like cinnamon So sweet Little girls double-dutch on the concrete Maybe sometimes we've got it wrong, but it's alright The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same Oh, don't you hesitate Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song You go ahead, let your hair down Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams Just go ahead, let your hair down You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow Blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely Sipping tea in a bar by the roadside (Just relax, just relax) Don't you let those other boys fool you Got to love that afro hair do Maybe sometimes we feel afraid, but it's alright The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change Don't you think it's strange? Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song You go ahead, let your hair down Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams Just go ahead, let your hair down You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow 'Twas more than I could take, pity for pity's sake Some nights kept me awake, I thought that I was stronger When you gonna realise, that you don't even have to try any longer? Do what you want to Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song You go ahead, let your hair down Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams Just go ahead, let your hair down Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song You go ahead, let your hair down Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams Just go ahead, let your hair down Oh, you're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow AZLyrics.com
“Fly Free”
a trio of sparrows flit from branch to branch my window, an open stage to their slow dance chasing the winter blues waiting for the thaw life's cruel winds dictate situations change— maybe I've got it all wrong, but it's alright it's time to chase my dreams nothing stays the same azure skies and sunshine are coming my way It's time to find myself, to fly free on wings, filled with inspiration and new beginnings ©2021 Colleen M. Chesebro
Poetry is based on your perceptions. This song makes me want to dance under a starry spring night! I used the song as a metaphor for “spring” and new beginnings. Follow your inner voice for inspiration.
- Write a double ennead poem based on the theme of spring. Your inspiration can come from whatever source inspires you.
- 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! I’ll share a roundup of all of your poetry on colleenchesebro.com the Saturday before the next Double Ennead challenge.
Now have fun and write some double ennead poetry inspired by spring!
Carrot Ranch Literary Community 