A UNIQUE POETRY STYLE
If you know me, you know I love a good poetry challenge. Yet there are so many styles of poetry I know I have barely scratched the surface. Kat Myrman is a good one for unearthing interesting poetic gems. Most recently, she shared on her blog a unique poetry style called Than-bauk. The form is Burmese and is short, concise, yet meaningful. It is a stanza of only three lines, each with four syllables. Now this sounds simple, but there’s more to it.
The last syllable of the first line must rhyme with the third syllable of the second line and also the second syllable of the third line. Sounds a little confusing, right? At least I thought so when I first read the description, but I thought I’d try anyway. My first tries seemed a little feeble and I deleted them. Then, as I caught on I worked a little longer on each one, using Rhymezone to find rhyming words.
This first group centers around my home. I looked at pictures, remembered sounds, and tried to capture a little bit of a feel for living near the woods in a log home.
Near a forest
On hill’s crest I
Find rest at home
Blue sky above
Mourning dove sings
A lovely tune
Walking outside
I may hide here
Beside the stream
I arrive home
Answer phone and
Then roam again
MORE FUN
This type of poetry is addicting once you get started, and the next day I worked on a few more. The style lends itself to humor or more serious thoughts, nature, life, and almost any subject that interests you. In fact, my first ones seemed quite silly, but now I wish I had saved them all. This next one is very simple but says a lot.
Imagine this
With a kiss I
Told sis goodbye
I looked around
On the ground and
I found a leaf
A patch of light
What a bright spot
Just right for me
POEMS OF FAITH
I thought it would be fun to see if I could write some poems in this unique poetry style that would illustrate my faith in God. Once I got started they were not hard to write, though some took more thought than others.
A song of joy
Will deploy hope
Destroy sad thoughts
My heart will sing
As I cling to
My king, Jesus
God’s truth abides
As it guides and
Provides solace
Writing poetry always brings joy and refreshement to me, even when some take a lot of work. I hope you have enjoyed these and will be inspired to write some of your own in any style. If you do, I’d love for you to share them in the comments.
When I spend time in nature and think of all God’s wondrous works, I want to praise Him. In Him I find joy, peace, hope and a refuge from the chaos.
Praise the Lord with the lyre; make music to him with a ten-stringed harp.
Psalm 32:2-4
Sing a new song to him; play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout.
For the word of the Lord is right, and all his work is trustworthy.
I’m linking up with: #InspireMeMonday
Dear Gayl,
Your creativity is always so inspiring to me! This stanza especially encouraged me today:
“My heart will sing
As I cling to
My king, Jesus”
You are right–it is such a simple firm of poetry, but that simplicity helps it go straight to the heart! I pray you are having a Blessed Mother’s Day, dear friend!
Dear Bettie, thank you so much! You always inspire me, too. We are blessed to share with each other in our creativity and in our prayers. Love, hugs and blessings to you, dear sister! xoxo