New Discoveries

[Tinker]

The Dekaaz  is a new verse form meant to be voiced out loud.   It is a condensed, contemporary, haiku-like verse form invented by Rachel Bagby,  an award-winning vocal artist, international speaker, recording artist and author passionate about mentoring women to unleash their voices as instruments of change.  She says the Dekaaz is "a modern-day incarnation of the ancient haiku put to work in everyday life."    

The elements of the Dekaaz are:

1.  a tristich, a poem in 3 lines
2.  syllabic, 2-3-5 syllables per line
3.  after writing verse,  speak it out loud to someone even if the only listener is yourself  (Isn't all poetry meant to be voiced out loud?)
    

   #1 haiku heard not read shout your truth out loud                             ~~Judi Van Gorder	#2 sunrise new prospects burst before my eyes               ~~jvg
   #3 woman speak your mind stand with your sisters                   ~~jvg	#4 my man make your noise I'm still listening               ~~jvg

Duplex is a recent invention of Jericho Brown, associate professor and Director of the Creative Writing Program at Emory University, Atlanta GA.  He describes the Duplex as "a new form that renders the musicality and structure of the ghazal, the sonnet, and the blues on a single plane."   The defining feature appears to have a little French flare, a tumbling refrain that creates a sort of domino effect. The elements of the Duplex are:

1. a quatorzain, a poem in 14 lines, made up of 7 couplets. If it sings and has volta or turn, it could be termed a sonnet.
2.  loosely written with lines of equal length and meter ( examples use 9 to 11 syllables) Similar to the ghazal although ghazal rhyme patterns are not employed.
3.  composed with a modified repeat of the 2nd line of each couplet as the 1st line of the next couplet creating a domino refrain, similar to the blues repeat of a modified L1 as L2 in each triplet.
4.  rhyme is created by the refrains repeat, if the end word of L2 in the previous couplet is repeated within the L1 of the next couplet, the end word of L1 should still rhyme with the previous end word.  Rhyme scheme  ab bc cd de ef fg ga  
   
   Journey to the Sea
   
   The river's tumultuous rapids
   traverse gargantuan boulders.
   
   Rapids race over giant boulders
   on a frantic escape to the sea.
   
   To the sea, to the sea, to be free
   to navigate on the ocean deep.
   
   I want to travel the ocean deep
   where many sailors have lost their way.
   
   Fear not that they have lost their way
   for many more embrace the journey.
   
   I too wish to take on the journey,
   to strike the sails and glide with the wind
   
   Filling the sails, gliding with the wind
   I welcome tumultuous rapids.
                            ~~Judi Van Gorder

The Elevenie  In honor of kids all over the State of California physically returning to the classroom this week after a year off from the Covid shutdown, a new form I recently found, used as an exercise in elementary schools.  ( Elementary school level is all my brain can handle this morning while I sip my first cup of coffee.  And I've accidentally lost the source. My apologies to the creator. )

Elements of the Elevenie are:

• Line 1: One word, a noun.
• Line 2: Two words indicating what that noun does.
• Line 3: Three words telling where that noun is.
• Line 4: Four words providing further information about the noun.
• Line  5: One word conclusion.
  
  Classroom
  
  school
  teach - learn
  minds and hearts
  forever changed by internet
  opportunity 
                ~~jvg

The Lakelet is an invented form Daniel Lake at All Poetry.com and named by Lawrence Eberhardt is an exercise in metrics and rhyme.   
The elements of the Lakelet are:

1.  stanzaic, written in 3 or more sixains.
2.  metric, L1 thru L5 iambic tetrameter, L6 iambic trimeter
3.  rhyme, scheme  xabbba xcdddc xefffe etc.  x being unrhymed. or abcccb adeeed afgggf  etc. Since the original description of the rhyme is abcccb  with no further direction "a" implies a rhyme which I jumped to the assumption should link the stanzas.  
   
   Stalker
   
   A silent virus stalks us all!
   It's time to listen, learn and act.
   Pandemic threat no borders hold
   is calling for some actions bold
   or death knell for the sick and old.
   Discern hype from fact.
   
   A hungry virus stalks us all!
   There's love, concern and noble deeds,
   but selfish hoarding strips store shelves,
   some thoughtless youths indulge themselves
   and criminals attack like wolves
   while we hunker in the reeds.
   
   A deadly virus stalks us all!
   For now the ending is unknown.
   we'll work and play and pray at home
   sequester life within the dome
   and maybe even write a poem
   to keep a hopeful tone.
                      ~~Judi Van Gorder

The Neoteric Classic is an invented form created by A.Baez that gives the feel of an established classical form through rhyme and meter but with fresh, contemporary rhyme and refrain patterns.  The elements of the Neoteric Classic are: 

1. A poem in 20 lines made up of 4 quintains.
2. Metric, iambic pentameter.
3. Rhyme AbbaAaccaAddaAaeeaaA*
4. Composed with a refrain repeated at designated positions, L1, L5. L10, L14 and an incremental refrain in L20* (incremental refrain is when the words of the refrain are changed) 
   
   Words From Within                                                                                     Weedy Pretties  by A Baez 
   
   What good’s a house that scorns to catch the light?                            After the Walk by A Baez
   Can there be any clumsier design
   Than windows placed where sun demurs to shine,
   Turning the livelong day into near-night?
   What good’s a house that scorns to catch the light?
   
   Within, life’s fullest joy eludes our sight
   Or enters dimly, as through fine-meshed screen
   Or sheer imagination. Yet the scene
   Of nature’s glory blazes warm and bright!
   What good’s a house that scorns to catch the light?
   
   Our homes, as “castles,” ought to boast such gold
   As bathed the vastness, that first day of old
   When cosmic sweeps were doused with yellow-white.
   What good’s a house that scorns to catch the light?
   We still have time, I think, to get it right:
   
   Slice holes in roofs for skylights, trim a bough
   That blocks our spirits’ sustenance; from now
   On, situate our homes at fitting height
   And setting, and with aspect that we might
   Catch all our outer, as our inner, light.
                              ~~ A. Baez

The Novem is an invented form found in Robin Skelton's The Shapes of Our Singing.  It is one of his own inventions which he says was inspired by the Burmese Than Bauk.  He describes the form as using syllabic shapes rather than rhyme.  The elements of the form are:

1.  stanzaic, written in any number of tercets. (3 line stanzas)
2.  measuring number of words as well as syllables. Each line is 4 syllables in 3 words. Two 1 syllable words and one 2 syllable word.
3.  the placement of the two syllable word replicates the climbing rhyme of the Than Bauk.  It climbs down from the end of the first line to the middle of the second line to the beginning of the third line of each stanza.
   x x xx
   x xx x
   xx x x
4. the same consonant sound must be repeated a minimum of 4 times within the stanza. This binds the stanza together.
   
   Cat Play
   
   It is creepy
   this lizard catch,
   captive cat prize.
   
   Watch my Molly
   maul reptile prey,
   manic game play.
         ~~Judi Van Gorder 

Octain Refrain is an invented form created in 2010 by English poet Luke Prater.  This is an 8 by 8 frame, 8 lines with 8 syllables each, the first line repeated in the last line.
The elements of the Octain Refrain are:

1.  a poem in 8 lines made up of 2 tercets followed by a couplet.
2.  each line is 8 syllables, the meter of which can be iambic tetrameter, trochaic tetrameter or no particular pattern at the discretion of the poet.
3.  rhymed, rhyme scheme Abb a(c/c)a bA,  L5 has internal rhyme.
4. written repeating L1 as L8 in refrain.
5.  can be repeated making a poem of 16 lines and that is called High Octain.   
   
   Waiting Delivery
   
   My new laptop soon will arrive
   I've waited to buy for a while
   I researched to choose the best style.
   
   It will become a busy hive.
   It took some money but honey,
   it will help my poetry jive.
   
   So now I am wearing a smile,
   my new laptop will soon arrive.
                      ~~Judi Van Gorder

Pseudotaph is an invented word created by Chris Bays, associate professor of English at Clark State, Ohio, to title a poetic theme of "false burials".  (the burial of things, thoughts, concepts, emotions, or memories.)  This is in contrast with the "epitaph" that focuses on the burial of people or animals.  The frame of the Pseudotaph is at the discretion of the poet.   It is best when kept short. 

            Phobia          

           A forced smile on her face
           she stepped into the crowd.
           Her agoraphobia erased
           from view, buried, plowed
           under by a far greater need
           to allow her life to proceed.
                           ~~Judi Van Gorder  
Septone is an invented form that seems to have been used by middle school educaters for a while.  I  haven't been able to find a name or date of origin.   It is pretty simple, 7 lines made of lines using the number of syllables that coincide with your phone number without the area code.  The elements of the Setptone are:

1. A septastich, a poem in 7 lines.
2. Syllabic, each line carries the number of syllables that coincide with your phone number without the area code.
3. Rhymed or unrhymed at the poet's discretion.
4. Should have a begginning, middle, and end.
   
   The Office 823-1111 by Judi Van Gorder
   
   I used to go there everyday,
   no more,
   I've retired.
   Now
   work
   at
   home. 

Tailgater is a witty invented couplet attributed to American poet, Richard Armour that basically uses a well known line of poetry as L1 and adds a clever or witty second line in rhyme.

The elements of the Tailgater are:

1. A bi-stich, a poem in 2 lines, a couplet
2. L1 is a well known line from a published poem, which sets the meter and rhyme.
3. L2 adds a clever or witty compliment to L1
4. Rhyme aa
   
   I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
   I flee as a disgruntled Trumpian refugee.
   (The Lake Isle of Innisfree, W. B. Yeats)
   
   O, to have a little house
   that's not infested by a mouse.
   (An Old Woman of the Roads by Padraic Colum)
   
   Between my finger and my thumb
   is your sticky bubblegum,.
   (Digging by Seamus Heaney)

The Trichain is an invented form created by  Lisa-Jane La Grange of All Poetry.  The number 3 is prominant in this form and the stanzas are linked in chain with the rhyme of L4 of each quatrain.  The elements of the Trichain are:

1. stanzaic, written in no less than 3 quatrains.
2. metric, L1 thru L3 iambic tetrameter, L4 iambic trimeter of each quatrain
3. rhymed, rhyme scheme aaab cccb dddb etc.
   
   Day 19   Whistling with the Trees
   
   The ancient trees dip and sway
   among the tombstones, there to stay.
   It's best to go in light of day
   for flowers bloom in June.
   
   My mama said to wake the dead
   just walk around the stone at head
   again, again and once more. Dread
   on hold while whistling tunes.
   
   With age the spooky feeling spent
   instead a close comfort lent
   among those waiting my advent
   to nature's sure comune.
                         ~~Judi Van Gorder

The Whyquain is an invented form created by Gloria Kim at All Poetry that asks a question and gives an answer in 5 mono-rhymed, iambic tetrameter lines.
In other words, the elements of the Whyquain are:

1. a pentastich, a poem in 5 lines
2. metric, iambic tetrameter 
3. mono-rhymed
4. ask and answer a question
   
   Covid 19 Small Business Plan
   
   This summer how can I create
   productive moments, compensate
   my workers and comply with state
   guidelines for safe return date.
   'Till then we serve from home, it's fate.
                                ~~Judi Van Gorder
    
   
    

[Tinker]

Tailgater

"And since the heavens will attend"  *L7
to those whose knees will not bend,
"nothing if not amenable"  * L12
or considered uncleanable.
"The shooting stars in your black hair" *L13
will make St Peter stop and stare.
(Shampoo by Elizabeth Bishop}