There’s an old joke that says, “I’m a poet and didn’t know it. You can tell by my feet. They’re Longfellows.”
I got started on my writing journey with poetry. I wrote my first poem in high school. In tenth grade English, we had to keep a journal. I wrote my first poem there. I got brave and showed it to my 11th grade English teacher. She said I had a “great talent” and shouldn’t let it go to waste.
It took too many years before I gave myself permission to say I was a writer. But that’s not the point here.
My poems don’t usually rhyme. I don’t use iambic pentameter or any other formal poetic form or meter.
Some time ago, I was introduced to syllabic poetry. I took a poetry-writing class at through the public education program at the local college. Since then, I’ve used several syllabic forms in my poems.
What is syllabic poetry?
Syllabic poetry has a set number of syllables per line. It can be set by the writer or by a specific form.
Some syllabic poetry forms include:
- Crapsey cinquain
- Rondelle
- Haiku/senryu
- Tanka
There are many more.
I’ve decided I want to get back to my roots, so to speak, and write more poems again.
I’m going to share some of what I learn here and on my YouTube channel.
What is one of your favorite types of poems?
I struggle to write poetry that doesn’t rhyme. I should take this as a challenge to try it more often!
If rhyming is more natural to you, why fight it? I struggle to rhyme. When I found syllabic poetry forms, I felt like I’d found my poetic home, so to speak. If you want to challenge yourself, go for it. But if you like where you’re at, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.