Budlets
on the paddles
of the prickly pear
soon lush yellow and red flowers
then fruit.
Today's poem is a cinquain, a five line syllabric poem with 2 syllables in the first line, then 4, 6, 8, 2. Perhaps this chart will help:
Line 1 = 2 syllables
Line 2 = 4 syllables
Line 3 = 6 syllables
Line 4 = 8 syllables
Line 5 = 2 syllables
Your challenge for today is to try writing your own cinquain.
The cinquain is a nonce form invented by Adelaide Crapsey (1878-1914). The poem has 22 syllables compressed into five lines. If you enjoy this form, you might enjoy reading Lee Bennett Hopkins' anthology of cinquains, CITY TALK, (Knopf, 1970, photographs by Roy Arenella.) The poems are presented by seasons from children Hopkins worked with as a consultant for Bank Street College of Education in New York's Harlem schools.
Mary Lee Hahn is hosting the Poetry Friday roundup at http://readingyear.blogspot.com/
