THANKSGIVING ZENO

Many things I am thankful for
my dear mother 
and my
dad.

And my brothers
make me
glad.

For the turkey
I feel
sad.

   This poem is a zeno, a form developed by former children's poet laureate J. Patrick Lewis.  It is a ten line poem with 8 syllables in the first line, then 4,2,1 in the next three lines. And those 4,2,1 syllable lines are repeated two more times.  Lines 4, 7, and 10 all rhyme.  Can you try writing your own Thanksgiving zeno today?  Have fun writing.

SPOOKY NIGHT

In the dark night of Halloween
clouds are drifting
sky so
dull,
over water
a sea
gull
carries in his
claws a
skull.

   Here is another zeno that Arlene Sikkink and Lee Chutkow helped to write in our poetry workshop at Santa Catalina Villas.  I think I've now got them addicted to writing zenos too.  Can you try writing a zeno today?  Have fun. 

DOORBELL RINGS

Trick-or-treaters stand at my door,
keep demanding,
wanting
some
cookies, candy
apples
gum,
leaving nothing--
not a
crumb.

   Today's poem is another zeno.  I told you I thought they were addictive.  I worked with some seniors writing poetry today in their retirement community.  I shared the zeno form with them.  Lee Chutkow and Arelene Sikkink helped to write this poem.
   You can find directions for writing your own zeno on last Thursday's post.  You can read more zenos on Michelle Barnes' blog at Todays Little Ditty.
   Can you find friends to write a join poem with today?  Have fun with poetry.

CEMETERY SCREAMS

In the cemetery you hear 
screams and wonder 
who yelled
BOO!
Dead Zombies watch
all you
do
and they're coming
to get
you!

Today's poem is another zeno, a form invented by J. Patrick Lewis, former Children's Poet Laureate.  Can you try writing your own zeno today?  Have fun thinking of three rhyming words that are single syllable.  I gave the guidelines for this form yesterday, so just scroll back to that post, or you can find more on Michelle Barnes' blog, My Little Ditty.  The Poetry Friday Round Up is over at Michelle's blog, too.  There is also a fun 5 word poetry challenge over there.  Just drop on by here.  All you have to do is BYOP (bring your own poem).  Everyone is having a good time, so come join us.  Thanks Michelle, for being the hostess with the mostess.

WITCH'S KITTEN, A Zeno

Giant, furry witch's kitten
sits on her broom,
flies to-
night.
Zipping, zooming
dips in
flight.
Shadows the moon
causing
fright.

    This poem is a zeno, a form invented by J. Patrick Lewis, former Children's Poet Laureate.  The zeno is a 10 line poem with lines 4,7,and 10 rhyming.  The zeno is a syllabic poem with 8 syllables in the first line, then 4, 2, 1 in the next 3 lines and this pattern --4,2,1 is repeated three times.

Line     syllables       end rhyme
1.            8                  A
2.            4                  B
3.            2                  C
4.            1                  D
5.            4                  E
6.            2                  F
7.            1                  D
8.            4                  G
9.            2                  H
10.          1                  D

You can find out more about this form at Michelle Barnes' Today's Little Ditty blog.
Have fun writing your own poem about a witch today.