It's been about six months since we last had an Iron Poet Challenge.
I know that my good friend and usual partner in crime, J D Smith, has been extremely busy so I am going to issue this challenge to anyone who is up for it!
The challenge is a relatively simple one I think.... a Cinquain please!
Just five lines is all!
Here are two basic methods for a Cinquain.
The first method is based on syllables:
Line 1: 2 syllables
Line 2: 4 syllables
Line 3: 6 syllables
Line 4: 8 syllables
Line 5: 2 syllables
The second method, instead of syllables, is simply based on words, and has the following pattern:
Line 1: 1 word
Line 2: 2 words
Line 3: 3 words
Line 4: 4 words
Line 5: 1 word
If you want to be really challenged you can add both methods together. That is, the first line is 1 word - 2 two syllables; then 2 words - 4 syllables; then 3 words - 6 syllables; 4 words - 8 syllables; 1 word - 2 syllables.
Sticking with concrete objects rather than abstract ideas can be useful eg "My Dog" rather than "Happiness" can return good results.
Organising the ideas in your Cinquain to follow the order below is another suggestion:
Title
Description of the title
Some action about the title
Feeling about the title
Synonym for the title
I've written a number of Cinquains using the syllable method. Here are some of mine:
Loneliness
Only
Cool winds embrace
The solitary soul
Wading through a rippled ocean
Alone
Friendship
Friendship
Blossoms with care
As a soft yellow rose
Tended with an innocent love
Brings joy
Isolation
Alone
With thoughts unkind
Despair invades her mind
Echoing cold isolation
Forlorn
A Winter's Morn
The mist
Like clouds of wool
Blankets the town below
And hides her from my eyes till noon
Then leaves
Autumnal Fall
The leaves
Twist gold and red
And drift like butterflies
To earth, settling on crisp, cooled ground
A shawl
Please give it a go! I'm sure you'll enjoy it and will be pleasantly surprised with the results.
I look forward to reading and if you could please include "Cinquain" in your tag line it will be easier for me to find them.
Thank you and good luck!
Thank you friends for joining in. The list so far:
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
M. C. S.
WhatsMe
T. Dailey
J D Smith
eyespye
Rachel Coyne
Salon.com
Comments
Sounds like fun! :)
Thanks for doing this, LK!
rated with love and challenge
RomanticPoetess: I just read yours too and it's beautiful! Thank you for playing!
I enjoy the challenge, thanks, Kate! Of your cinquains, I liked the leaf turned shawl one best.
jarring
and unexpected
it breaks the heart into
smithereens
betrayal.
R
I really like your examples, "Alone" and "Friendship" speak to me especially today...you're good at this!
By chance, are you a pre-school teacher?
You distract with a better idea so well : )
Susie: You too? YAY!!!! I'll be looking for yours too then! : )
Now, does this mean I'll see a Cinquain from you too? I'm sure hoping that too!
Come up with one
As nearly fine as yours
It's just too hard to think them up
I won't.
lschmoopie: YAY! I'm heading over to read right now! : )
I turn my back for a second, and look what you are up to...... : )
I think it is fair to say that I'm not going to let ANY IPC from you go unanswered. So watch for that.....
BUT...in poker....you call or raise.
I'm raising you!!!
A poem please,...with the following mix..
the name of a rock or mineral
the letter Q showing up three times
a star seen only in the northern hemisphere
And boy you are SO FUNNY!!!! Just as well I no you are a real prankster or I might think you were being serious about wanting from me a poem that includes the name of a rock or mineral, has the letter Q in it 3 times AND star seen only in the northern hemisphere!!! LOL!!!! Funny stuff!!!
Yep...serious here.....
Okay, okay, OKAY .... You know I'm too competitive when it comes to these things! I'll give it a go! As long as you do too!
Think of this a poetic boot camp.
By the way...Quartz and Quartzite might qualify in two of the three.
: )
You'll do magnificantly!!! You always do.
I'd rather read cinquains than write them, but I tend to ponder ideas for awhile before they bust out. I'm still thinking about the wave of posts last fall? winter? It was an an open call about "Where do you write?" There were so many intriguing posts and photos of desks, windows, rooms....
I might get around to that one soon...then cinquains next.
And more poetry from you would be wonderful!
HUGGGGGGGGGGGG