Atarlis Fileata [At’-ar-lee’ Fee-lee-ah’-tay] (Gaelic for "repeating poetic") is a 7-line poem with 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2 words per line, and only one rhyme — in the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th lines: ABacaBA, the first two lines reversing as the last two lines. (There may be a very slight variation in line 6 and 7, usually only changing one word or rearranging the words already used, but saying basically the same thing.)

There may be any # of stanzas, but each stanza must be able to stand alone.



Poetic Intent

Creative flow
in written form
presumes to artistically show  
an image, thought, evoke emotion.
Understanding as minds grow;
through written form
created flow.

Cathy Bollhoefer~
copyright May2005


Shadows

Shadows form,
In piercing contortion,
Riding through love's storm.
Granting amnesty from the pain,
Memories of past norm,
In piercing contortion
Shadows form.

Cathy Bollhoefer~
copyright Jan2005

Ice

Icicles form
Across front door,
Courtesy of icy storm.
Sparkling in bright sun's light
To rainbow hues transform.
Across front door
Icicles form.

Layered ice
Upon the tree.
Will it's strength suffice
To uphold it's branches still?
Yet it looks nice
Upon the tree,
Layered ice.

Cathy Bollhoefer~
copyright Jan2005

Qetesh

Impassion'd rose
Entwines golden ankh
Embracing soul-illumined glows.
Presented thine eternal goddess Qetesh
With devoted symbolism, shows
Entwined golden ankh,
Impassion'd rose.

Cathy Bollhoefer~
copyright Jan2005

Love's Song

In fears,
Sad hearts cry
A deluge of tears.
So yearning for his devotion,
He whose love disappears,
Sad hearts cry
In fears.

Heart's refrain
In simple harmony,
Accompanied by emotion's rain.
Such life is torn asunder,
Love never to remain.
Simple harmony in
Heart's refrain.

Seasoned love,
Life's new melody,
Angelic kiss from above.
A bond ever strengthened by
Wings of white dove,
Life's new melody,
Seasoned love.

Cathy Bollhoefer~
copyright Jan2005

An interesting set of poems, Cathy. Thank you for posting them.

In particular, I liked this line:

"Granting amnesty from the pain."

"Atarlis Fileata" - Do you know which Gaelic this is, please? (No worries if not - just wondering).

Thanks, again, J.

Hi James!

I didn't know that there were different forms of Gaelic.  I'll check it
out and see what I can find.  Thanks for taking the time to check
these out.

Cathy

Note: This does not fit the criteria, as there are no rhymes - Daniel:

Another excellent example of your fine creation, Cat.

Let's see if I can do mine right this time?



Lightly, Daniel

By jove, I think you've got it! Woohoo!!

This form works to challenge one's senses... It can do that! LOL

Well done Daniel, and thanks for trying another one~
Cat

Thanks, Cat...

and here's another semi-instructional piece for ya:

count on it


you know

fine word-counting

prances its metrical flow

yea, dances with floral bouquet;

bards will creatively show

fine word-counting,

you know


© MLee Dickens'son 29 Sept 2006

Hey, Cat!

I notice that you've not been here to your creation for some time... but Terry has discovered your form, not knowing, I believe that you created it. Maybe you could stop in at Hermes and give him a pointer or two. I'm gonna drop in there now myself. I just stopped in for a brush-up myself before I tackled his.

Lightly, Daniel

Tarry, Terry!

so Terry...
while your way
o'er to Karnak's prairie
to our Gaelic creator Cathy;
moments with this fairy
you'll while away...
so tarry

_{© MLee Dickens'son 31 Aug 2007}

Interesting response Daniel.

I'm not certain though of the param Cathy states for the slight 'rearranging' of the last line. She states it should be a reversal of the first line, or can be slightly reworded. Have you found anything other than that in your practice of the form?

~Cleo

Thanks, Lori... and I hope you see that this is an attempt at a picture of the very thing that can happen in our midst here -- and often has!

I believe, however, that you've misunderstood what Cathy said about reversal; the reversal is of the first and second lines becoming the last and second to the last lines, AND, she added: "(There may be [emphasis mine] a very slight variation in line 6 and 7, usually only changing one word or rearranging the words already used, but saying basically the same thing.)" You will see in her opening examples that she repeats and reverses the order of the first two lines in each one without changing the words -- even though, of course she may in some future revision.

I'm looking forward to utilizing, experimenting with and perhaps even stretching the form further in the future... though I'm a bit limited in taking on too much just now.

deLighting in rediscovering the form... and hoping Cathy will visit with her own direct comment!

~ Daniel

Ah, I see that now - thanks!

Sadly, Cathy hasn't been on site for about a year now I think? I'll have to double check that...

Hopefully, she'll be back soon as well!
~Cleo

Ok - last time Cathy was officially logged in was : 13th April 2009 - 22:03, not as long ago as I thought.