Monotetra - a NEW form, Poetic Forms Exercise Options

[Cleo_Serapis]

I just got a 'YES' from Michael Walker who invented this very catchy new type of poetic form called the Monotetra...WAY COOL!

Here is his definition and examples of this new form. You can find Michael's works at The Starlight Cafe:
http://www.thestarlitecafe.com under the pen name: Bronze Dragon.....  :troy:  :vic:  :pharoah2

"Monotetra

The monotetra consists of any number of stanzas of four lines each. Each stanza contains a monorhyme, so that the pattern of the stanzas would be “aaaa bbbb cccc” and so on… this is where the “mono” in the name of the form comes in.

The “tetra” in the name of the form is because each line of each stanza is written in tetrameter – to those who hate metrical feet and such, this simply means that each line has eight (8) syllables. There is no need for “iambs” here…  

The other aspect of the monotetra is that the fourth line of each stanza is a repeating four-syllable phrase. It does not have to be an EXACT repetition, but close. Sound simple? Here’s an example stanza…

The monotetra’s catching fast
But how long will its allure last?
Who knows! The future’s wide and vast
So like the past, so like the past… "...

Here is another example of Michaels;

Song for Solace

'Tis moonlight dim upon the sky
As shadows play across my eye,
When oft these memories I spy –
That pass me by, they pass me by...

The creak of wood in unused halls
Reminding of long-past footfalls,
As to our bed you'd quickly crawl –
In fright and all, in fright and all...

These nights I often hear the sound
Of silent footsteps on the grounds.
Although I know no one's around –
I wander out, still wander out…

Oh yes, this neighborhood has changed
It’s denizens quite rearranged,
And every neighbor seems estranged –
How times will change, how fast they change…

Not long before, I thought not twice
To leave a window ope at night –
To grant you leave to ride your bike
Alone at night, alone that night…

I know the blame is not my own
And sinners reap what they have sown,
But thoughts help not when I’m alone –
I should have known, I should have known…

‘Tis moonlight dim upon the sky
Your face – imprinted on my mind
It’s now I know I have to try
To say goodbye, to say goodbye…

Thanks Michael!

[Cleo_Serapis]

The Iceberg and the Volcano

Iceberg

She loves to swim by midnight moon
on starless nights, to view Neptune.
Her place atop the highest dune
is crystal hewn, is crystal hewn.

The ice of past lives on in her,
she wears a shielded pallid spur.
An arctic mass, she likes to stir
the roots that were, the roots that were.

She breaks from glacier roaming free,
and proudly shines a face of glee.
Her girth submerged for all to see,
in frozen sea, in frozen sea.

Volcano

He loves to breathe a fire's tongue
and spread a lace of ashen dung.
His place of magma inked in sun
is lava sprung, is lava sprung.

The dragon's lair is crammed with gas,
his sulfur stench, he soon will pass.
He wears a shield of molten mass
that yearns to last, that yearns to last.

He breaks from mountain's oozing vent
and colors earth with scorching dent.
His girth submerged in Nature's tent,
unkindly gent, unkindly gent.

© Lorraine Kanter

[Charon]

Cleo,

I like.  I may have to try this style, definitely different, could be fun.  Poetry - fun  - hey what a concept, hey what a concept.

AtH

I've got to get me my own Smilie.

[Guest_Zeus²_*]

Family Trip

Family in  van, not corvette
not even room for our big pet
looking for fast food, a big sweat
are we there yet !!! are we there yet!!!

Z2

[Guest__*]

Thank you for sharing my form with your community - I am honored.

Michael

[Cleo_Serapis]

Cleo,

I like.  I may have to try this style, definitely different, could be fun.  Poetry - fun  - hey what a concept, hey what a concept.

AtH

I've got to get me my own Smilie.

Hey AtH!  :troy:

Yes - I took al iking to this myself!

Hope you'll give it a go!!!!

:pharoah2
~Cleo  :pharoah:

[Cleo_Serapis]

Family Trip

Family in  van, not corvette
not even room for our big pet
looking for fast food, a big sweat
are we there yet !!! are we there yet!!!

Z2

"Z"...

Very good for your first try!!!!

Come on .... how about another?  ???  :laugh:

~Cleo  :pharoah:

[Cleo_Serapis]

Thank you for sharing my form with your community - I am honored.

Michael

Why hello Bronzy!

A big thank YOU for allowing us to show off your new form here! And a WELCOME to the Mosaic is in order...

I DO hope you'll find SOME time, to share more of your talents with us...

Take care!
~Cleo  :pharoah:

[Guest__*]

Dear Cleo and Michael

Michael, this form is delightful ! I know your examples are "serious", but I see it as VERY Lewis Carrollesque. See below : (and please give me some ruthless feedback !)

Love
Alan

THIS IS THE QUESTION

A ghost on battlements appears;
Hamlet can/can’t believe his ears
And eyes, at all, but what he hears
Will stoke his fears, does stoke his fears.

Ham’s Dad is dead, poison imbued,
Administered by uncle lewd,
Whom Hamlet’s Mum, so hot, pursued;
Call her Gertrude, call her Gert, rude.

Ham’s lady friend attention gets
As off she floats, by egress wet.
Will she return, don’t place your bets,
She pays her debts, she pays his debts .....

Old Pol to hide, does arras grab,
Stage whisp’ring, he’d the gift of gab,
No longer able now to blab,
Another slab, another slab.

Young Hamlet thinks, or thinks he found
A firm idea, one which is sound,
But indecisive, he is crowned
Above the ground ? No ! 'Neath the ground !

These frolics at old Elsinore
At school I used to find a bore,
Now I’m inspired, could write much more.
“What ever for ?” “No, nevermore !”

So pleased, new poem form to find,
Original, quite different kind.
First effort poor ? I’ve half a mind
To leave unsigned, or shall I sign .....



And yet .....
Alan McAlpine Douglas

[Guest_Jox_*]

Alan, a brilliant effort! (You didn't use a ghost writer, did you?). I had feared a poison pen letter, but this poem is splendid.

You have captured the best play ever written and completely screwed it up (joke!) - just like the man himself; wonderful. I especially like the indecisive ending... appropriate to the last. Goodnight sweet Prince. Oops, my error, sorry, cheerio Alan.

By the way, have you seen Roz & Gild?

Jox.

[Guest__*]

Dear Jox

I'm gonna have to stop posting if all you can do is make more, and more awful, puns in every answer ! LOL.

Thanks for your comments, I was aiming to emulate, nice that you agree !

Love
Alan

[Guest_Jox_*]

I would hate to stop you posting Alan but with those poems I simply have to pun. Tell you what, we ought to start a Punner's Poem sequence - like Cleo's Halloween... might only be thee and me there but I think it could subvert poetry as we know it. McGonegal (wrong spelling I think) Rises Again!

[Cleo_Serapis]

Dear Cleo and Michael

Michael, this form is delightful ! I know your examples are "serious", but I see it as VERY Lewis Carrollesque. See below : (and please give me some ruthless feedback !)

Love
Alan

THIS IS THE QUESTION

A ghost on battlements appears;
Hamlet can/can’t believe his ears
And eyes, at all, but what he hears
Will stoke his fears, does stoke his fears.

Ham’s Dad is dead, poison imbued,
Administered by uncle lewd,
Whom Hamlet’s Mum, so hot, pursued;
Call her Gertrude, call her Gert, rude.

Ham’s lady friend attention gets
As off she floats, by egress wet.
Will she return, don’t place your bets,
She pays her debts, she pays his debts .....

Old Pol to hide, does arras grab,
Stage whisp’ring, he’d the gift of gab,
No longer able now to blab,
Another slab, another slab.

Young Hamlet thinks, or thinks he found
A firm idea, one which is sound,
But indecisive, he is crowned
Above the ground ? No ! 'Neath the ground !

These frolics at old Elsinore
At school I used to find a bore,
Now I’m inspired, could write much more.
“What ever for ?” “No, nevermore !”

So pleased, new poem form to find,
Original, quite different kind.
First effort poor ? I’ve half a mind
To leave unsigned, or shall I sign .....



And yet .....
Alan McAlpine Douglas

Well well Alan!

This is a great first monotetra!  :pharoah2

I'll have to go back and peek at the requirements, but I do believe you cannot vary Line four, it must repeat in 4 syllables. NOPE- you CAN vary line 4 in each stanza (slightly as you've done here)!

VERY CLEVER!  :detective:    :detective:  :detective:  :pilgrim:

All I can think of after reading this one is that movie "Renaissance Man" when Danny Devito is trying to teach his army recruits literature using Hamlet. What's great as a poet, is that he teaches RHYTHM by using a chant - da da da da da...tapping on the desk for them...So they come back with this:

Hamlet's mother, she's the queen
Buys it in the final scene
Drinks a glass of funky wine
Now she's Satan's Valentine.

See - you've got the beat my friend!

Cheers!
~Cleo  :pharoah:

[Guest__*]

Dear Cleo

Thank you very much ! I loved doing it, and think I might add a few more Hamlet characters' verses !

Do you agree it is very Carrollesque ?

Love
Alan

[Cleo_Serapis]

Dear Cleo

Thank you very much ! I loved doing it, and think I might add a few more Hamlet characters' verses !

Do you agree it is very Carrollesque ?

Love
Alan

Ohhhhh absolutely!  :laugh:  :grinning:  :cool:  :oops:  :)  :speechless:

[Guest__*]

Alan - your monotetra was excellent!  I love the use of the great play to your will!  Keep writing my friend!  This was really good!

Michael

[Guest__*]

Dear Michael

Now that I have checked the members list to discover that you are the INVENTOR   of this form, I aM blushing a red as if I'd had a dragon's-breath roasting !

Thank you very much !

The Q I asked Cleo, I see this as a great comedy form, as you will note from "This is the Question". Lewis Carrollesque. Do you agree ?

Love
Alan

[Guest__*]

VICE

There's nothing aglow, not even moon light,
no virtue in flight, 'ways, I can't move for fright,
for it ain't just dark, but absolute absence of light :
black as midnight, black as midnight.

Beneath Neptune's damp, but much colder, like ice,
could it be true, I'm paying the price ?
Wonder, will that damn cock ever crow thrice,
for one living by vice, by one living for dice .....

VIRTUE

Beauty, discretion, innocence, grace;
see, I'll ink out the rest, for modesty's trace,
so ideal that I'd not come undone on a lace,
there's a smile on my face, that's a smile, not grimace !

No colour too pallid, no statement too bland,
Not tiger too fierce, nor dragon's breath fanned,
no lines in the sand; missing gland shows I'm unmanned ?
That's the lie of the land, that's the lie in the land .....

Alan McAlpine Douglas

[Cleo_Serapis]

Glistened Glee

Their nights of ice call to embrace
a shattered love, a lonely face
emerging panes of misty lace
dewdrops do trace, dewdrops do trace.

His warmth of moon’s reflective stares
that seek to soothe arctic affairs
of silent shards too ripe to bear
in sightless air, in sightless air.

She kisses winter’s canopy
where snowflakes fall, distinct and free
to rest upon a welcomed sea
of glistened glee, of glistened glee.

Their nights of ice call to embrace
a long lost love, a blissful face
emerging panes of fertile lace
teardrops do trace, teardrops do trace.

Copyright © 2004 Lorraine M Kanter

[JustDaniel]

I haven’t time to do justice
to such a form as this, as this
is scootin’ time; I’d be remiss
must go; don’t dis… must go; don’t dis

me first attempt at monotet,
since I’ve no time jest now to set
a spell and chat until I get
the feel fer it… the feel fer it

[Cleo_Serapis]

I haven’t time to do justice
to such a form as this, as this
is scootin’ time; I’d be remiss
must go; don’t dis… must go; don’t dis

me first attempt at monotet,
since I’ve no time jest now to set
a spell and chat until I get
the feel fer it… the feel fer it

Hey Daniel!  :sun:

Nice to read you again!  :lovie:  :dance:

This is an excellent reply!

Let's see:

In all the times we've crossed a pen
or two, I've been a clucky hen
who yearns to interact with you
this fact is true, this fact is true.

HUGS!
~Cleo

[Guest_Cathy_*]

I wrote this poem for my son, Anthony

Precious Memories

Softly crooned songs, day's fading light,
rock baby to sleep every night.
So innocent in his own right,
wondrous delight, wondrous delight

Wishing precious dreams little one,
close your eyes baby, day is done.
Cuddle with winkie, night's begun,
slumber til sun, slumber til sun.

"Mommy has your bottle right here
close your eyes now, mommy is near."
Softly brushes away a tear,
"Nothing to fear, nothing to fear."

Many diapers, wipies, and Pooh,
bottles, binkies, and winkie too.
lots of precious memories grew,
now twenty-two, now twenty-two.

[JustDaniel]

Grace Oh’s Us Art

A monotetra fills its space
with rhymes, but moves along with grace
and attitude; its subtle bass
thu-thumps its pace, a thumping pace.

It takes you where you didn't know
a heart could wander safe below
a mind that's kept alert with joe…
yet walk so slow, walk oh so slow.

Exploring's not monotonous;
it may be even humorous
to see the contrast; it's a plus
we should discuss…. We must discuss

what's going on inside that heart—
the one not pulsing blood but art
its spirit's aching to impart…
it's off the chart… way off the chart.

© MLee Dickens'son 08 Jan 2007

[Larry]

A Musing Form

While strolling through the halls today
I found a form, left on display,
whose beard was long and hair dark grey;
fading away, fading. A way

and opportunity arose
since no one’s here with poem or prose
that I might bring it back. Suppose
if someone knows; if someone’s nose

is tweaked they’ll join and resurrect
the Mono-tetra and reflect
upon its ease and then correct
a certain speck. It’s circumspect

that when this form’s brought to the top
it will bring forth a burgeoned crop
of interesting poems. Don’t drop
or muse will stop. Our muse will stop.

[Larry]

The Knack

Would that those who had come to pen
their thoughts and dreams without chagrin
had stayed around much longer when
their peers chimed in. Their peers chimed in

to help with some critiqued advice
and hoped suggestions would suffice
to polish gems that shined like ice
which would be nice. What would be nice

if all the folks who left came back
into Mosaic’s little shack
to show their expertise or lack
but want the knack. They want the knack.

[Larry]

Harried Christmas

As Twenty-Seventeen winds down
and Eighteen’s babe is in its gown
we praise the One who wears the crown
in every town. In every town

you’ll find the painted effigies
in yards and under dying trees
with decorations hung to please
that no one sees. That no one seize

an opportunity to pray
upon this sacred holiday
instead of shopping each display
for a toupee. Foray to pay.

[JustDaniel]

An Egg's Crack

You have a knack with that old pen
to cause my brain to stop and think
about your words, and once again
you prod until you find a chink

in rusty armor that I wear
so you can poke more fun at me
as though I stand before you bare
for you and all the world to see.

I'm Humpty Dumpty on a wall
precariously on my back.
I fear that you will make me fall
upon my crack; you'll make me crack.


YIKES!

Not only did I not use ONE rhyme in each stanza, I did not replicate the first four syllables of each stanza's fourth line, only doing that in the final stanza!!

[Larry]

A Long Goodbye

Why can’t the world view what I see
of Nature; that her panoply
is but a gift to you and me,
each single tree. Each single tree

takes years to grow and when mature
yields fruit or food. It will endure
for centuries, keep our air pure
while some may cure. While some may cure

the ills of man; values imbue
them with a worth one must construe
as priceless treasures which are few.
Bid earth her due! Bid earth adieu.

[JustDaniel]

ERRATA

I can't believe I erred again
and blotched my monotetra pen.
I showed up as an alien,
^{and clucked as some old ailing hen.}
clucked like a hen, some ailing hen.

I need to dust computer keys
so I won't write like amputees
now that I have two better knees;
^{my writing now should be a breeze.}
I'll write with ease; I miss the ease.

On Tuesday I'll be at my house;
at night it's quiet as a mouse.
Perhaps I'll write again and douse
you like a louse; I'm such a louse!

[JustDaniel]

Airing more Errors

Oh my! I've screwed it up again;
my fourth lines don't repeat, and when
I noticed, spit upon my pen!
I've lost my yen; where is my yen?

If only I could get it right
the first time. 'haps once more I'll write
next week, or maybe a fortnight.
It's such a plight; O what a plight!

I see that you're also aware
how much I erred; it's only fair
that we should learn together, bare
of shame and blare; no shame or blare.

[Larry]

Just Human

Although we’re human, as it were
and we are often found to err…
a tiny truth. You might concur,
yet still we stir. We steal and stir

up words until we’re satisfied
with what is wrought for we’ve applied
our skill. That fact can’t be denied
for we have tried. ‘Fore we have tried

to write in unfamiliar form
we study what is called the “norm”
until a flower from the corm
grows like a charm. Goes likely charm.