~Samuel Butler
Zeno poems are everywhere, have you noticed? J. Patrick Lewis invented this form based on the hailstone sequence (8,4,2,1,4,2,1,4,2,1 syllables that rhyme abcdefdghd), which Michelle has been featuring on her blog in October. I wanted to try it, but was nervous because it looks impossible.
photo by Ariana Y
Recently when my son and I were walking our puppy, I told him, "I could write a poem about Lucy's ears," to which he replied, "I could write a whole anthology about Lucy's ears." I don't know when his collection will be available, but here's my zeno:
Ode to Lucy's Ears
by Tabatha Yeatts
Sleek black waves bounce so charmingly
as she bounds a-
long. Her
style
is so fancy-
free, we
smile
widely while her
ears be-
guile.
*************
Michelle is our Poetry Friday host at Today's Little Ditty.
Calling myself out here for naming it "Ode to Lucy's Ears" when clearly it should be "Zeno (for? to?) Lucy's Ears." I meant it in the sense of a poem "expressive of exalted or enthusiastic emotion," but really.
Addendum the second: The first thing Lucy's ears reminded us of was Dobby. When Lucy is in trouble, here's what she looks like:
Tabitha, I enjoyed your zeno. It gave me an idea about splitting words to fit the format.Maybe I can try that next. I gave my zeno a whirl for #spiritualjourney Thursday and had great fun with Michelle's challenge after entering her Poetry Friday Parlor.
ReplyDeleteThis is great, Tabatha! I am inspired to try one of these now!
ReplyDeleteLove your choice of subject. Great zeno, T!
ReplyDeleteOde works for me, Tabatha. Do you know how happy it makes me that you wrote a zeno about your puppy's ears? How perfectly and poetically maternal is that?! Love those beguiling, bouncy black waves! The Butler quote is delightful as well.
ReplyDeleteYou have captured dog-joyousness. I can just see your Lucy and feel those silky ears between my fingers. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Tabatha. Dog ears are a wonder to behold. "Be/guile" -- great word to wrap up your poem.
ReplyDeleteAn ode (or zeno) to ears was enough to draw me in. I know what your son means when he proclaims that he can write an anthology-worth of poems from a dog's ears. They are just that expressive. Not to mention warm and everso silky!
ReplyDeleteYour dog eared zeno is perfection, Tabatha! Let us know when your son's anthology is available. =)
ReplyDeleteYou've done the impossible! Your zeno is as charming as a dog's sleek ears. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your Lucy/Octopup tag with me, Tabatha. I was going to write that your zeno was my fave, but see that I commented on it when you originally posted. Of course I have no memory of that....
ReplyDelete