Short Form Poetry: Lyrical Iowa Publication 2024
“River-Tangoed Prose”
and Other Descriptive Titles
I’ve written several poems using a play on words especially through invented words. Our English language is rich and versatile. Its roots in many different languages allow for interpretation and exploration. Using the online dictionaries, spelling tools in Word programs, and learning grammatical rules for parts of speech, give us amazing opportunities to bend the rules and create new words. What words can you invent?
My short form poem called “River-Tangoed Prose” was entered into the 2024 Iowa Poetry Association’s annual contest and was first published in Lyrical Iowa 2024.
What inventive words can you create and craft a poem with that theme?
Would you like to join Word Weaver’s International and apply to be a member of my poetry critique group? I’d love to meet you and pour over one another’s poetry each month in Zoom meetings together. Groups are limited to 6-7 poeple and meet once a month for critiques.
Love always, because of Jesus Christ,
Patricia
River-Tangoed Prose
When thoughts bleed and grief whirls
Like spent cattails splintered in the wind,
I weep.
Words cut like sawgrass
Through the pages of my story—
A writer’s opus in river-tango prose
Until hope blooms again.
Artwork Illustrated by Patricia on Procreate with Apple pencil on an iPad Pro.
First rights for poem, and first published in Lyrical Iowa 2024 by the Iowa Poetry Association, and Editor Marilyn J. Baszezynski.
All rights reserved for illustrations by Tiffany Inks Studio LLC.
Other short form poetry some takes longer than writing a short story. Take a look at a couple of poems written this year and posted on X and FB.
Haiku poetry forms are one of the most common short form poems, but have you heard of a 53-word story poem?
Haikus don’t have titles, but they have three lines and often have a first and second “part.” Notice they can look quite different with just a swish of the pen. These two versions of the same theme come fresh from my delightful trip to the Florida Christian Writers Conference in October.
Here are two variations of the same theme below:
Haiku Version #A
themes rustle and roar at Florida poets
crocodiles swim with the plot of their story
writers rest and relax as they pen the end
Haiku Version #B
Torrid themes rustle and roar as Florida poets
swim with crocodiles through pages of their story.
Writing the end, they rest and relax.
53-Word Poetry Form
Poetry form by Press 53.
The Sugar War Within
(a 53-word story form-prose)
Saccharin, my greatest foe,
the enemy that hid within like gravel underneath my tongue, melted grit
and slow. A fight my weary mind condemned, but justified the battle.
I ate, I slept, I never knew the war
inside my gut.
I hold no grudge.
Revenge is sweet.
Glycosides, the war within is over.
And with that, I’ll close for today. Appropriate for all New Year’s resolutions or short writing contests each month with Press 53, let me know if you try this poetry form. Thanks for reading and taking time to comment below.
I hope you enjoyed your visit. Come back soon.
Love Always,
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