Studying poetry, meter and its forms this past year or so, has been so interesting. When I feel brave enough to try a new form, it is both scary and exciting at the same time. It feels like working the NYT crossword puzzle. Definitely a stretch for me, but a great way to keep the brain in shape.
Your "crossword clues"in double dactyl, are the form's "rules" for the poem. I use them to think of the words that will fit. But, instead of counting squares for letters, you count stressed and unstressed beats.
On this Poetry Friday, I want to share with you one of my favorites:
Here is a link to The Writer's Digest information about Double Dactyls.
I stumbled across this form when exploring options to use for a children's poetry collection I was working on. It was so much fun! And the dancing way the poems felt when I read them was exhilarating.
After much brain strain and adventurous hunting for just the right words, completing these double dactyls made me giddy. I think I sat and read them 10 times, just enjoying how the beats moved over my tongue. :)
With out further adieu, I am excited to share two of my double dactyls.
Can you feel that delicious DUM da da beat?
You smiled, didn't you... I knew it!
Cathy, thanks for introducing the double dactyl format to me. Your poems are fun reading. The nonsense words in both of your poems is a fun way to begin your poems. Thanks for sharing them.The format is new to me.
You NAILED this form, right down the the single word line!
Sorry, that's me, Laura Purdie Salas, above.
Double dactyls are so fun to read--and so hard (for me, anyway) to write. Thank you for these--I extra love the Diane Von Furstenburg one!
I love double dactyls and yours are fabulous. Thanks for the smile!