We hope you were able to take time out last week and write a poem using the senses! We’re back this week to share another poem form with members of our apartment community here at Liv Northgate. This time around, we’re going to do a rictameter poem which is composed of 9 lines, with counted syllables. Here is a syllable counter to help you get it just right!
Just for fun, we chose to use the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace as the inspiration for our example poem, but you can choose any topic you like for this poem, be it the Arizona landscape or your favorite dessert. The key here is in the number of syllables per line.
Line 1 — 2 syllables (same word/words as line 9)
Line 2 — 4 syllables
Line 3 — 6 syllables
Line 4 — 8 syllables
Line 5 — 10 syllables
Line 6 — 8 syllables
Line 7 — 6 syllables
Line 8 — 4 syllables
Line 9 — 2 syllable (same word/words as line 1)
Here is our example poem:
Soldiers
Steadily march
To Buckingham Palace
Organized for the Changing of the Guard
Marching band — a counterpoint to horses’ trot
Foot Guards’ iconic bearskin hats
Are images remembered
Of the Queen’s Guard
Soldiers
We love the shape the poem takes, based on the number of syllables per line, and how the title and ending bring the message full circle. Visit this website if you are interested in learning more about the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Give a rictameter a try. We are excited to see what you come up with. Please feel free to share your poems in the comments. We will be back next week with another poetry form to try out. Thanks for taking the time to read our post.
