Try your hand at a Sonnette, a form invented by Sherman Ripley. It consists of 7 lines in pentameter, predominately iambic, with two stanzas, rhyming abba cbc. It is, essentially, half of a sonnet.
Here is a sample of a nature sonnette:
IN A TIME OF LOSS
The time of iris closes slowly, still.
One day they flourish, glossy, fragrant, proud
Behind my home, a vibrant rainbow-cloud—
Flags, varicolored, serried on the hill;
Then gone. A day, no more, and petals twist
To parchment brown, a sullen summer-shroud—
Until next springtime blooms, they will be missed.
Here is a sample of a nature sonnette:
IN A TIME OF LOSS
The time of iris closes slowly, still.
One day they flourish, glossy, fragrant, proud
Behind my home, a vibrant rainbow-cloud—
Flags, varicolored, serried on the hill;
Then gone. A day, no more, and petals twist
To parchment brown, a sullen summer-shroud—
Until next springtime blooms, they will be missed.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on July 1, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 500, Silver: 300, Bronze: 250, Honorable mention: 4 people
- Final notes: Thanks to everyone who entered, and thanks especially for the varied responses to the form. The poems were delightful to read, difficult to judge, enlightening to study.
Contest Winners
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The sun each day must find a cooling bed
below the lip of all-enfolding night,• Viewed by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 4327237, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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Upon the hillside, sweet snow-drops glisten,
like silver threads, in your soft gold locks,• Viewed by judge. [remove] -
I asked the moon to take my love to you With words I wrote to set your heart on fire• Viewed by judge. [remove]
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• Viewed by judge. [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Honorable mention
Entries [11]
1 - 11 of 11
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• Viewed by judge.
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Proud levees, dams, dikes constructed, Towers and roadways built nearby;• Viewed by judge.
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Irony exists in everything For all things living do live,• Viewed by judge.
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Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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Intruiging form,-- never heard of it before, but I quite like the sound of it. I may have to give this a shot.
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It's a challenge--the tone and feeling of a sonnet in half the lines. Hope to see something from you.
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Dont know about this one.
May have to sit this one out lol. one of the best is already in the spot.
Wonderful idea. and i love sonnets but to cut one in half oh my
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Something like...
A sonnet but with only half the space
A pocket dynamo of poetry
I wonder could this be the form for me
Just have to get components in their place
Each stanza ought to play a different role
With ev'ry word just where it needs to be
Economy of thought the clearest goal
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All lines 10 syl.?
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A truly wonderful new form and excellent contest. Congratulations to all. ~Pamela
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