Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,
I am late with this new episode of our ''Little Ones'' feature about other short poetry forms. Today I have chosen for the Cinquain, a (as it's name already says) five (5) line poem with also specific rules. Let me tell you a little bit more about the Cinquain.
At its most
basic level, 'cinquain' simply means a stanza (or poem) with five lines.
However, the word also refers to either of two more specific types of five-line
poems. The first type is usually centered to give it a diamond shape and has
the following format:
First line:
a one-word subject or title.
Second line: two adjectives which describe the subject.
Third line: three verbs relating to the subject.
Fourth line: four words forming a phrase, sentence, or set of feelings relating to the subject.
Fifth line: one word which summarizes the poem or restates the subject.
Second line: two adjectives which describe the subject.
Third line: three verbs relating to the subject.
Fourth line: four words forming a phrase, sentence, or set of feelings relating to the subject.
Fifth line: one word which summarizes the poem or restates the subject.
The second
and more traditional type is simpler and requires only that the pattern of
syllables per line in the poem is 2, 4, 6, 8, 2. (In other words, the first
line has two syllables, the second has four, etc.)
A nice little poetry form I think. I have never composed a Cinquain, so to me this is new ... very new. Of course I will stay at the second (more traditional) form with the syllables. And I have found a nice Cinquain which I first like to share here. It's written by Zhanna P. Rader and so the copyright belongs to her.
 |
| Red Poppies |
Flaming
Poppies
Blowing
their scarlet free,
the poppies in the glen;
and here's to sing their majesty
a wren.
their scarlet free,
the poppies in the glen;
and here's to sing their majesty
a wren.
The red
flames swell and surge,
caught in his vocal art,
and rescue from its numbing dirge
a heart.
flames swell and surge,
caught in his vocal art,
and rescue from its numbing dirge
a heart.
(c) Zhanna
P. Rader
 |
| Red Rose Petals |
And here is my attempt to write a Cinquain:
petals
of red roses
covering the carpet
in front of the fireplace
your heart
of red roses
covering the carpet
in front of the fireplace
your heart
your heart
once given
unconditional
still beats for my life's sake
my sweet love
once given
unconditional
still beats for my life's sake
my sweet love
This episode of Carpe Diem's Little Ones will stay on until January 15th 11.59 AM (CET) and is NOW OPEN for your submissions. Have fun, be inspired and share your Cinquain (or other short poem (no haiku) with us all here at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai.
