My first-born is back home from college for a week long break (Thanksgiving break!) and we initially thought about heading to the drive in, and then decided to stay in the wonderful place that is home. We ended up watching Marvel’s latest offering, eating home cooked comfort food, and simply being what we are – family.
Poetic Sundays: Square Poems
This week, I bring to you the square poem. I was looking for a mathematically inclined poem because November 23rd happens to be Fibonacci Day; for it is 1123 when written in mmdd format! I had already featured the very obvious Fib earlier here so went hunting for a different one and landed upon the right ‘square’ poem. Well, tbh, I kind of mention both the Fibonacci poem and the square poem in an earlier Poetic Sunday as well.
The Square Poem
We have the ‘classic’ square poem which refers to poems where the number of syllables per line is equal to the number of lines in the poem. And then we have Charles Lutwidge Dodgson’s version, or rather the version he popularized, where the number of words per line equals the number of lines. Oh, yes, one more thing, the poem reads the same both horizontally and vertically.
For those who might be wondering (while many of you might already know anyways), Charles Lutwidge Dodgson’s pen name was Lewis Carroll!
This form is rather fitting for this week which also happens to be National Game & Puzzle Week. Trying to write a square poem can be a game in itself, or like trying to decode a word puzzle! Also, just to let you know, this is just part one of a four part series.
So the form’s elements are that at its most basic, the
- number of words per line is equal to the number of lines in the poem (or rather, either one decides the other!)
- poem reads exactly the same both the normal way and from top to down per column of words
How to write a square poem
- Start with smaller poems, like a 2 * 2 square to begin with
- For example:
Am I?
I am!
- Once you have the first line planned, write down those words down the column as well to inspire you to write each of the lines.
- Play with the words until they make sense both ways! And they will, eventually!!
Adding more words….
And then….
- While this is not the best example, you can make it work, almost. Punctuation helps as well, and correct placement of commas and the rest can add meaning to otherwise nonsensical phrases and sentences
The Wonderful Place
What a wonderful place,
A wonderful place indeed –
Wonderful place it is,
(a) Place indeed is home!
~Vidya Tiru @ LadyInReadWrites
Carroll’s Square Poem
is brilliant of course!!
| I | often | wondered | when | I | cursed, |
| Often | feared | where | I | would | be— |
| Wondered | where | she’d | yield | her | love, |
| When | I | yield, | so | will | she. |
| I | would | her | will | be | pitied! |
| Cursed | be | love! | She | pitied | me … |
My First Attempts (Kind of Trying to Fit a Square Peg in a Round Hole!)
My second attempt was the one I wrote in the ‘How to Write a Square Poem’ section! This one here was my first attempt 🙂
he loves me
loves me not
me not sure!
References, h/t, and Further Reading
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Recently
On My Blog
I could not blog everyday though I had hoped to (as I am in the UBC this month after all!) but here are the posts that did end up here on my blog since (and including) my last scribblings….
- 3 Amazing Children’s Books For Native American Heritage Month
- Top Ten Books You Will Love If You …
- Great YA Books You Need to Read
- Sunday Scribblings #83: The Truly Terrific Tongue Twister and More
And At Home Which is a Wonderful Place Indeed!
As mentioned earlier, my son came home Saturday for the week. Prior to that, well, it is kind of a jumble right now as there were many things going on. And I am glad that we almost got our garage and new garden shed in some semblance of organization.
Upcoming
On My Blog and Home Front
This coming week, I hope to blog every day (with the long weekend which means opportunities to explore locally, I hope to do the impossible and schedule posts ahead!) Well that kind of says it all for both the blog and the home front.
This Week’s Celebrations
Literary Celebrations (close-to-it also!)
- Literary birthdays this week include: George Eliot on the 22nd of Nov; Nirad Chaudhuri and Robert Towne on Nov 23rd; Arundhati Roy and Frances Hodgson Burnett on Nov 24th; Jandy Nelson on Nov 25th; Marilynne Robinson on the 26th of Nov; Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Kevin Henkes on Nov 27th; William Blake on Nov 28th
- November 23rd is Fibonacci Day
Foodie Celebrations
- National Cranberry Relish Day is on November 22nd
- November 23rd is National Cashew Day, National Eat a Cranberry Day, and National Espresso Day
- National Parfait Day is Nov 25th followed by National Cake Day on Nov 26th
- November 27th is National Bavarian Cream Pie Day
- And National French Toast Day is Nov 28th
Other Celebrations
- November 24th is National Jukebox Day – Day Before Thanksgiving
- International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Day on Nov 25th
- National Day of Listening – Day After Thanksgiving
- National Native American Heritage Day – Day After Thanksgiving
Week Long Celebrations
- National Game & Puzzle Week – Thanksgiving week
- Better Conversation Week – Week of Thanksgiving
Related Books and Reads
Suggestions related to various aspects of today’s blog
- The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (one of those books I loved yet never reviewed here)
- Found!!! Red Balloons and Answers in Wonderful Secret Gardens
- Puzzles That Your Dinofan Will Love
- 13 Board Games For Those Days of Bored(om)
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Wrapping up my Sunday Scribblings
So dear reader, you have reached the end of this Sunday Scribblings! As always, I welcome your thoughts, comments, and suggestions about this post. And do let me know if you plan to celebrate any of these mentioned celebrations this coming week/month? If you do write a square poem, don’t forget to share it with me; I know I will love reading it!
Linking this to the Sunday Post over at the Caffeinated Reviewer and the Sunday SalonF
A square poem is perfect for a math-ish day. This poetic form is entirely new to me.
Enjoy your time with your family at home? Perfect, I think. Like Dorothy said, There’s no place like home.
I have never heard of square poems before. I should try one next time I journal.
I love how simple this poem structure is! This would be a great one to starts kids with in school.
I always appreciate a good poem and I am thankful for your post as I did not know about square poems
I love how these turned out. I need to try.
I never knew of square poems prior to reading your article. Definitely gonna try this when I’m writing next time.
I’m hungry and I have French toast in the freezer, so my first thought about celebrating its national day is to have it all day long. Loved the square poems! But no, I will not be trying my own. I’m so glad you have your son home with you this week!