Poetry Forms : The Balance

Friday, March 7, 2014

The Balance attempts to create an ebb and flow rhythm. The rhythm is created by a specific syllabic designation per line as well as an intricate rhyme scheme. This verse form was created by Viola Berg.

The Balance is:

stanzaic, framed in 4 cinquains. The patterns of the cinquains change from stanza to stanza.

syllabic,
stanza 1 =10-8-6-4-2 syllables.
stanza 2 =2-4-6-8-10 syllables
stanza 3 =10-8-6-4-2 syllables
stanza 4 = 2-4-6-8-10 syllables
rhymed, rhyme scheme Abcde edcba abcde edcbA.
composed with a refrain, the 1st line of the poem is repeated as the last line.
Short Balance by Judi Van Gorder

Centered on the page the words resonate
with sounds of fingers striking
the computer keyboard.
Tapping into
my muse.

Good news,
the verse in due
time takes shape, strikes a chord
without inspiration spiking.
Centered on the page the words resonate.

My Thanks to Judi Van Gorder for the wonderful resource at PMO

My Sample Poem

Fish wrap is Functional (The Balance)

The paper tells of babies being born,

while businesses are formed and fold,

and folks grow old and die,

while other's kill

or cheat

to beat

other's for thrill

or just because they're high.

The earth's getting too hot or cold;

associations steer and hold in scorn

those men who break from ranks and won't adorn

concepts as right, because they're old.

Opinions satisfy,

candidates will

just tweet

or greet

with smarmy skill

while business goes awry

and we the sheeple, are controlled.

The paper tells of babies being born.